Heikki Hietanen dismissed the NHL boss’ claims.
According to Heikki Hietanen, Finland’s position on Russia has not changed. Tomi Natri/AOP
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly according to Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic’s attitude towards Russia’s participation in international tournaments has changed.
Chairman of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association Heikki Hietanen knock out the argument.
– The Finnish Ice Hockey Association’s position on the Russia issue has not changed. We have also not had discussions with any party about it, Fine convince in the union’s bulletin.
President of the International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF Luc Tardif made it clear during the World Cup that Russia might return to tournaments under it in the coming season.
– The International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF is examining the situation in Russia as it has been until now, but no decisions have been made regarding the timetable for Russia’s possible return to international tournaments, Hietanen says.
The Russia issue came up when Daly spoke at the NHL press conference about the new mini-tournament that will be held next season in connection with the all-star game.
In addition to Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden, teams from the rest of the world will participate in the tournament, and Russian players can also be selected.
Russia, which continues its war of aggression in Ukraine, has been excluded from the IIHF tournaments, but the NHL now wants the Russians to participate in its own tournament.
In the mini-tournament, teams play three-on-three five-minute matches.
The story was updated with additional information about the tournament at 10:45 am.