The International Ice Hockey Federation confirms the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from all sanctioned international hockey events for the 2023-24 season and former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov calls it a crime against hockey.
Fetisov is currently a member of the upper house of the Russian Federal Assembly. The country’s former sports minister, his work was instrumental in winning Sochi, Russia host city status for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Slava Fetisov on Ovechkin:
“He represents Putin’s team, he wears his merchandise. So he represents our country, our hockey and the current situation (the war). He was not afraid, did not back down, did not change of position. It commands respect. “https://t.co/FkYrdvT9P7—Slava Malamud 🇺🇦 (@SlavaMalamud) May 19, 2023
Lately, however, Fetisov has been outspoken in his criticism of Russian bans on international sporting events since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“For me, there is no world championship in hockey,” Fetisov told Sport-Express.ru. “I believe it is a crime to show it in our country, and also to discuss its results. The subject is closed for me.
“It’s a crime to talk about the World Cup. If you don’t respect yourself, no one will respect you.
Fetisov has an impeccable hockey resume
In the NHL, Fetisov was one of Detroit’s famous Russian Five. He successively won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 1996-97 and 1997-98. The Russian star was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. Fetisov is also a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won multiple Stanley Cup, World Championship and Olympic Games titles. He is part of a select group of eight players who have won all those championships, as well as the World Junior and Canada/World Cup titles.
Fetisov was named to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team in 2008. Lately, however, the only international recognition to come from Fetisov is criticism and expulsion due to his support for the invasion of Europe. Ukraine by Russia.
Last year, the Canadian and American governments decided to ban Fetisov from entering North America. The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) includes Fetison on a list of Russians under sanctions due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Fetisov is one of 328 members of the Duma, the Russian parliament, who received the ban.
The ban prevented him from attending this season’s anniversary celebrations for Detroit’s 1996-97 and 1997-98 Stanley Cup teams.
