Roman Rotenberg: Junior Teams to Return First

Roman Rotenberg, first vice-president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, says he believes the country's junior and youth national sides will be back in international competition "as soon as possible". The senior team is a different matter, he said, and politics still stands in the way.

"As for our senior national team, that question is harder, of course. It's important to understand the significance of the sport in terms of audience, participation numbers, ratings and commercial approach," Rotenberg said. "The three sports that generate the biggest revenue streams are basketball, football and ice hockey. First we have to bring back the junior, youth and women's teams. Then we go and fight for our senior team."

Rotenberg said the federation is working with the Ministry of Sport on preparation, calling the training methods and tactics the foundation of any campaign.

"Clearance for the student national side is the first, and a very important, step," he said. "We have to thank the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Degtyarev, and the presidential administration. Everyone worked together to get us cleared. And we were cleared. Now we go on, step by step."

On whether the IIHF's position might shift after its elective congress, he was cautious. "We proceed from the position that our junior teams will return to the world championships, and the youth team will return," he said. "After that we will fight for the senior team."

Rotenberg, who spoke to Sports.ru days after describing his own introduction to the sport on figure skates in Toksovo, has made the case for a gradual route back before. The order he laid out — junior and youth sides first, the women's team alongside them, the senior side last — suggests the federation expects no quick resolution for its top team even if the student and junior pathways open up.