Mark Carney. Photo by Daniel Pereira / Office of the Prime Minister of Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the Russian national team would not be allowed to participate in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, which will be held in Canada. The country’s government also announced measures restricting the entry of Russian and Belarusian athletes seeking to compete under their national flags and symbols.
“If you’re asking specifically about the World Juniors, the Russians will not be there,” Carney said at a press conference in Antigua on November 3. A video of his response was published by Sportsnet.
On the same day, Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a joint statement by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden.
The statement says that Russia and Belarus should not be officially represented in international sports for as long as Russia continues its war against Ukraine with Belarus’s complicity.
To restrict the entry of athletes and officials intending to compete under their national flags and symbols, the immigration minister will use the powers granted under Section 22.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Decisions will be made following individual assessments.
In addition, Canada will continue to require that sporting events receiving federal funding exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags and other state symbols.
At the same time, individual athletes competing under neutral status will remain eligible to participate in international competitions in Canada.
On October 30, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had authorised the return of Russian teams to its competitions. The ruling concerns five tournaments scheduled for 2027, including the World Junior Championship, the men’s and women’s World Championships, and the men’s and women’s Under-18 World Championships.
The IIHF expressed disappointment with the court’s decision. The federation said the previous restrictions had been necessary to ensure the safety of participants and protect the integrity of competitions.
The organisation pledged to comply with the CAS ruling but warned that its practical implementation would take time. The return of the teams would require coordination with national federations, organisers and authorities in host countries, as well as a review of competition formats, schedules and security measures.
The IIHF’s announcement concerning the CAS ruling relates to Russian teams. Canada’s restrictions on competing under national flags and symbols apply to both Russian and Belarusian athletes.