Canada bars Russian players from junior ice hockey championship

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 07:38 · Archive

Canada will prevent Russian athletes from entering the country for the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship starting 26 December in Alberta.

Canada will prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering the country for the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in Alberta, which begins on 26 December. The Canadian government announced the decision on Wednesday through Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden, who said it applies regardless of whether individuals hold valid visas.

Van Koeverden stated that Canada opposes Russian and Belarusian participation in international sport 'as long as Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine with Belarus's complicity'. The minister for immigration, refugees and citizenship will individually assess cases to prevent entry. Canada also ruled out allowing Russian athletes to participate as neutral individuals, a distinction some saw as leaving that door open following earlier statements by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The Canadian decision comes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled last month that the International Ice Hockey Federation must admit Russian teams to five upcoming championships, beginning with the World Junior Championship. The IIHF, which barred Russia from most international competitions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, disagreed with the ruling.

Canada's action has been followed by other countries. Finland announced it will restrict entry for Russian athletes because of the war, affecting multiple winter sports including figure skating and cross-country skiing. Finland hosts the figure skating world championships in March in Tampere, where Russian skaters are expected to medal contenders. The International Skating Union said it 'believes that athletes should not be punished for the actions of their governments' and is seeking clarifications from Finnish officials.

Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Czech Republic have announced their national ice hockey teams will refuse to play against Russia at the men's World Championships in Germany. Estonia has also said it will bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing on its territory. Latvia and Finland stated their ice hockey teams will not play Russia, while the Finnish city of Turku threatened to withdraw as host for the 2028 World Junior Championship.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation President Vladislav Tretiak responded by threatening legal action. He told Russian news agency TASS that Russia will 'demand compensation, enforce the postponement of the competitions, and impose sanctions on the organizers' if Canada and Germany refuse to allow Russian participation. He called on the IIHF to move the championship, cancel it entirely, or impose sanctions on Canada. Tretiak also appealed to the IIHF ethics committee to investigate and sanction national federations organising boycotts against Russia.

How it is being reported

• Russia urges IIHF to move Canada world juniors as hockey boycotts spreadCanadian authorities said Russians will be barred from the 10-nation tournament in Alberta from 26 December. Estonia, Finland and Norway plan to exclude athletes until the war in Ukraine ends.Euronews · 14 Nov, 07:30
• Estonia latest country to ban Russian athletesEstonia is the latest country to say it will not allow Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete on its territory as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine.BBC Sport · 13 Nov, 17:54
• Ice hockey: Russia threatens against Canada and Germany over exclusion from tournamentsA fortnight after the CAS ordered ice hockey's governing body to reintegrate Russia into international play, a solution remains elusive. Now Russia has threatened to take legal action against two tournament hosts.DW News · 13 Nov, 16:02
• Finland bars Russian athletes from entering country over Ukraine warRussians ‘have no business’ in country, says minister Skating and cross-country skiing first to be affected Finland says it will restrict entry to the country for Russian athletes because of the war in Ukraine, potentially affecting a number of winter sports. The move follows a backlash in Finland to Russia being reinstated for the ice hockey world championships. “As long as Russia’s war of aggression continues, Russian athletes have no business in Finland,” said Elina Valtonen, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. “Their entry into the country would be a threat to Finland’s international…Guardian Sport · 12 Nov, 17:23
• Canada won’t let Russian players enter for ice hockey junior championshipRussian, Belarusian athletes and officials will be prevented from entering Canada regardless of their visa status.Al Jazeera · 12 Nov, 12:56

In this story: Canada · Russia · Ukraine · Finland · Adam van Koeverden · Vladislav Tretiak · International Ice Hockey Federation · Court of Arbitration for Sport

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