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Trading spaces IIHF loosens rules regarding changing nationalitiesPosted: Saturday June 07, 2003 12:59 PMUpdated: Saturday June 07, 2003 5:09 PM ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Hockey players may now compete for a country even if they previously represented another nation. The rule applies to the Olympics and International Ice Hockey Federation championships. Such a move can be made only once in a player's life and is permanent. The IIHF said Saturday the new rule will not apply to NHL players who become U.S. or Canadian citizens. Hockey's governing body approved the rule change at its meeting in Marbella, Spain. The IIHF said a player could apply to represent another country provided he is a citizen of that country and has competed in its national competitions for four consecutive years. Under the former rules, a player who had represented a country after his 18th birthday could not later represent a different nation. San Jose Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov sought to play for Russia at the 2002 Olympics. The IIHF ruled he was ineligible because he previously played for Kazakstan.
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