Weegar loves watching Russia play hockey, but says Europe may see it differently
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MacKenzie Weegar says he enjoys watching Russia play in the top hockey tournaments. But the Canadian defenceman says Russia’s return to international competition might be viewed differently by European players.
“I know those (Russian) guys want to play in it really badly, but it’s obviously a different time, and people have their views on it,” Weegar said Tuesday before his Utah Mammoth played the Maple Leafs in Toronto. ” But I’ve always loved seeing Russia in the Olympics and in those best-on-bests.”
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled last week that the International Ice Hockey Federation must reinstate Russian teams, beginning with the world juniors, which start Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta. Russia and its ally Belarus had been barred from competition since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The ruling has prompted a backlash from several European hockey federations. Sweden, Finland, Czechia and Latvia have said their national teams will not play Russia in international competition. Norway and Denmark have said they will not play Russia at the 2027 men’s world championship in Germany, while Austria opposes Russia’s return.
