{"id":799025,"date":"2026-08-02T09:17:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T09:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/799025\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T09:17:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T09:17:27","slug":"red-wings-hall-of-famer-blasts-iihf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/799025\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Hall of Famer Blasts IIHF"},"content":{"rendered":"

As part of the vaunted Russian Five, defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov<\/a> won two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings. He was earning enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.<\/p>\n

Today, Fetisov<\/a> is part of the State Duma, the Russian government. He also continues heavy involvement in hockey. Fetisov was reacting harshly to the news that the IIHF would be continuing its ban on Russian national teams through the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n

That means Russia won\u2019t be playing in next season\u2019s World Championship or World Junior Championship, among other international tournaments.<\/p>\n

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) banned Russia from all levels of international competition on February 28, 2022, following that country\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m upset,\u201d Fetisov told Russian website Sport-Express<\/a>. \u201cOur hockey officials promised everything would be fine. <\/p>\n

\u201cI recently spoke with some guys (Russian players) from the NHL who were waiting for the IIHF\u2019s decision. They\u2019ve missed international competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red Wings icon accuses IIHF of mocking Russia<\/p>\n

Ignoring the elephant in the room \u2013 Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine \u2013 Fetisov accuses IIHF officials of anti-Russian bias. <\/p>\n

The Russophobes who are currently in the IIHF \u2026 their moment in the spotlight has come,\u201d Fetisov told website Sport24<\/a>. \u201cThey are mocking the leading hockey nation, which gave the world modern hockey and a huge number of the greatest hockey players. They have been given an opportunity to mock us.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re simply making fun of us, a hockey powerhouse that has invested so much in the development of this sport. They can find any excuse not to allow us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fetisov was hopeful that Russia could be back on the world stage to celebrate the country\u2019s 80th year in international hockey.<\/p>\n

Legendary video. Ovechkin, Malkin, Pavel Bure, Kovalchuk, Yashin, Tretiak and Fetisov starred in a music video ahead of the 2014 Sochi Olympics! pic.twitter.com\/sB41SmFHZj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Uggg (@Uggg_uggg) April 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems we have no credibility in world hockey,\u201d Fetisov said. \u201cThey don\u2019t even allow children. It\u2019s a very sad day for Russian hockey, especially in the year of its 80th anniversary.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not surprised that we weren\u2019t allowed into the 2027 World Cup, but I\u2019m disappointed. We were promised that everything would be fine, but it turned out that it wasn\u2019t very good.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite the opposite.\u201d<\/p>\n