Viacheslav Fetisov isn’t hiding his frustration with the IIHF’s latest move.
The former Detroit Red Wings defenseman, a member of the famed Russian Five and a two-time Stanley Cup winner in Detroit, took aim at the federation after it said Russia would remain barred from international play through the 2026-27 season. That decision keeps Russian national teams out of next season’s World Championship and World Junior Championship, along with other international tournaments.
The IIHF first banned Russia from all levels of international competition on February 28, 2022, after the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I’m upset,” Fetisov told Russian website Sport-Express. “Our hockey officials promised everything would be fine.
“I recently spoke with some guys (Russian players) from the NHL who were waiting for the IIHF’s decision. They’ve missed international competitions.”
Fetisov, now part of the State Duma and still active in hockey circles, went further in comments to Sport24, accusing IIHF officials of targeting Russia.
“The Russophobes who are currently in the IIHF … their moment in the spotlight has come,” Fetisov told website Sport24. “They are mocking the leading hockey nation, which gave the world modern hockey and a huge number of the greatest hockey players. They have been given an opportunity to mock us.
“They’re simply making fun of us, a hockey powerhouse that has invested so much in the development of this sport. They can find any excuse not to allow us.”
Fetisov had hoped Russia would return in time to mark the country’s 80th year in international hockey, but that door appears to be closed for now.
“It seems we have no credibility in world hockey,” Fetisov said. “They don’t even allow children. It’s a very sad day for Russian hockey, especially in the year of its 80th anniversary.
“I’m not surprised that we weren’t allowed into the 2027 World Cup, but I’m disappointed. We were promised that everything would be fine, but it turned out that it wasn’t very good.
“Quite the opposite.”
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