NHL: Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars - Source: Imagn — Doug Armstrong calls Russia’s absence from 2026 Olympics disappointing (Source: Imagn)

Canada GM makes feelings known about Russia's omission from 2026 Olympics - "Disappointing but nothing participants can control"

Modified Jun 17, 2025 03:18 GMT

Russia will not take part in the 2026 Olympics men’s hockey tournament. The International Olympic Committee banned Russia from team sports, owing to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. France will replace Russia in the competition.

Hockey fans felt sad about missing top players like Alex Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy. They are among the best in the world and will miss the chance to play in Milan.

Canada’s general manager, Doug Armstrong, shared his thoughts on the omission. Armstrong did not talk about the reason behind the ban and said the tournament must continue.

“We probably had a wide berth of players we could have named, but it is what it is," Armstrong said via sportsnet. "I think it’s consistent with the 4 Nations and the event before, so we’re OK doing. As I said to someone: ‘I think the easy part’s behind us, these six. Now it gets interesting as we fill out that roster.’”

Armstrong said it is disappointing that Russia is not part of the event. Armstrong said this decision is not in the hands of the players.

“It’s disappointing that they’re not in this event, but it’s certainly nothing that the participants in the event can control,” Armstrong added. “You have to play the teams that are on your schedule, and unfortunately this time around the Russians won’t be there.”

Dominik Hasek supports Russia's ban from 2026 Olympics

Former NHL goalie Dominik Hasek supports Russia’s possible ban from the 2026 Winter Olympics. He has often criticized Russia’s with Ukraine.

He has also spoken out against Russian athletes like Alex Ovechkin. On May 25, Hasek shared his opinion on X and said that if the ban is final, it is good news for the democratic world.

"If this is the final decision, then this is excellent news for the entire democratic world, ..." Hasek said in his X post. "This decision can save many human lives. Of course, @iocmedia, this is only the beginning. So that the Olympic Games are not an advertisement for the Russian war and Russian crimes..."

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Hasek also said Russian citizens should not compete under the current rules.

About the author

Abhilasha is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda. Holding a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, her interest in writing hockey was piqued after watching an NHL skills video on YouTube. The 2023 Stanley Cup Finale series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers was among the most iconic games she has seen and it left an impact on her.

Her reporting strengths include covering news stories and following stars like McDavid, Matthews and Alex Ovechkin, among others.

Abhilasha is a huge fan of the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche because of their skilled forwards, while her favorite players include Wayne Gretzky, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Connor Bedard. For her, John Tortorella is the greatest coach ever.

Abhilasha has over 3 years of experience writing content for different products and websites, along with handling social media content for various brands. She values using credible sources when writing and likes to identify fake and false narratives.

Abhilasha’s hobbies include spiritual reading, staying updated on the latest makeup trends, fitness and exploring new destinations through travel.

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