Finland to skip Russian hockey rivals

The Finnish Ice Hockey Association announced on Monday that its national teams will not face Russia in international competitions while the war in Ukraine continues. Spokesperson Henna Malmberg stated that the organization believes other nations share this stance. Media reports indicate that Latvia has also decided to skip Russian opponents, citing legal grounds for the move.

This action follows a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week. The court determined that the International Ice Hockey Federation must reinstate Russian teams beginning with the world juniors tournament in late December in western Canada. The IIHF did not immediately return a request for comment regarding the practical implications of a Finnish forfeit. The governing body's rulebook states that proper authorities will apply supplementary discipline at their discretion in the event of a forfeit.

The reinstatement of Russian teams has created friction among other member nations. Germany is currently evaluating whether it can host the men's world championship next year. The German hockey federation has cited extra costs and security concerns related to Russian participation as reasons it cannot guarantee the event will proceed as planned. Chief Executive Frank H. Lutz is traveling to Berlin this week to discuss the issue with political figures.

Sponsors are also reacting to the return of Russian teams. AJ Products, a Swedish furniture company that has sponsored the men's world championship since 1989, plans to request that its logo be removed from the event. The company’s logo appears on referees' uniforms and the boards. Chief Executive Enock Johansson told broadcaster TV4 on Monday that the company regrets the decision but agrees it is the right one.

The Czech Republic is set to host the women’s under-18 world championship in January. A spokesperson for Czech President Petr Pavel said last week that he favors banning athletes competing under Russian and Belarusian flags. This aligns with the general sentiment among some European hockey officials regarding the timing of Russia's return to international play.

The Finnish decision creates a potential scheduling conflict for the upcoming season. Teams that boycott Russia must forfeit their points or face disciplinary measures under IIHF rules. The next major event affected is the world juniors tournament in late December, where Russian teams will compete in western Canada for the first time since the court ruling.