Shesterkin said that he dreams of playing for the Russian team at the 2026 Olympics
Russian New York Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin spoke about the possibility of competing at the 2026 Olympic Games. His words are quoted by Peter Bo on social networks X.
Shesterkin said that he dreams of playing for the Russian team at the Olympics in Italy. “I think this is important for every player. When you’re young, you try to get to the Olympics to play for your national team,” he explained.
On February 2, the leadership of the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that league players will take part in the 2026 and 2030 Games. According to league commissioner Gary Bettman, the league’s players take great pride in being able to represent their teams on the international stage.
The last time NHL players competed at the Olympics was in 2014 in Sochi. League representatives missed the 2018 and 2022 games. In 2018, Shesterkin became an Olympic champion as part of the Russian national team, as at that time he played for SKA.
In February 2022, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) suspended the Russian national team from participating in competitions under its auspices. The issue of Russian participation in the 2026 Games has not been resolved at the moment.
Source: Lenta
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
