IIHF suspends Russia and Belarus from all international hockey events

On 28 February 2022, four days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the sport's world governing body, suspended Russia and Belarus from international hockey. The decision covered national teams and clubs at every age level and applied until further notice.

Belarus was included because its territory was used to stage the invasion. The IIHF also withdrew events that had been scheduled in the two countries. Russian teams were therefore left out of the 2022 men's World Championship in Finland, and Russian junior sides missed the following World Junior Championships.

The move came amid a wave of sporting sanctions, as other federations and the International Olympic Committee urged that Russian and Belarusian athletes be barred from competition. It ended Russia's participation in a sport where it had long been one of the leading powers, and it later shaped debates over whether and when Russian players could return, including questions about visas for tournaments held in Western countries such as Canada.