"When politics fades into the background, IIHF and I will develop hockey together"

Russian ice hockey is still under the sanctions that the IIHF imposed in 2022. National teams are not allowed to participate in the adult, youth, junior and women's World Championships. But after the recent change in the leadership of the international organization, there are hopes for a change in the situation. In the meantime, our hockey players are participating in competitions within the country. In particular, in December in Moscow, the Russia 25 national team will play in the Channel One Cup together with Belarus and Kazakhstan. In an interview with Izvestia, Roman Rotenberg, the first vice-president of the RIHF, the head coach of this team, spoke about the new leadership of the IIHF, the non-election of Dmitry Kurbatov, the executive director of the Russian Federation, to the board of the organization, and also shared his expectations from the Channel One Cup.

— How would you describe the new president of the IIHF, Franz Reindl?

— I am closely acquainted with Franz. He is a very interesting person — he really loves hockey, he is a true servant of hockey. It's about development. I think that in the future, when all this is over and politics takes a back seat, we will do a lot together. I'm sure of it.

I can honestly say that the whole of hockey is lucky that the international federation is headed by such a person. Reindl does not work in hockey for money or for any personal interests. He just loves hockey — he's been in it all his life. And we can see the fruits of his work even during the period when Franz headed the German Hockey Federation. In particular, the appearance of such stars as Leon Dreiseitl and Tim Stutzle from this country is also due to Franz. He has done a lot for this.

— What emotions did you feel when Dmitry Kurbatov, who was nominated from us, did not get a few votes to get on the IIHF board?

— I know how many processes take place there. The first time I attended the IIHF congress was in 2007, when I was 26 years old. That was a long time ago — almost two decades have passed since then. I know how voting goes at the IIHF. Trust me, there are many points there — I won't tell you about them, because it would be unethical on my part. I can only say that we will do everything possible to have more of our representatives on all IIHF committees. It is important. We will do it step by step. Again, this is related to your previous question: when politics fades into the background, we will develop hockey together.

— While our national teams are not at the World Championships, the main tournament for the RIHF is the Channel One Cup. What do you expect from his next drawing, which will be held in December in Moscow?

— As always, I'm looking forward to a big celebration, that there will be full stands, and the teams will show good hockey that the audience will like. The composition of the participants will be the same as last year in Novosibirsk — the national teams of Russia 25, Belarus and Kazakhstan. There will be not only the three-team tournament itself, but also a whole festival dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Russian hockey, which we are celebrating this year. Master classes for children are planned, there will be many stars, veterans of our hockey — our outstanding legends, for whom this holiday is being prepared. There will be a legends match, a 3x3 tournament and many other events. We are waiting for everyone in the stands of VTB Arena.

— Since 2022, when we were suspended from the World Cup, you have been taking the national team to the regions for the May holidays — fans in Tula, Krasnoyarsk, Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Tolyatti saw the main national team for the first time. There were no such friendly matches with Belarus in 2026. Is it possible to resume this practice next spring?

— There are many details here. We played these matches instead of the World Cup, in the early years after our suspension from the tournament, when the schedule allowed. We will watch and explore the possibility of holding similar games again every year. Of course, I would like to do all this again, so that viewers in the regions can see the Russian national team again.

"The suspension of our athletes is unconstructive and useless"

Alexander Baraulya, Deputy Minister of Sports of the Republic of Belarus, on the admission of Belarusian hockey players to the international arena and cooperation with Russia

But we need to be honest about this — it is very important to bring together the strongest guys for these games. A lot depends on their clubs, on the schedule of KHL matches. We need to see how things work out so as not to overload the guys. We are constantly communicating with them, taking into account their condition. In this sense, we have the same family. When it is possible and right, we do it.

— Has it become more difficult to hold such matches after the decisive rounds of the playoffs began to be held in May?

— This makes its own adjustments.

— How would you react to the fact that after the return of the Russian national team to the World Cup, the current KHL calendar remains the same, which has been in effect since 2025? So that the national team could play at the World Cup in May, but the last two rounds of the Gagarin Cup were played in parallel, and, as in the case of the NHL, the national team could only use those players whose clubs were eliminated from the playoffs early?

— I think this issue should be discussed separately.