On Wednesday, the CHL made the announcement that Russian and Belarusian players will be ineligible for this year’s CHL Import Draft on July 1. The ban comes as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which started in February.
The league said that the ban will not have an impact on players who are already on protected lists, but new players will not be able to be drafted in this year’s draft.
“The Canadian Hockey League remains committed to the safety, well-being, and the development of all of its players regardless of their country of origin,” the CHL said in a statement.
The CHL’s decision comes on the heels of the IIHF banning the Russian Ice Hockey Federation from participating in international play indefinitely. Russia also lost its hosting rights for the 2023 World Championships and World Junior Championships.
