Two-time Olympic champion, former head coach of the Russian national hockey team, Vyacheslav Bykov, praised the US and Canada’s decision to support the Russians’ return to the international arena in 2024.
“Did the voice of the USA and Canada surprise me? Yes and no. Because for these countries, the word “business” is above all sacred. The absence of the Russian team at the World Cup is the lack of spectator interest and, accordingly, the lack of everything.
Are our chances of coming back realistic? It’s hard to say how the voting will evolve. If we take the general political situation, in any establishment where the Americans exist, they are everywhere “pressing” on other countries during certain votes,” quotes Bykov. sports24.
Match TV previously reported that the majority of the members of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) favored Russia’s return to the world championships due to the financial dimension of the issue. It is also stated that the Russian youth team may participate in the World Cup at the end of this year.
Recall that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) decided to exclude Russian hockey players from participation in international tournaments, even with a neutral status, and in 2023 received from Russia the right to host the home junior world championship.
Formerly Alexander Kozhevnikov He said Swedes, Finns and Czechs would oppose Russia’s participation in the 2024 World Cup..