After the young Russian team eliminated the Norwegian team from the World Hockey Championship, according to the schedule, it was supposed to play with the Swiss team. The Swiss refused. The new newspaper of Zurich.
The tournament will begin on December 26 in Edmonton and Red Ayr. But the average Swiss would rather give up his favorite "Aroma" seasoning than have Russia play in this tournament.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney clarified this a few days ago when he said: "As long as Russia and Belarus support this illegal, unjustified and terrible war in Ukraine, no athlete from these countries will represent them in Canada." Then he added: "Russia will not participate in the World Youth Championship under the age of 20."
The Canadian government has announced that if necessary it will not allow Russian teenagers to enter the country. At the same time, many professional Russian hockey players play in the Canadian NHL teams - this is a double standard that Dominic Hasek, for example, the former world-class goaltender, strongly criticizes.
In the World Youth Championship up to the age of 20, the Russians will take the place of Norway, who reached the tournament. While the official calendar for the championship is unchanged - Norway remains Switzerland's opponent for the group on December 27 - a modified document appears to be circulating within the organization, with Switzerland set to face Russia in Edmonton.
Therefore, on Saturday night, the Swiss Hockey Federation finally decided to step out of the shadows. "The board of the Swiss Hockey Federation has decided that in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the current circumstances, the Swiss under-20 national team will not play against the Russian junior national team at the upcoming world championship," the press release said.
And: "This decision in no way means a refusal to participate in the 2027 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.