The lions may face the Russians in the rink.
Aleksandr Ovechkin might play against Finland next February if he stays in the NHL. PDO
The NHL is launching a new tournament that will be played for the first time next winter. The NHL and the NHL players’ association announced the night before Wednesday, Finnish time.
In connection with the NHL star match, a five-team tournament is played, the participating countries of which are teams from Canada, the United States, Finland, Sweden and the rest of the world.
The teams play three-on-three five-minute matches against each other.
The two best teams in the preliminary series will compete in the ten-minute final.
Nine field players and two goalkeepers are selected for the teams.
The public plays a big role, as fans get to choose eight players. The rest are chosen by the NHL and the players’ association.
Russian hockey players can be selected for the rest of the world’s team.
Russia has not participated in international tournaments since the 2022 Olympics. Russia lost to Finland in the Olympic final.
Shortly after the Olympics, Russia started a war of aggression in Ukraine.
The NHL is not a league under the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).
The NHL star event takes place in February.