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NHL·June 3, 2026 09:00 AM ET

Finland holds firm against Russian inclusion in IIHF tournaments

Finland won't budge on barring Russia.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 31 min read
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What happened: A report tied to the IIHF indicates Finland has confirmed it maintains its opposition to Russian participation in international tournaments. The stance is reported in contrast to NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, who is described as saying the league would not boycott events featuring Russia.

Why it matters: The position points to friction between national federations and league-level leadership over how and whether Russia is reintegrated into international hockey. Finland is one of the sport's traditional powers, so its objection carries weight in any federation-level decision on readmission.

What to watch: Watch whether other national federations publicly align with Finland's position and how the IIHF addresses Russian eligibility ahead of upcoming tournament scheduling.

Sources

  • r/hockey 

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