“The NHL will influence the IIHF so that Russian hockey players participate in the Olympics” – Kamensky

Olympic champion Valery Kamensky believes that the NHL leadership can help Russian hockey players compete at the Olympic Games in 2026 and 2030.

Last week, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced that NHL players are planned to participate in the 2026 and 2030 Olympic Games.

— The NHL’s decision to release players to the Olympics is important for hockey players. This is one of the most important competitions, but without our team any international competition is incomplete. The NHL will influence the IIHF to ensure that Russians participate in the Olympics. They gave the green light to the players, and our hockey players have the same rights as everyone else and should participate.

— Nikita Kucherov said that he wants to go to the Olympics, and without the Russian team it will not be a tournament of the strongest. Can such statements by Russian NHL stars affect the situation?

“If Russian hockey players say that they want to play at the Olympics, of course, the leaders will listen,” Metaratings.ru quotes Kamensky.

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be held from 6 to 22 February 2026 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy). The last time NHL players competed in the Olympic arena was at the 2014 Games in Sochi. Previously, NHL players also participated in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano (Japan), 2002 in Salt Lake City (USA), 2006 in Turin (Italy) and 2010 in Vancouver (Canada).

By decision of the IIHF, the Russian team was suspended from participation in competitions under the auspices of the organization. The head of the organization, Luc Tardif, reported that the decision to extend or cancel the disqualification will be made in mid-February 2024. The current Olympic champion is the Finnish team, which defeated the Russian team in the final of the hockey tournament of the 2022 Games. The Russians are the 2018 Olympic champions.