Canada’s prime minister vows to bar Russian hockey players from world junior championship
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will not allow Russia’s national team to compete in the world junior hockey championship, which will be held in the province of Alberta.
Carney said that as long as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, Canada will not allow athletes from Russia or Belarus to compete in any competitions held in the country.
“If you’re asking specifically about the world juniors, the Russians will not be there,” he said.
Oleg Stepanov, Russia’s ambassador to Canada, called Carney’s statements “regrettable,” saying he “is bringing politics even into junior hockey, which is meant to unite, not divide.”
In late October, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation to admit Russia’s national team to international tournaments.
A significant number of influential hockey countries criticized the decision. Germany, which will host the adult world championship, did not rule out refusing to hold the tournament if Russians take part. Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Norway, and Denmark announced that they will not take the ice against Russia’s national team, though they will not boycott the tournament itself.
The world junior ice hockey championship will take place from December 26 to January 5.
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