Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Latvia have joined Finland in refusing to play Russia at the upcoming men's ice hockey world championship, according to CBC, bringing the number of boycotting nations to six of the 16 in the tournament. The Czech federation also signed on Tuesday after first saying it would wait for a board meeting. The standoff follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling last week that ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation to readmit Russian teams, starting with the world juniors that open December 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer.
Why it matters
The dispute puts one of hockey's marquee events on uncertain footing and sets the IIHF against some of its strongest members. It also echoes soccer's 2022 response to the invasion of Ukraine, when Russia's World Cup qualifying opponents lined up to refuse to play and FIFA argued successfully at CAS that exclusion was necessary to avoid severe disruption to the competition. Russia had been barred from international ice hockey since 2022, and the CAS decision has now forced federations to decide individually whether they will share the ice.
A reversal in Stockholm and a security argument in Oslo
Sweden's decision marked a change of course. According to CBC, the Swedish federation had indicated last week, after the CAS ruling, that a boycott was not on the table. On Tuesday its board concluded otherwise. "The Three Crowns will not play Russia in coming world championship tournaments," federation head Anders Larsson said in a statement, referring to the team's nickname. Sweden will still take part in its other games at the event.
Norway framed its refusal around player welfare rather than politics alone. The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association said Russia should be kept out of all international championships for as long as the war in Ukraine continues, and that its decision rested on protecting the safety of players, staff and their families. The federation said competing against Russia in present conditions could put its people at serious security risk, and that their mental health, wellbeing and personal safety come first. Norway's statement addressed only the men's world championship, which takes place in May.
Denmark's federation chairman told the Ritzau news agency that Danish teams would not face Russia, while Latvia's federation said it was restating a long-held position against playing Russia or its ally Belarus. Austria told the Associated Press it stands with Finland and Norway and is examining whether European nations will boycott as a group, without ruling out joining. Germany, meanwhile, is uncertain about hosting the men's championship, CBC reports.
The backdrop is a competitive one: Finland is the defending men's world champion, and Norway took bronze this year.
Sponsors waver and junior events feel the strain
Commercial partners are also moving. Finnish tire maker Nokian Tyres said it will end its world championship sponsorship if Russia participates. Tiina Frazer, the company's senior vice-president for brand, marketing and communications, said that under current circumstances continuing the sponsorship with Russia in the field would not fit the company's values. Swedish furniture company AJ Products, a tournament sponsor since 1989, said Monday it would ask that its logo be hidden if Russia plays.
The junior level is already affected. The Finnish city of Turku said it will not co-host next year's world juniors if Russia takes part. Hockey Canada said last week it was asking the IIHF to clarify how Russia's return would affect the Edmonton and Red Deer tournament. Canada's federal government has said it opposes Russia's return and will keep restrictions on Russian athletes at federally funded events in Canada; Hockey Canada confirmed the world juniors receives no federal funding. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the province would follow the CAS ruling.
The Czech federation, which hosts the women's under-18 world championship in January, said it would consult the government about whether Russian players would be barred from entering the country.
There was no immediate response from the IIHF to the boycotts, and USA Hockey did not immediately answer messages from the AP. CBC notes it remains unclear how Russia would be slotted into tournaments, since an extra team creates uneven groups and a longer schedule. Not every voice is opposed to the reinstatement: Slovakia's pro-Russian prime minister, Robert Fico, has backed Russia's return, questioning what a gold medal is worth without having to beat Russian players along the way.
What to watch: whether Austria and other European federations formally join the boycott, how the IIHF responds, and whether Germany proceeds as host of the men's championship.
