IIHA files claim with CAS over expulsion from World Championship UPD ban reversed

[edog37]

Again, Israel is attacking a piece of land on which its aggressors were, and we'll leave it at that.

well considering you don't attack land where the terrorists aren't hiding like the gutless cowards they are, this is a pretty dumb statement.

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[Pink Mist]

Why does the NHLPA feel the need to interject here when there arent any NHL players who even play for the Israeli national team?

Its not like they've interjected when Russia and Belarus were banned and they've actually had members of the union banned from competition

 

[kaiser matias]

The NHL also released a statement:

NHL statement on IIHF, Israel national team | NHL.com

 

[Albatros]

The NHL being worried about international participation is more than a bit rich.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Why does the NHLPA feel the need to interject here when there arent any NHL players who even play for the Israeli national team?

Its not like they've interjected when Russia and Belarus were banned and they've actually had members of the union banned from competition

Perhaps because it's the right thing to do?

Or if you won't grant the NHLPA that - perhaps because the members (the players) just think it's the right thing to do?

The NHL also released a statement:

NHL statement on IIHF, Israel national team | NHL.com

The cynics and/or anti-Semites might argue that this is because Gary Bettman is Jewish.

Or of course it was also the right thing to do.


Edited to make clear that a cynic isn't necessarily an anti-Semite as well.

 

[Pink Mist]

Perhaps because it's the right thing to do?

Or if you won't grant the NHLPA that - perhaps because the members (the players) just think it's the right thing to do?

No comment from them on Russia being banned from competition when Russian make up over 5% of their membership.

I also dont think actively and unnecessarily supporting the hockey association for a country conducting a genocide is the "right thing to do".

For all of these reasons, the NHL and the NHLPA as a business and organization should stay out of it. Ironic too the NHL makes this stand when their whole this this year has been to remove politics from the league

 

[Yukon Joe]

No comment from them on Russia being banned from competition when Russian make up over 5% of their membership.

I also dont think actively and unnecessarily supporting the hockey association for a country conducting a genocide is the "right thing to do".

For all of these reasons, the NHL and the NHLPA as a business and organization should stay out of it. Ironic too the NHL makes this stand when their whole this this year has been to remove politics from the league

This is a business board, not a politics board, so I will make no comment on the rightness of Russia or Israel's actions other than to say that some people feel like banning Russia is the right thing to do, and banning Israel is the wrong thing to do.

The whole attempt by the NHL to "keep politics out of hockey" was doomed to fail as soon as they banned Pride night, and has only shown itself to be more and more true since then. In so many issues trying to be "non-political" is a political stance all of it's own.

The league is better off trying to take stances that seem to match with what league participants think is right, and where the majority of their fans/customers think is right, while also staying away from smaller issues that will only needless aggravate it's fans/customers (nobody wants the NHL to take a position on the capital gains tax, for example).

 

[Albatros]

Or if you won't grant the NHLPA that - perhaps because the members (the players) just think it's the right thing to do?

Or perhaps the (vast majority of) players don't really care one way or another but the NHLPA boss Walsh himself only months ago still held a high position in the Biden administration and this comes across as more of a personal favor.

 

[daver]

This is a business board, not a politics board, so I will make no comment on the rightness of Russia or Israel's actions other than to say that some people feel like banning Russia is the right thing to do, and banning Israel is the wrong thing to do.

The whole attempt by the NHL to "keep politics out of hockey" was doomed to fail as soon as they banned Pride night, and has only shown itself to be more and more true since then. In so many issues trying to be "non-political" is a political stance all of it's own.

The league is better off trying to take stances that seem to match with what league participants think is right, and where the majority of their fans/customers think is right, while also staying away from smaller issues that will only needless aggravate it's fans/customers (nobody wants the NHL to take a position on the capital gains tax, for example).

I don't have a dog in this fight and I don't think you do either (at least to the extent that you express your sentiment for one side or the other).

