As an indirect consequence of the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from the international sports movement, France has just won its ticket for the Elite Ice Hockey World Championships, scheduled to take place in Finland from 13 to 19 May 2022. The international body of the discipline, the IIHF, announced it at the end of last week. The French will take the place of the Russians in Helsinki, in group A. At the same time, Austria will replace Belarus in Pool B, organised in Tampere. The French Ice Hockey Federation (FFHG) explained in a statement: “Even if the opportunity to face again the best hockey nations in the world seems to be a good one, the FFHG can only regret the circumstances that led to this situation and affirms its support to the Ukrainian population.” The IIHF also announced that Sweden would join the elite women’s world championship, and that the IA World Division in Angers from 24-30 April would be played with five teams.
