The hockey NHL would like to have its Russian stars at the 2024 World Cup, but this plan has hit hard with the European participants of the tournament.
“I think that our Russian players would like to participate in the event. And we would certainly like to accommodate them,” NHL deputy head Bill Daly said in mid-September.
“We realize the value Russia brings to international hockey. It would be very unfortunate if our Russian hockey players, who have done nothing wrong, are not given the opportunity to play against the best. We would like to find a way to ensure that this does not happen,” he added.
For example, it was suggested that the NHL applies the model from the last two Winter Olympics and the penultimate World Championship, where Russian hockey players competed, but not under their flag.
However, such a concession is not enough for European participants. With regard to Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, they reject any participation of Russian hockey players. Only the end of the conflict could bring about a change in attitude.
“Obviously it’s relevant and we take that into account in our decision-making,” Daly said this week.
He admitted that the possible start of the Russian stars under a neutral flag did not meet with understanding. “If I understood correctly what the problem is, it does not seem that this option should be a solution for European countries that want to participate,” he added.
Swedish hockey has recently publicly declared its negative attitude. “We explained the European point of view on the matter. As long as there is a war, we cannot play against the Russian team,” said union vice-president Peter Forsberg, namesake of the legendary hockey player.
The theme also resonated in Finland. “If Russia is admitted to the World Cup, Finland should withdraw and behave morally in the face of the greed of the NHL,” read a comment on the popular website Jatkoaika.com, saying that it did not matter under which flag the Russians would compete.
The NHL wants to hold the World Cup in February 2024, i.e. in less than a year and a half. Since it is her tournament, she does not need permission from the international federation IIHF, which excluded the choir from all competitions for the current season as well. However, the overseas league has to deal with individual national associations, at least that was the case in previous years.
The participation of the Russians is the biggest question mark surrounding the tournament, which last took place in the fall of 2016. At that time, the European selection, which included Slovaks, Germans and Swiss, as well as North America under 23, took part unusually.
This should not happen again. The NHL is counting on eight national teams and is considering a qualifying tournament. It would play for “two or three spots” out of the aforementioned eight, as Daly revealed during a visit to Prague as part of a doubleheader between Nashville and San Jose.
The event should take place in both Europe and North America, with elimination fights being hosted overseas only.
If the plans do not fall apart, it will be the first tournament with the biggest stars since the World Cup in 2016. In the meantime, two Winter Olympics were played, in South Korea and China, but the NHL did not send its hockey players to either of them.
