Russian ice hockey players will not be permitted to compete in Canada at next month's world junior championship, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Tuesday. The decision defies a recent sports court ruling that lifted an international ban on Russia, aligning Canada with a growing coalition of European countries that refuse to face Russian teams while the war in Ukraine continues.
The International Ice Hockey Federation initially suspended Russian teams after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned that ban on Friday, ruling that safety and security concerns lacked sufficient evidence. Rejecting that conclusion, Carney stated that no athletes representing Russia or Belarus would be allowed to play in Canada as long as they support an "illegal, unjustified, horrific war."
Canada's announcement follows coordinated opposition across Europe. After Finland called on other countries to take a stand against the CAS decision, hockey federations in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, and the Czech Republic announced they would not play against Russia. Norway's federation noted that its stance was intended to protect the safety of players and staff from serious security risks, while Ukraine's foreign minister praised the nations for refusing to share the ice with Russia.
The growing boycott has created uncertainty for host cities across the globe as they decide whether to hold upcoming tournaments. With the world junior championship scheduled to begin on December 26 in Alberta, organizers must now navigate competing national boycotts and international sports rulings.