What Happened
MacKenzie Weegar said Tuesday he has always enjoyed watching Russia compete in the Olympics and other best-on-best tournaments, but noted that European players may see the country's return to international hockey differently. The Utah Mammoth defenceman spoke in Toronto before his team faced the Maple Leafs. His comments came after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled last week that the IIHF must reinstate Russian teams, beginning with the world juniors starting Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta.
Key Details
- Weegar said Russia's players want to compete internationally but that views on the return vary.
- The Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered the IIHF to reinstate Russian teams, starting with the world juniors on Dec. 26.
- Russia and Belarus have been barred since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
- Sweden, Finland, Czechia and Latvia said their national teams will not play Russia.
- Norway and Denmark will not face Russia at the 2027 men's world championship in Germany; Austria opposes the return.
- Swedish Canadiens defenceman Adam Engstrom declined to comment, deferring to his federation.
What It Means
The ruling has created a split between the IIHF's obligation to reinstate Russia and the stance of several European federations, which have refused to face Russian teams. Weegar's comments reflect how the debate is viewed differently in North America, where he said the impact is less directly felt, than in countries closer to the conflict.
What's Next
The world juniors begin Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., as the first event affected by the ruling. Several European federations have already said they will not play Russia, leaving open how the IIHF handles participation at that tournament and the 2027 men's world championship in Germany.