That being said, you seem to think that the NHL/NHLPA should actively take political stances when the whole Pride thing was finally settled in an apolitical way. The issue with politics is that everyone feels they are on the "right side" of the issue/conflict.

The messiness of the Pride thing was due to a business venture trying to leverage political gain where it would best serve its interests and got burned.

Do you think it would be OK for the NHL or the NHLPA to make a statement asking for Israel to be banned if they felt it is the "right thing to do"?

 

[WarriorofTime]

Perhaps because it's the right thing to do?

Or if you won't grant the NHLPA that - perhaps because the members (the players) just think it's the right thing to do?



The cynics and/or anti-Semites might argue that this is because Gary Bettman is Jewish.

Or of course it was also the right thing to do.


Edited to make clear that a cynic isn't necessarily an anti-Semite as well.

Likely has to due with nhl owners and business ties to pro-Israeli causes.

 

[Yukon Joe]

I don't have a dog in this fight and I don't think you do either (at least to the extent that you express your sentiment for one side or the other).

That being said, you seem to think that the NHL/NHLPA should actively take political stances when the whole Pride thing was finally settled in an apolitical way. The issue with politics is that everyone feels they are on the "right side" of the issue/conflict.

The messiness of the Pride thing was due to a business venture trying to leverage political gain where it would best serve its interests and got burned.

Do you think it would be OK for the NHL or the NHLPA to make a statement asking for Israel to be banned if they felt it is the "right thing to do"?

I definitely have a dog in the fight. This is just not the time or place for dog fighting.

"The whole Pride thing" wasn't settled at all - it completely blew up in the NHL's face. They banned players from wearing special jerseys (which hurt a lot more causes than just Pride). But rather then ending the story, you then had many more stories about players threatening to use pride tape, which caused the NHL to ban coloured tape and threaten fines (all which of which led to more stories), then of course once a player did use some coloured tape the NHL had to back down.


Yes - if the NHL thought banning Israel from international competition they should say so and deal with the blowback, rather than to try and hide from the issue altogether which just prolongs the story. Because you['ll note that nobody is making a peep about the NHL or NHLPA saying Israel should participate in international competition.

 

[daver]

I definitely have a dog in the fight. This is just not the time or place for dog fighting.

"The whole Pride thing" wasn't settled at all - it completely blew up in the NHL's face. They banned players from wearing special jerseys (which hurt a lot more causes than just Pride). But rather then ending the story, you then had many more stories about players threatening to use pride tape, which caused the NHL to ban coloured tape and threaten fines (all which of which led to more stories), then of course once a player did use some coloured tape the NHL had to back down.

The Pride thing is settled as they are not going to force anyone to do something they don't (wear a jersey) but welcome those who do want to do something (tape on their stick).

That is an apolitical way to approach it.

Yes - if the NHL thought banning Israel from international competition they should say so and deal with the blowback, rather than to try and hide from the issue altogether which just prolongs the story. Because you['ll note that nobody is making a peep about the NHL or NHLPA saying Israel should participate in international competition.

In what context should they take a position one way or the other? It has nothing to do with them.

 

[Yukon Joe]

The Pride thing is settled as they are not going to force anyone to do something they don't (wear a jersey) but welcome those who do want to do something (tape on their stick).

That is an apolitical way to approach it.



In what context should they take a position one way or the other? It has nothing to do with them.

IF you'll recall though the NHL never forced someone to wear a jersey. The issue came up when a couple of players declined to wear a Pride jersey during warm-up and then the media understandably asked questions about it. The NHL didn't like that questions were even being asked, so they banned wearing specialty warm-up jerseys, which only raised even more questions.


The NHL (and to a lesser extent the NHLPA) are some of the most powerful voices in the hockey world. Decisions of the IIHF are very much of concern to the NHL. The NHL has no business discussing the Israel/Gaza situation in general, but when it comes to hockey it's definitely within their area of concern.

