ZURICH (AP) — The International Ice Hockey Federation said Thursday that Russia will not be allowed to participate in four tournaments next year after a review by the organization’s council.

The IIHF cited ongoing safety, security and sporting integrity concerns in its announcement. The sport's governing body said in May it would determine Russia’s eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

Russia will be barred from the 2027 world junior championships, world championships and the under-18 men’s and women’s tournaments, the IIHF said, adding that a decision on the women’s worlds would be made in November.

Teams from the country have been banned from competition since launching its war in Ukraine in February 2022.

On Jan. 4, 1956, the decision was finally made. The Regals were officially moving to Brandon from Regina.

Wealthy Saskatoon contractor Jim Piggott, who had placed the Western Hockey League team in Regina, was looking for a more lucrative spot for his professional team, and with the support of boosters in Brandon, was willing to give the league’s smallest city a try.

“My sincere desire to associate myself and the Regals with your hard-working Citizens’ Hockey Committee and your fair-minded and enthusiastic fans in Brandon and district, coupled with my reluctance to quit has dictated my decision to permanently move the Regal hockey club to your city,” Piggott said. “The fact that I have suffered considerable financial loss through the lack of support of processional hockey by the Regina people is of course no fault or concern of the Brandon fans.”

In 14 home games in Regina, they averaged just 816 fans per game, and Piggott’s losses were pegged around $40,000. While Brandon’s gates had bounced between 1,200 and 2,945, he now had local people selling tickets for him and agreeing to help underwrite any red ink on the ledger.