Finland Leads Push to Keep Russia Out of Worlds

Finland Rallies Other Nations
Last week, CAS cleared Russia to compete in IIHF events again. That overturned the governing body's decision to shut Russian teams out after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Finland did not wait around. Over the weekend, the association spoke with the IIHF's other member federations, and those talks will carry on this week. Association president Heikki Hietanen said Finland is trying to bring as many countries as possible together to tell the IIHF that none of them will play Russia in the current situation. In his view, a joint message carries far more weight than a single country speaking up alone. Finland's policy, he added, is that it will not face Russia as long as the war against Ukraine goes on.

Hietanen also said he had made Finland's position clear at the Executive Board meeting and that the work would continue the next day. He pointed out that it is up to the IIHF to share news about the meeting once it ends.

Turku Ready to Give Up Junior Event
The pressure is also coming from the host city level. Local authorities in Turku said on Monday that the city will give up hosting the 2028 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships if Russia is allowed to take part. Officials said having a Russian team at the event would go against the city's values and ethical principles.

Mayor Piia Elo put it plainly. The city stands by its values even if that means losing big events and the chances that come with them. While Russia is fighting an aggressive war in Ukraine, she said, Turku cannot accept the Russian national team playing there. The city still hopes the IIHF and the Finnish government can find a way to stop Russian participation, and it says it remains ready to host the tournament if Russia is kept out.

The first event where CAS has told the IIHF to admit Russia is the 2027 World Junior Championship in Canada, which is set to start on December 26. The IIHF could not be reached for comment right away.

Earlier on Monday, AJ Products, the Swedish furniture company that has sponsored the Men's Ice Hockey World Championships since 1989, said it would not back next year's tournament because of Russia's participation.