Russia won't be allowed to play in upcoming World Juniors: Carney
IIHF stops short of addressing Canada's refusal to welcome Russian players
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Russia will not be allowed to compete at next month's world junior hockey championship in Alberta.
Carney, speaking in Antigua at the Commonwealth Summit, said Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be permitted to represent their countries in Canada as long as the war in Ukraine continues.
"While Russia and Belorussia [sic] are supporting this illegal, unjustified, horrific war in Ukraine, as long as that's going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada," Carney said when asked if Russian players would be denied visas.
"So if you're asking specifically about the world juniors, the Russians will not be there."
On Wednesday, The International Ice Hockey Federation says it remains opposed to a ruling ordering Russia's reinstatement to international hockey competition, but has stopped short of addressing Canada's refusal to allow Russian players into the country.
In a statement Wednesday after a council meeting, the IIHF cited significant logistical, security and competitive challenges with Russia's immediate return, including visa requirements and potential changes to tournament formats.
"The global impact of the decision made by the CAS Panel and the challenges it creates for all involved were significantly underestimated," the federation said.
The IIHF did not directly address Carney's announcement but said it is consulting national hockey associations, tournament organizers and host authorities before determining its next steps.
The federation said its priorities remain the safety of players, officials and fans, along with the smooth operation and integrity of its tournaments. It promised more information in the coming days.
The federal government said it would use its immigration powers to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering Canada to compete under their national symbols.
Carney's comments come after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Friday that Russia must be reinstated to international hockey competition, starting with the world junior tournament.
Veteran sport lawyer Dick Pound said the sports tribunal has no authority to dictate which athletes Canada allows into the country.
"Short of stamping their feet and pouting, there's not much they can actually do," Pound said.
Pound, a longtime International Olympic Committee member and former CAS arbitrator, said the Canadian government has the final say on who enters the country.
"Hockey Canada, if that's where the buck stops, I'd say, 'listen, I'm sorry, we're a sport organization. We don't decide who can get entry visas into Canada, nor can CAS order the Canadian government to grant visas."'
A joint statement was released by ministers Anita Anand (Foreign Affairs), Lena Diab (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship) and Adam van Koeverden (Secretary of State for Sport) saying Canada's position has not changed because Russia's actions haven't.
“As a leading host of international sporting events, Canada remains committed to ensuring that sport is not used to confer legitimacy, prestige or international standing on such states, particularly against the risk that Russian and Belarusian participation in international sporting events becomes more normalised," a portion of the statement read.
Oleg Stepanov, the Russian ambassador to Canada, told the state news agency TASS that the decision was regrettable.
"It is regrettable that Carney's office is bringing politics even into junior hockey, which is meant to unite, not divide," he said.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith previously said the province would comply with the CAS ruling, but following the Prime Minister's announcement she spoke in favour of the federal government's stance in a post on X.
"I agree with this decision completely. The people of Ukraine have suffered immeasurably from Vladimir Putin’s illegal war. Alberta is now home to 70k Ukrainian evacuees who remain unable to return home because of Russia’s invasion of their country. We in Alberta stand with them," Smith wrote.
Several European hockey federations, including Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic and Latvia, have said their teams will refuse to face Russia.
"We respect the decisions of the Finns, the Czechs, the Swedes, other nations, but this is a decision we take on our own," Carney said.
Hockey Canada says it has been consulting with the IIHF and other stakeholders about the potential impact on the tournament.
The world juniors begin Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer.
European federations add weight to boycott
The Swedish hockey federation said its board decided Tuesday it would not play against Russia but would still play other games. That was a turnaround from last week, after Sweden initially indicated a boycott was off the table following the CAS ruling.
"The Three Crowns will not play Russia in coming world championship tournaments," federation head Anders Larsson said in a statement, using the team's nickname.
Germany is scheduled to host next year's men's world championship in May, but the chief executive of the country's hockey federation previously said it could pull out over concerns about costs and security.
The Swedish statement came shortly after Norway announced its boycott.
"Our position is that Russia should be excluded from all international championships as long as the war in Ukraine continues and remains unchanged," the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association said in a statement. "At the same time, this decision is based on our responsibility to protect the safety and wellbeing of our players, team staff and their families. We believe that playing Russia under the current circumstances could expose our players and team staff to significant security risks. Our priority is therefore their mental health, wellbeing and personal safety."
Norway referred only to the men's world championship in its statement. General secretary Petter Salsten told the AP that, in the case of the world juniors, Norway would potentially be removed from the tournament by the IIHF to make way for Russia. In that case, "if RUS is added, it is a huge possibility that NOR is out," he wrote via email, because Norway was the last team to qualify.
The chairman of Denmark's hockey federation told the Ritzau news agency its teams would not play against Russia. Latvia's federation said it "reaffirms its longstanding and firm position" not to play against Russia or its ally Belarus.
The Austrian federation told the AP in an emailed statement: "We stand behind the decision of Finland and Norway and are currently looking into whether the European nations will join a boycott together. We are therefore not ruling out a boycott and are still coordinating with the authorities on this."
Finland is the defending men's world champion and Norway was the bronze-medal winner this year.
The growing boycott is similar to the situation in soccer in 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On that occasion, all of Russia's potential World Cup qualifying opponents threatened to boycott. FIFA successfully argued at CAS for excluding Russia on the grounds that not doing so risked "irreparable and chaotic" harm to the competition.
