Rotenberg believes that Ovechkin and Malkin can play at the 2030 Olympics and win gold

The first vice-president of the Russian Hockey Federation (RHF), head coach of the Russia-25 national team, Roman Rotenberg, suggested that Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin could play at the 2030 Olympic Games and win gold medals.

Russian and Belarusian teams have been suspended from participation in competitions under the auspices of the IIHF since 2022. The 2026 Olympic Games will be held in Italy in February, the 2030 Games will be held in the French Alps.

— How do you react to the news that the Olympics in Milan will be held on an unfinished skating rink?

— I wasn’t there, and it’s hard for me to comment on their infrastructure. I will only say that in Russia we have a lot of excellent hockey infrastructure and wonderful ice. But we cannot influence what is in Milan. We’re not there. And this is on their conscience.

— Aren’t you offended that Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin are deprived of their last chance to win an Olympic medal?

“It’s always a shame when a person is unfairly deprived of a dream.” But what can we do about it? Ovechkin and Malkin are wonderful citizens of Russia, they are wonderfully developing hockey in Russia. We are constantly in touch with them, we communicate, we exchange experiences. Children grow up by their example and fall in love with hockey. And they will definitely play at the Olympics and World Championships. This is our future.

And I don’t agree that this is the last chance for Ovechkin and Malkin. It all depends on how they prepare for the next four years. Perhaps they will be in better shape than today and will play at the 2030 Olympics in France. We need to look forward optimistically and prepare for the 2030 Olympics in order to win gold there,” a Match TV correspondent reports Rotenberg’s words.

In December 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the organization’s executive committee recommended that international federations not restrict the access of athletes from Russia and Belarus to youth competitions in both individual and team disciplines. At the same time, the IOC Executive Committee recommended that international sports federations maintain the current restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes in adult competitions.