Finnish journalist offers to remove his national team from the Ice Hockey World Cup 2024 if Russia is allowed there
The news that the NHL was working on options for players playing in the World Cup was met with a neutral reception in the European press. Czech and Swedish publications avoided this topic, in Finland they mostly limited themselves to news articles.
“We want to find an option for Russia’s participation.” The NHL is ready to save our stars from a big blow
American ESPN practically reserves a place for Russia: “There are no plans to return the North American and European teams. The World Cup is expected to feature 10 individual teams, with two teams eliminated in the qualifying round and teams playing in the main tournament. It is expected that they will include teams from Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic and a team representing Russia.
While Daly said it was too early to decide if Russia would compete in some form at the World Cup, he noted that Russian participants would be involved. This may mean that an Olympic option will be adopted, in which the English flagship performs, but without the name of the country.
The Canadian Daily Faceoff is more cautious in its conclusions: “The question that everyone avoids is: will Russia be among the eight teams in the World Cup? The IIHF banned Russia from international tournaments, and the NHL severed relations with the KHL. It is safe to examine that this ban will also apply to the World Cup if the political climate is not observed by then. On the member list? End of conflict? Daley says he wanted the answer to be that simple, but the league will have to react, not act proactively,” writes journalist Matt Larkin.
“They screwed up with the Olympics, I want to play for Russia at the World Cup.” Powerful statements by Ovechkin
“The NHL will cost a lot to leave Ovechkin and Kaprizov sitting at home on the couch”
But still once responded from the overall picture. Jatkoaika published an article that increased the Finnish team to sabotage the World Cup if Russia is allowed there. “Championship” provides a translation of this article.
“Finland should withdraw from the World Cup if participation in Russia is allowed. We must follow morality against the greed of the NHL. Participation in the same tournament with Russia may not be possible, even if the NHL is nurturing such an idea.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league wants Russians to compete in the 2024 World Cup. Obviously, Russia forbids the use of national symbols, but the Russians will play in the tournament anyway.
The idea of the NHL can be understood when viewed from their point of view. First, the NHL wants to squeeze as much money out of the tournament as possible, so it needs all the brightest superstars. Of course, it will be expensive to leave Alexander Ovechkin, Andrei Vasilevsky and Kirill Kaprizov sitting at home on the couch.
In addition, it should be understood that for North Americans the usual situation with Ukraine is a much more distant problem than for us Finns. On the average resident, North America differs much less than on Europeans.
This distance is noticeable in hockey, especially in the fact that many Canadian and American players left for the KHL. And the media does not pressure them to solve them. And the performance of the Russians in the NHL is not called into question.
I suspect that with the help of Russia, the NHL will play on the “tension of the Cold War” in matches with Canada and the United States. It’s guaranteed to spark the public and create topics for discussion.”
Alexander Ovechkin
Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
“Finland must do everything to keep Russia out of the World Cup”
“If Russia’s participation is officially confirmed, the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation should directly state that their team will miss the tournament. Finland simply cannot participate in events where Russia will promote its propaganda. Even though we may have the strongest team in history.
I am afraid that this question will be very uncomfortable for Finland. We remember how they started in the spring to justify the call to the Finnish national team, which continues in the KHL after the start of the special operation. What will the aspiration from a real super team and the culmination of Jukka Jalonen’s career in the national team cost?
On the other hand, Finland now has more strength and power in law enforcement than ever before. Matti Nurminen is the IIHF General Secretary and Heikki Hietanen is on the IIHF Council. I prefer my success of recent years, the word of the Finns, of course, has weight.
Finland must do everything to keep Russia out of this best game against the best. Money and a super tournament cannot be important and massive.”