The Russian players participating in the Stanley Cup Finals for Tampa Bay and the Avalanche won’t be allowed to take the trophy back to their home country this summer.
Winger Valeri Nichushkin is the lone Russian player on the Avalanche, and winger Nikita Kucherov, defenseman Mikhail Sergachev and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy play for Tampa Bay.
The NHL’s decision is in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.
“We made both clubs aware already, with respect to this summer, that the Cup isn’t going to Russia, regardless,” associate commissioner Bill Daly said before Wednesday’s Game 1.