President Trump and Vladimir Putin discuss American-Russia hockey series
United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin might put the USA and Russia back on the ice in international hockey.
During a lengthy phone call between the two leaders, which focused on the war in Ukraine and other critical issues, they discussed the potential of NHL and KHL stars being included in hockey games between the two nations.
Should those games come to fruition, the goal would be to host them in both countries.
“Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin’s idea to organize hockey matches in the USA and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and KHL,” the Kremlin released in a write-out statement of the call.
Added the NHL: “We have just become aware of the conversation between President Trump and President Putin. Obviously, we were not a party to those discussions, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not note sporting interests in the White House’s news release.
Russia has not competed in any IIHF international competitions – including the World Championships, World Juniors or other age group tournaments – since the IIHF banned them in February 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine.
The NHL did not include Russia in the 4 Nations Face-Off, opting to go with Canada, USA, Sweden and Finland.
At the Olympic level, Russia has not competed as Team Russia since Sochi 2014 due to a partial doping ban from the International Olympic Committee. At PyeongChang 2018, they won men’s hockey gold as Team Olympic Athlete of Russia due to a doping ban against many Russian athletes. Similarly, they competed as the Russian Olympic Committee at Beijing 2022.
The IOC and IIHF have not confirmed the status of Team Russia or individual Russian athletes at Milano-Cortina 2026. If Russia is not allowed to compete, France will take its qualifying spot in both men’s and women’s tournaments.
The last time Team USA and Team Russia faced off in men’s senior international competition was Feb. 17, 2018, in the round robin at the Sochi 2014 Olympics.