Canada will not admit Russian hockey players to the Youth World Championship — Prime Minister Carney
Despite the permission of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Canada has announced that it will not admit the Russian hockey team to the World Junior Championship. Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that due to the war in Ukraine, athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be able to participate in any competitions held in the country.
Canada will not admit Russian hockey players to the Youth World Championship — Prime Minister Carney
Canada will not allow the Russian national team to participate in the Youth World Hockey Championship to be held in the province of Alberta. This was announced by the country's Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Carney emphasized that while the Russia-Ukraine war continues, Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be admitted to any competitions held in Canada.
"If you are asking specifically about the World Junior Championship, the Russians will not be there," he said (quoted by Reuters).
Russia's Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov called Carney's statements "regrettable," saying he is "bringing politics even into youth hockey, which should serve to unite, not divide."
"Ottawa is very cautiously getting rid of serious competitors long before the first puck is dropped," he noted.
In late October, the Court of Arbitration for Sport obligated the International Ice Hockey Federation to allow the Russian national team to participate in international competitions.
A large number of major hockey nations criticized this decision. Germany, host of the adult World Championship, indicated that it might refuse to host the tournament if the Russians participate. Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Norway, and Denmark announced they would not boycott the tournament itself, but would not take to the ice against the Russian national team.
The Youth World Hockey Championship will take place from December 26 to January 5.