Russia Demands Compensation if Canada, Germany Ban Hockey Teams

Vladislav Tretyak, president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, said Russia will demand compensation, seek to relocate tournaments, and impose sanctions on organizers if Canada and Germany refuse to host Russian teams at world championships. Tretyak made the statement Thursday at a Kremlin meeting of the presidential council on physical culture and sports. The men's world championship is scheduled for May 13-30 in Dusseldorf and Mannheim, Germany, while the junior world championship runs December 26 to January 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Canada. German hockey official Frank Lutz previously said Germany might cancel the tournament if Russia is admitted, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada would deny visas to Russian athletes. Tretyak cited IIHF statutes requiring technical defeats, division demotions, and fines for refusing matches, and referenced a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that ordered the IIHF to allow Russian teams in the 2026/27 season. He thanked Russian Olympic Committee head Mikhail Degtyarev for alerting the IOC about alleged violations.