Ice hockey impasse as Russia threatens sanctions on Canada, Germany

Two weeks after the CAS ordered ice hockey's governing body to reintegrate Russia into international play, a solution remains elusive. Now Russia has threatened to take legal action against two tournament hosts.

"Should Canada and Germany refuse to allow the Russian team to participate, we will demand compensation, enforce the postponement of the competitions, and impose sanctions on the organizers," Russian Ice Hockey Federation President Vladislav Tretiak told the TASS news agency. "There are rules: if a team does not take the ice, it receives a forfeit loss and sanctions are imposed," Tretiak said after a presidential sports council meeting in Moscow on Thursday.

"The IIHF as a way out — either allow us to participate or, if we cannot enter Canada, move the championship, don't hold it at all, or impose sanctions on Canada." The threat comes after the Canadian government confirmed Wednesday that it would not allow Russian players to take part in the IIHF World Junior Championship starting on December 26 in Alberta.