Austria and France instead of Russia and Belarus at the Ice Hockey World Championships?
In 2019 Austria took part in an A World Cup for the last time.Image: KEYSTONE
Ice Master Zaugg
Switzerland is expected to play Austria at the World Cup in Finland instead of Russia. Austria is to replace Russia and France at the World Cup. Helsinki remains World Cup venue.
The International Ice Hockey Federation, at the meeting, the crisis that began today at 6 p.m., has to follow Finland’s request to exclude Russia and Belarus from the World Championship. France and Austria should move up to the tournament. In this case, the Swiss will not play against Russia on May 22, but against Austria.
In addition, Russia is to be excluded from the traditional four-country tournament series with Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic and Russia. It is possible that Switzerland will take part in the tournaments in August, November, December and February for Russia and hold one of these tournaments. But Germany is also a candidate for Russia’s place in this tournament.
Helsinki should remain World Cup location. Matches will be moved from Hartwall Arena (owned by Russian oligarchs) to IFK Helsinki’s stadium. For reasons of time, a move to Turku is no longer possible until the start of the World Cup on May 9th.
watson ice hockey on Instagram
These countries have already been ice hockey world champions
Things hockey fans would never say
This might also interest you:
FC Schalke 04 is drawing consequences from Russia’s attack on Ukraine and is prematurely ending cooperation with the largest donor, Gazprom.
Schalke 04 parted ways with its controversial main sponsor Gazprom in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The board of directors decided this with the approval of the supervisory board, the club from the second Bundesliga announced on Monday.