The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) has announced that players from Russia and Belarus will not be eligible for the upcoming international draft.
This decision was not a surprise, as the CHL on March 2 condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in support of Belarus.
This penalty does not apply to players whose name is currently on the team’s protection list.
The 2022 draft will take place on July 1st.
In June 2021, 85 players were selected in the final international league draft, including 16 from Russia and 11 from Belarus.
This decision is the latest sanctions against Russia and Belarus by the international hockey community.
Teams from both countries have been banned from International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) international competitions for an indefinite period.
The IIHF also eliminated Russia of the 2023 World Junior and Senior Men’s Championships.
Source: Radio-Canada
