Russia banned from 2026 Olympic ice hockey tournament: What this means for NHL stars and the sport’s global future

The International Ice Hockey Federation has banned Russia and Belarus from the 2026 Winter Olympics. The ban includes all IIHF-sanctioned events through the 2025-26 season. This decision impacts top Russian NHL stars like Ovechkin and Kaprizov. They will not participate in the Milan Games. The IIHF cites safety and geopolitical concerns due to the Ukraine invasion as the reason.

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