Worlds: Head of IIHF slams players who left ice as showing complete disrespect for competitors

The head of the International Ice Hockey Federation Rene Fasel has expressed deep disappointment that members of the Russian hockey team left the ice at Prague’s O2 arena on Sunday showing what he called complete disrespect for Canadian competitors who won the final 6:1. After the blowout, most of the team made a show of leaving the ice without waiting for the Canadian national anthem. Mr Fasel told TASS he had seen nothing like it in more than 29 years he has attended to the championship. Some players - Alexander Ovechkin, Yevgeny Malkin, Viktor Tikhonov and Dmitry Kulikov – reportedly remained on the ice, but Mr Fasel charged that Russia’s head coach and general manager should have been present to stop the others. He added that after he returned from the Czech Republic, the IIHF would review the incident.

Author: Jan Velinger