 

[Voight]

Why does the NHLPA feel the need to interject here when there arent any NHL players who even play for the Israeli national team?

Its not like they've interjected when Russia and Belarus were banned and they've actually had members of the union banned from competition

Because the ban is ridiculous and there is no justification for it.

 

[Pink Mist]

Because the ban is ridiculous and there is no justification for it.

That doesn't address anything I wrote about here

 

[daver]

IF you'll recall though the NHL never forced someone to wear a jersey. The issue came up when a couple of players declined to wear a Pride jersey during warm-up and then the media understandably asked questions about it. The NHL didn't like that questions were even being asked, so they banned wearing specialty warm-up jerseys, which only raised even more questions.

If you recall, players were effectively forced to wear jerseys or face "outrage" if they didn't. Nothing to do whatsover with hockey and there is nothing "understandable" about the over the top media scrutiny. It was clickbait for them.

 

[daver]

The NHL (and to a lesser extent the NHLPA) are some of the most powerful voices in the hockey world. Decisions of the IIHF are very much of concern to the NHL. The NHL has no business discussing the Israel/Gaza situation in general, but when it comes to hockey it's definitely within their area of concern.

What is so unique about this situation that is concerning from a hockey perspective?

 

[Yukon Joe]

What is so unique about this situation that is concerning from a hockey perspective?

There are precisely two countries banned from IIHF competition right now.

One is Russia, which is banned for starting an aggressive war of conquest in Ukraine.

The other is Israel - which is banned in order to make people feel safer somehow.

So it's a pretty unique situation just on the face of it. As I said - the NHL is perhaps the most powerful organization in hockey in the world, so it's opinion surely carries a lot of weight in the world of hockey.

No comment from them on Russia being banned from competition when Russian make up over 5% of their membership.

I also dont think actively and unnecessarily supporting the hockey association for a country conducting a genocide is the "right thing to do".

For all of these reasons, the NHL and the NHLPA as a business and organization should stay out of it. Ironic too the NHL makes this stand when their whole this this year has been to remove politics from the league

So remember - Israel isn't being banned from international competition for committing genocide. It's for the protection of Israeli and other athletes.

If IIHF wants to ban Israel for committing genocide - that's within their purview. Certainly some people out there agree with that assessment (I for one do not). But then let them do it and be up front with why they're doing it, and then take the criticism for doing it.

But you certainly seem to acknowledge the ban is because of Israel's actions, not out of some worry about security.

 

[daver]

So remember - Israel isn't being banned from international competition for committing genocide. It's for the protection of Israeli and other athletes.

If IIHF wants to ban Israel for committing genocide - that's within their purview. Certainly some people out there agree with that assessment (I for one do not). But then let them do it and be up front with why they're doing it, and then take the criticism for doing it.

But you certainly seem to acknowledge the ban is because of Israel's actions, not out of some worry about security.

Why do you think this? You should be more careful to not automatically think that everyone is in one camp or another. I don't care what your opinion on Israel is, I was commenting on the NHL (or any other business) seemingly making political statements where none are needed. That you clearly agree with said statement doesn't make it a necessary one.

Given the current temperature of the things right now, why wouldn't security be a significant concern?

 

[Albatros]

There are precisely two countries banned from IIHF competition right now.

One is Russia, which is banned for starting an aggressive war of conquest in Ukraine.

The other is Israel - which is banned in order to make people feel safer somehow.

That is incorrect, Russia and Belarus are the two suspended members. Israel's participation has been restricted, but there is no suspension. In the case of Russia, breach of the Olympic truce was noted as an aggravating factor, but stated primary reason was still competition safety.

 

[FrHockeyFan]

Meanwhile

IIHF - Israeli National Team allowed to compete in upcoming 2024 IIHF WM20IIIA in Bulgaria

Following recent exchanges and extensive discussions with all involved stakeholders ...

www.iihf.com

 

[DoyleG]

Israel won the Div IIIA Championship and promotion by going undefeated.