Banned from Competition, Russia Still Tops the Hockey World Rankings

Despite the ban from the 2021 World Championship, Russia is ranked as the new number one hockey team in the world. This unusual situation is explained by a decision of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The video explains that Russia's ranking is based on their 2019 World Championship bronze medal. Anders Larsson, chairman of the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation, confirms that "They are not frozen out and are listed on the IIHF website, with world ranking points as if they played." This decision highlights the complexities of maintaining fair rankings in the face of geopolitical events. The situation is unexpected, given that Russia and Belarus were excluded from international tournaments, but the IIHF's methodology ensures the integrity of the rankings.