International hockey faces a major dispute over Russia’s return after a sports court ruled the IIHF must reinstate Russian teams, starting with the world juniors. Utah defenseman MacKenzie Weegar said he enjoys watching Russia compete but recognizes European players and countries may view its return differently because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

By the Numbers
  • Russia and Belarus have been barred from international hockey since 2022.
  • The world juniors are scheduled to begin Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.
  • At least 6 European federations have opposed Russia’s return or said they will not play Russian teams.
Yes, But

The court ruling calls for reinstatement, but European opposition is strong: Sweden, Finland, Czechia and Latvia say their national teams will not play Russia, while Norway and Denmark have ruled out games against Russia at the 2027 men’s world championship. Austria also opposes the return. Several Swedish and Finnish NHL players declined to comment, deferring to their federations.

State of Play
  • The IIHF is expected to reinstate Russian teams beginning with the world juniors.
  • European federations’ opposition could complicate international scheduling and participation.
  • Weegar hopes the dispute can be resolved, while acknowledging North American players may feel less directly affected.
Bottom Line

Russia’s return is not just a question of eligibility: it has exposed a deep divide between the court’s ruling and the views of European hockey nations most affected by the war.