Trump supports Putin's proposal to host ice hockey tournament between two countries

(WASHINGTON): US President Donald Trump has expressed the support of request for Russian President Vladimir Putin to host the ice hockey tournament between the two countries, after a working meeting between two presidents by phone, Reuters reported on March 19, 2025.

According to the Kremlin source, Donald Trump supported Putin's idea for organizing to host the ice hockey tournament that have players from both countries, which there are the National Hockey League (NHL) between the United States, Canada (NHL) and Ice Hockey Federation (KHL) which organized this tournament.

While a White House statement after the phone call between the two leaders did not mention the ice hockey, it did not respond to questions about the sport. The NHL said the federation was not ready to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, an NHL spokesman said in a statement: “We are only aware of the conversations between President Trump and President Putin, and obviously we were not a party to those discussions and it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time.”

Please note that, Russia has been banned from the international ice hockey competitions in the past after its invasion on Ukraine two years ago.

And after the invasion of Moscow city in 2022 on Ukraine, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) suspended all national and club teams from Russia and Belarus from participating in the international events.

Please reminded that, The NHL suspended its partnership in cooperation in Russia and suspended its social media sites and said it would not consider on Russia for any future competitions after the invasion began.

When the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) later has moved the competition of the World Championships 2023 from Saint Petersburg to the United States and Canada. And in 2024, the IIHF said it would make a decision on the participation of Russia and its ally Belarus in the 2025-2026 season in May of this year.

Please inform that, The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will also be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in February, where the ice hockey has always been a regular competition. ប្រភព Fresh News