The NHL has cut ties with the country in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
“The National Hockey League condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and urges a peaceful solution as soon as possible,” the North American professional hockey league said in a statement.
All relationships with business partners in Russia are suspended, and the Russian-language pages of the NHL and social networks are also to be paused. There are no longer any thoughts of using Russia as a location for competitions with an NHL connection in the future.
Russia started a war against Ukraine on February 24 and is therefore increasingly isolated in world sports. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had called for athletes from Russia and its ally, Belarus, to no longer be allowed to participate in international competitions.
Regarding the numerous Russian ice hockey professionals in the NHL, the league said it is concerned about the well-being of athletes who “play on behalf of their clubs in the NHL and not on behalf of Russia”. The players and their families are in an “extremely difficult position”.
