What’s the Latest: Canada says Russian players with visas will still be barred from World Juniors
Canada’s federal government has announced that Russian hockey players will be barred from competing at the World Juniors championship in Alberta, even if they hold valid Canadian visas. This decision follows a statement from Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden, confirming that measures will be taken to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from entering Canada for the event, which begins on 26 December.
The world junior championship begins on December 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has yet to formally announce any changes to the tournament’s participant list, though Norway’s inclusion remains uncertain following the government’s decision.
The Canadian federal government has confirmed that Russian hockey players will be barred from competing in the upcoming World Juniors championship, regardless of their visa status, as reiterated by Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden. This directive aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s position, stating that Russian and Belarusian athletes cannot compete under their national representation while the war in Ukraine continues.
What remains unclear — It is not confirmed whether a neutral Russian team could participate in the tournament.
Canada maintains ban on Russian players from World Juniors despite valid visas
The Canadian government has confirmed that Russian hockey players will be barred from participating in the upcoming World Junior Championship in Alberta, even if they possess valid Canadian visas. Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden stated that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will implement measures to individually assess and prevent the entry of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials.
There are Russian players currently competing in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), where they were previously banned from the import draft between 2022 and 2024. This year, 32 of the 114 players selected in the CHL import draft were Russian. However, the recent statement effectively denies Russia’s reinstatement following a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Norway’s hockey federation has raised concerns, asserting that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) indicated Russia would join the tournament at Norway’s expense. Norway had qualified and is still seeking to compete, as the IIHF has not yet revised its official list of participants.
The situation has garnered reactions from several national hockey federations, including Finland, Sweden, Czechia, and Norway, which have expressed their intention to refuse to compete against Russian teams. Prime Minister Mark Carney reiterated last week that athletes from both Russia and Belarus would remain barred from competing in Canada while they represent their countries in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The World Junior Championship is set to commence on December 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer. The Canadian government has indicated that its position on this matter will persist as long as hostilities continue.