Russia's national ice hockey teams have reportedly been cleared to return to international competitions starting this season, marking a significant development after more than four years of suspension.
As reported by İdman.Biz, the next major tournament on the international calendar is the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, scheduled to take place from December 26, 2026, to January 5, 2027, in the Canadian cities of Edmonton and Red Deer.
Russia was initially suspended from international ice hockey competitions by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in February 2022, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
However, the IIHF's latest official decision, issued on July 30, 2026, explicitly excludes Russia from the 2027 World Junior Championship and several other major tournaments. The federation cited continuing safety, security and sporting integrity concerns.
The published schedule for the World Junior Championship also does not include Russia among the ten participating nations.
