‘We just want to play’ Ovechkin says on Russian participation at IIHF events
OTTAWA — Washington Capitals star forward Alex Ovechkin said Tuesday that Russian athletes just want to represent their country, but declined to weigh in when asked about the decision to allow Russia back into international hockey tournaments.
Washington Capitals star forward Alex Ovechkin expressed his support for Russian athletes participating in international hockey events during a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday. Ovechkin was asked about the recent reversal of Russia's ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which allowed Russia to rejoin IIHF tournaments after its exclusion since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
However, Ovechkin declined to comment on the Canadian government's decision not to permit Russian players to compete in the upcoming world junior hockey championships in Alberta. The CAS ruling only addressed the Russian ban, not that of Belarus. Fans, according to Ovechkin, want to see the best athletes compete, including young generation players who could become future stars and NHLers.
He emphasized that athletes simply wish to represent their countries in international competitions, regardless of the event or organization. Ovechkin also denied any connection between the Kremlin's use of success in sports for propaganda purposes to garner domestic support for the war in Ukraine, a claim he previously made. The Canadian Press reported this story on November 10, 2026, providing context for Ovechkin's views and the broader controversy surrounding Russia's return to international hockey.
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