Multiple Blackhawks involved in latest major ban in sports

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Joshua Deeds
February 14, 2024 (2:58)

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The IIHF has made a major announcement today that will have a reverberating effect on the sports world.

The International ruling body of hockey has announced that during the 2024-2025 IIHF World Championship season, multiple countries will not be participating.

Those banned from the IIHF World Championships will be Russian and Belarussian players.

This is bad news for Blackhawks prospects like Ilya Safonov and Roman Kantserov, as there's no doubt they'd love to suit up and battle it out for a Gold Medal in the international setting.

Russia and Belarus will not participate in the 2024/2025 IIHF championship season.

More at https://t.co/ldDBa42X8a ⤵️https://t.co/vsaodHXpNV pic.twitter.com/pzXBsK9cEs� IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 12, 2024

Still, NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh counters, «Russian players didn't create the situation we're in in the world with Ukraine. Obviously, they're a big part of who I represent. We'll address (them playing internationally) hopefully in a positive manner.

«That how we judged in Russia: international.»

Evgeni Malkin joins other Russian NHL players in discussing with ⁦@TheAthletic⁩ extension of international ban.

Stick taps: ⁦@JoeSmithNHL⁩ & ⁦@RussoHockey⁩ https://t.co/uV6yWL5sc4� Rob Rossi (@Real_RobRossi) February 13, 2024

«I think the world would love to see (it). The hockey world, certainly, and the world would benefit from seeing best-on-best with all countries involved. That would be the best scenario.»

But the IIHF has maintained it's ban on these countries participating as long as the conflict in Eastern Europe continues.

This differs from last season, which allowed certain individuals to participate, but this year is a blanket ban.

«(Kucherov) is like 30 now and he never was in the Olympics and he's one of the best hockey players in the world,» Kaprizov says. «It's hard for him, and I think it's hard for everybody. We have to watch on TV as other NHL guys play in these international tournaments.

«To think I may never get to again and some of my friends from Russia may never � it just doesn't seem fair.»

The reasoning of course, is for the safety of players of Russian and Ukrainian origin.

But it can't help but feel unfair to Russian NHLers, who may disagree with the Russian governments actions, or not have an opinion on the topic, who are suffering the consequences.

Nothing has changed in the IIHF as it seems the tournament will be less competitive, when people like Nikita Kucherov and Evgenii Malkin are out of the battle.

It seems unlikely that prospects like Safonov or Kantserov will have that shot either in the long-run.