"Long-Awaited And Joyful" Say Members Of Russia's Women's National Team With Return To IIHF Competition Imminent

According to members of Russia's women's national team, the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to order the immediate reinstatement of Russian teams to IIHF competition is one that has been long-awaited, and brings joy to women's hockey players from the nation.

Russia has been banned from international competition since 2022 due to the nation's unprompted violence and attacks against Ukraine. The Russian invasion continues with recent bombings further damaging Ukrainian cities, killing citizens, and damaging ice hockey rinks across the nation.

Still, for the players, the return has been something they've looked forward to since the 2022 Olympics, which were Russia's final international appearance.

According to PWHL Hamilton forward, Anna Shokhina, the announcement was "the most long-awaited and joyful one for us: very soon we will be on the international arena again!"

"We’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and I’m so excited that it’s finally here. These are special emotions and a great opportunity for all of us!" Shokhina wrote in a translated Instagram post.

It means Russian teams will compete in upcoming 2027 U-18 World Championship and 2027 World Championship tournaments. In their absence from international competition, Russia's senior national team has continued training and playing exhibition games against men's and boys teams in Russia, as well as facing competition from Belarus, who was also barred from IIHF competition.

"Throughout the period of absence from international competitions, the RIHF has maintained its national team system, continued developing players across all age groups and strengthened domestic competitions and junior, youth and women's ice hockey," the Russian Ice Hockey Federation wrote.

"The RIHF now faces the challenging task of working together with the IIHF to implement the CAS ruling and facilitate the return of Russian teams to competitions held under the auspices of the IIHF."

Russia's senior national team is set to play in the President's Sporting Club Cup in Belarus from November November 4-7. 

Russia's Anna Shokhina, Fanuza Kadirova (Ottawa Charge) and Vita Poniatovskaia (Ottawa Charge) all played in the PWHL last season. They'll be joined by netminder Daria Gredzen (Minnesota Frost) and potentially defender Maria Batalova (Montreal Victoire) this season. There are also four Russian players - Maria Mikaelyan, Maria Polozkova, Anna Sviridova, and Eva Filippova - in the NCAA this season, as well as Ilona Markova playing U SPORTS hockey.