Second major sponsor pressures IIHF
Finnish tire manufacturer Nokian Tyres said it will no longer sponsor the world championship if Russia takes part.
Tiina Frazer, senior vice-president for brand, marketing and communications, said that "under the current circumstances, continuing the sponsorship if Russia participates would not be aligned with our values."
Swedish furniture maker AJ Products, a tournament sponsor since 1989, said Monday it would ask for its logo not to be shown if Russia plays.
Junior tournaments are affected too, with the Finnish city of Turku saying it will not co-host next year's world juniors if Russia participates.
The Czech federation is hosting the women's under-18 world championship in January and said Tuesday it would speak with the government about whether Russian players would be denied entry to the country.
One political figure in support of Russia's return is Slovakia's pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico.
"I've also always wondered what the value of a gold medal is, if on the way to it you don't have to beat the Russian hockey players, who are undoubtedly among the best in the world," he posted on social media Saturday.
The women's world championship starting in Denmark this week is not affected by the CAS ruling and is going ahead without Russia.
With files from Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press' Bill Graveland, Donna Spencer and The Associated Press' James Ellingworth, Stephen Whyno, Karel Janicek, Reuters and CBC Sports
Canada dismisses fears of international blowback over Russian world junior hockey ban
'We've been unequivocal with respect to our support for Ukraine,' says Canada's secretary of state for sport
Canada's secretary of state for sport dismissed concerns Wednesday that barring Russian players from next month's world junior hockey championship in Alberta could hurt the country's chances of hosting future international events, including the Olympics.
"No, we've been unequivocal with respect to our support for Ukraine and in our insistence that Russia as well as Belarus do not compete in international events while using their national symbols," Adam van Koeverden said when asked about potential repercussions.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled last week that Russia must be reinstated to international competition, starting with the world juniors. Russian and Belarusian teams have been banned since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
But veteran sport lawyer Dick Pound said the international sport court has no authority to dictate which athletes Canada allows into the country.
"Short of stamping their feet and pouting, there's not much they can actually do," Pound said.
Pound, a longtime International Olympic Committee member and former CAS arbitrator, said the Canadian government has the final say on who enters the country.
"Hockey Canada, if that's where the buck stops, I'd say, 'listen, I'm sorry, we're a sport organization. We don't decide who can get entry visas into Canada, nor can CAS order the Canadian government to grant visas."'
The International Ice Hockey Federation reiterated its opposition Wednesday to the ruling ordering Russia's reinstatement, but stopped short of addressing Canada's refusal to allow Russian players into the country.
PM: 'The Russians will not be there'
Prime Minister Mark Carney made Canada's position clear Tuesday while attending the Commonwealth Summit in Antigua.
"So if you're asking specifically about the world juniors, the Russians will not be there," he said.
Van Koeverden said he met Tuesday with Finland's sports minister to discuss the issue, noting that countries neighbouring Russia face different consequences from its invasion of Ukraine.
"We have a lot in common and certainly not the least of which is our support for Ukraine," he said.
Asked why Russia was being treated differently from other countries, including the United States, van Koeverden pointed to Moscow's use of international sport to advance its political interests.
"They continually use sport for nefarious reasons and purposes, so the false equivalencies aren't necessary in this regard," he said.
In a statement Wednesday, the IIHF cited logistical, security and competitive challenges with Russia's immediate return, including visa requirements and potential changes to tournament formats.
"The global impact of the decision made by the CAS Panel and the challenges it creates for all involved were significantly underestimated," the federation said.
IIHF consulting national hockey associations
While the IIHF did not directly address Carney's announcement, it said it is consulting national hockey associations, tournament organizers and host authorities before determining its next steps. The federation said player safety and tournament integrity remain priorities. It promised more information in the coming days.
The federal government said it would use its immigration powers to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering Canada to compete under their national symbols.
Ottawa said the measure was intended to prevent Russia and Belarus from using international sporting events in Canada as platforms for political legitimacy and propaganda. Athletes competing as neutrals could still be permitted to participate.
Russia's ambassador to Canada criticized the decision Tuesday, accusing Ottawa of bringing politics into sports.
"It is genuinely regrettable to see Prime Minister Carney's cabinet bringing politics onto the ice. Sport, particularly junior hockey, should be about athletic excellence, fair competition and bringing young people together," Oleg Stepanov said.
Stepanov also suggested the decision would eliminate some of Canada's strongest competition at the tournament.
Hockey Canada welcomed the government's position Tuesday and said its board would meet this week to discuss next steps. Several European hockey federations, including Sweden, Finland, Czechia and Latvia, have said their teams would refuse to face Russia.
The opposition has also spread to major sponsors of next May's men's world hockey championship in Germany.
Czech automaker Skoda, the tournament's main sponsor for more than 30 years, said Wednesday it would reassess its involvement if Russia competes. German workwear manufacturer Strauss also threatened to withdraw its sponsorship, while Nokian Tyres said it would end its backing if Russia participates.
The world junior championship opens Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., with defending champion Sweden among the 10 teams scheduled to compete.
Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, the United States, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, Norway and Finland round out the field.
With files from files from The Associated Press, CP's Nick Murray in Ottawa, Donna Spencer in Calgary
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