ICE HOCKEY: Russia absent from men's 2027 world championship groups

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) did not include Russia in the list of teams set to compete in the men’s 2027 World Championship on Monday, despite the governing body lifting its ban on the country last month.

Russia has been barred from IIHF competitions since 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. Although the IIHF council re-examined the country’s reintegration in January, it maintained the suspension, citing safety and security concerns.

Russia’s ice hockey federation appealed the decision to the IIHF disciplinary board, which annulled the council’s ruling. However, the IIHF later clarified that Russia would not be automatically reinstated and that its participation in future tournaments would be assessed on an event-by-event basis.

The IIHF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The 2027 World Championship is scheduled to take place in Germany from May 14 to 30. Ukraine has been placed in Group A and will compete in the tournament for the first time since 2007.

Russia is the most successful nation in the competition’s history, having won the title 27 times, with its most recent championship victory coming in 2014. -Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters