Czech Ice Hockey Association Opposes Return of Russian Teams

Ahead of the Women’s Under-18 World Championship in Ostrava, the Czech Ice Hockey Association plans to speak to the government about the Russian team’s entry into the country. Škoda Auto has announced that it will review its World Championship sponsorship if Russia takes part.

The Czech Ice Hockey Association is standing by its position following the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). It opposes the return of Russian national teams to international competition under the current circumstances. Association president Alois Hadamczik said the Czech Republic would join other European ice hockey associations if they collectively refused to field their national teams against Russia.

With its ruling in late October, CAS paved the way for Russian ice hockey teams to return to international competition. The Russian men’s national team could therefore also compete at the World Championship in Germany in May 2027.

The Czech association’s executive committee is due to discuss the next steps at its regular meeting. Secretary General Jan Černý said a formal decision on how to handle potential games against Russia was still pending. The association is in close contact on the matter with its counterparts in Finland, Sweden, Canada and France, among others.

Talks with the Government over the Under-18 World Championship in Ostrava

The association is first considering the implications of the CAS ruling for the Women’s Under-18 World Championship in Ostrava in January. On Thursday, it plans to speak to government representatives about the entry restrictions in force and whether members of the Russian team can be denied visas. According to Černý, the Russian side has already asked the Czech association to take steps to facilitate its team’s return.

Škoda Auto to Review World Championship Sponsorship

Škoda Auto will review its involvement in the Ice Hockey World Championship if the Russian national team takes part in the tournament. The carmaker has been the championship’s main sponsor since 1993 and opposes the CAS ruling, which paves the way for Russian teams to return to competitions run by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

The Czech betting operator Tipsport, one of the IIHF’s official sponsors, had previously also criticised the possible return of Russian teams to international competition.