First coach Nikita Koucherov And Nikita Gusev Gennady Kurdin told that he misses the talented Russian players whose careers would end without the Olympics.
On Monday, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) issued a press release according to which the national teams of Russia and Belarus are suspended from international competitions under the auspices of the organization for the 2025/26 season. As the organization’s president, Luc Tardif, told , Russia has not yet lost its chance to participate in the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy.
— Who needs a four-team World Cup, where are Canada, USA, Finland and Sweden? Boston’s Czech striker David Pastrnak has already spoken out: “I will not watch this tournament. Why is there no Czech national team?
However, they want to play at the strongest level for their country, to show themselves. This is a crucial time for budding athletes. But here they are deprived of this chance.
I also understand Pastrnak, who has been a leader in Boston for many years. And I feel sorry for Kucherov, Panarin and the other guys. Their careers will pass without the Olympic Games! They are missing out on their best years. It’s inhumane. It’s a sporting tragedy.
Even during the Cold War, the best hockey players competed against each other. The Super Series took place in 1972. Our team won the Canada Cup in 1981. Sport must bring people together. Who started the first boycott? Americans and Westerners, when they didn’t go to the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. I think Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin will calm people down a little. But we must not mix sport and politics.
Kids aren’t playing internationally, that’s what’s bad. Young Russians have been suspended from the world championships. What are they guilty of? They are only 16 to 20 years old. Well, okay, the tournaments were canceled because of the pandemic. But what is the reason? And why don’t the Finns remember where hockey came from for them, who taught them everything? It was we, the Russians, who taught them. Boris Mayorov and Vladimir Yurzinov invested more in their system. After all, I played in Finland for five years. Although at the lowest level, I was already 35 when I left there. But I played myself and taught young Finns. And now they have decided to expel us? It’s two-sided! – Kurdin told .
The 2026 Olympic Games will be held from February 6 to 22 in Italy (Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo). In the previous two Games, the Russian team won gold (2018) and silver (2022).
Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
