As part of the vaunted Russian Five, defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov won two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings. He was earning enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.
Today, Fetisov is part of the State Duma, the Russian government. He also continues heavy involvement in hockey. Fetisov was reacting harshly to the news that the IIHF would be continuing its ban on Russian national teams through the 2026-27 season.
That means Russia won’t be playing in next season’s World Championship or World Junior Championship, among other international tournaments.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) banned Russia from all levels of international competition on February 28, 2022, following that country’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I’m upset,” Fetisov told Russian website Sport-Express. “Our hockey officials promised everything would be fine.
“I recently spoke with some guys (Russian players) from the NHL who were waiting for the IIHF’s decision. They’ve missed international competitions.”
Red Wings icon accuses IIHF of mocking Russia
Ignoring the elephant in the room – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – Fetisov accuses IIHF officials of anti-Russian bias.
The Russophobes who are currently in the IIHF
their moment in the spotlight has come,” Fetisov told website Sport24. “They are mocking the leading hockey nation, which gave the world modern hockey and a huge number of the greatest hockey players. They have been given an opportunity to mock us.
“They’re simply making fun of us, a hockey powerhouse that has invested so much in the development of this sport. They can find any excuse not to allow us.”
Fetisov was hopeful that Russia could be back on the world stage to celebrate the country’s 80th year in international hockey.
“It seems we have no credibility in world hockey,” Fetisov said. “They don’t even allow children. It’s a very sad day for Russian hockey, especially in the year of its 80th anniversary.
“I’m not surprised that we weren’t allowed into the 2027 World Cup, but I’m disappointed. We were promised that everything would be fine, but it turned out that it wasn’t very good.
“Quite the opposite.”