Finland, Sweden to drop players from Russian hockey league teams

Finnish, Swedish hockey gamers enjoying in Russia-based league won't be chosen for nationwide groups, associations say.

Two players fight for the puck
Finnish membership Jokerit withdrew from the KHL in late February, days after the invasion [File: Matti Raivio/Lehtikuva/Reuters]

Finnish and Swedish ice hockey gamers enjoying within the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and different leagues in Russia won't be chosen for his or her nationwide groups, the 2 nations’ ice hockey associations have stated.

The transfer adopted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow describes as a “particular navy operation”.

“The place of the Finnish Hockey Affiliation is that gamers enjoying in Russia subsequent season will be unable to play for the nationwide staff,” the Finnish Ice Hockey Affiliation stated in an announcement on Monday.

Finnish membership Jokerit withdrew from the KHL in late February, days after the invasion.

The Swedish Ice Hockey Affiliation (SIF) stated it was leaning in direction of not choosing Swedish gamers plying their commerce within the KHL, however will make a proper choice after the season ends.

“However what we are able to now state is that not one of the gamers who participated through the playoffs within the KHL are eligible for the World Cup event in Finland,” the SIF stated in an announcement.

Finland is internet hosting the 2022 males’s World Championship from Might 13-29.

As many as 31 Finnish and 30 Swedish gamers had been on KHL rosters, in response to the league’s web site, however solely a handful stay following Jokerit’s withdrawal and a number of other gamers selecting to go away their golf equipment following the invasion.

Finland’s males’s ice hockey staff gained Olympic gold in Beijing in February, beating the Russian Olympic Committee staff within the remaining. Sweden completed fourth.

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