Seasoned U.S. hockey analyst John Buccigross has lobbied for Russia’s participation in the 2028 World Cup of Hockey amid reports of boycott threats from three nations.
The NHL and NHLPA recently announced the return of the World Cup of Hockey, scheduled for February 2028. Calgary and Edmonton (Canada) and Prague (Czechia) will serve as the host cities.
It will be a best-on-best tournament featuring eight nations, though the participating countries have not yet been officially announced, leaving fans wondering whether Russia will be included.
The nations that have reportedly threatened to boycott the 2028 World Cup of Hockey if Russia is included are Czechia, Finland, and Sweden. Buccigross took to X (formerly called Twitter) to strongly advocate for Russia’s inclusion:
“Russia should be among the 8 teams. Undoubtedly. Russian players decorate the NHL with their skill and commitment. To deny them is a slap in the face to players Nikita Kucherov who dedicate their lives to improving their skill level–at their benefit, yes–and thus enhances the entertainment value of the sport. Be above the sanctimonious and filth-muck of politics and politicians–the dregs of the earth. We are watching a hockey tournament,” Buccigross wrote.
He added:
“The 2028 World Cup is an NHL/NHLPA for profit initiative. Zero politics-just pure hockey Patriotism. Would you ban Russian players from playing in the NHL?–Maybe you would–But they are not. Then why and how would you ban union members from an NHL/NHLPA event? The event is selling the game, not making statements. A huge majority of fans want Russia in.”
Russia remains banned by both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) from participating as a national team in most international competitions, due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
These restrictions have been in place since 2022, making it a primary reason why top Russian NHL stars such as Alex Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov, and others could not compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
When was the last World Cup of Hockey?
The last World Cup of Hockey was held in September 2016 and featured Canada, the USA, Russia, Sweden, Finland, and Czechia, along with two innovative composite teams: Team Europe and Team North America.
Team Canada emerged victorious, defeating Team Europe in the best-of-three final series to claim the title. A World Cup of Hockey had been planned for 2020 but was officially canceled by the NHL and NHLPA, primarily due to scheduling challenges and a lack of agreement on format and timing.
The 2028 World Cup of Hockey will mark the tournament’s return after a 12-year absence, marking its fourth edition overall.
Edited by Abhishek Dilta
