Germany ice hockey players decline comment on Russia’s possible return to IIHF competition, Digi Mart USA News: The ice hockey world is currently focused on one topic: the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision to lift the suspension of Russian teams from the competitions of the international federation IIHF. A possible career highlight, the home World Championship next year, may now be at stake, but the German national players officially show little interest in the matter.
“I’m only here to have fun. I have no comment on that, I’m just a player,” said forward Wojciech Stachowiak of the Swedish club Örebro HK after Germany’s 3-0 opening win over Austria at the Deutschland Cup in Düsseldorf.
The 27-year-old scored Germany’s third goal in the 48th minute.
Whether the 2027 World Championship will take place as planned next May in Düsseldorf and Mannheim is currently unclear. The German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) is considering whether to hand back the tournament.
Several nations have already announced a World Championship boycott should Russia actually take part. Important sponsors have also said they would withdraw in that case.
“We are here in Düsseldorf for the Deutschland Cup and for André, everything else will be sorted out,” said captain Yasin Ehliz of EHC Red Bull München.
At the Deutschland Cup, former national forward André Rankel is making his debut as national head coach. The event is overshadowed by the debate over Russia’s readmission to World Championship competition.
Since 2022, Russian teams have been barred from play because of the war against Ukraine. The Court of Arbitration for Sport recently upheld an appeal by the Russian federation.
“The DEB has given its statement on this, and we will leave it at that,” said former NHL forward Tobias Rieder of EHC Red Bull München. Dominik Bokk of the Kölner Haie expressed a similar view: “The DEB has issued a statement, we are focusing on ourselves and not thinking too much about it.”
In that statement, DEB Chief Executive Frank Lutz described the ruling as a fundamental change in the situation for the World Championship: “Allowing Russia to compete would have significant security, political and economic consequences for us as hosts.” Lutz later described withdrawing from hosting the World Championship as a “possible option.”
Since Monday, the IIHF, led by German president Franz Reindl, has been deliberating on how to proceed following the CAS ruling, with no result so far.
