Canadian PM Mark Carney delivers robust assertion on Russia’s participation on the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship in Alberta

Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Tuesday that Russian players will not be at the 2027 World Junior Championship in Alberta, ruling out the country’s return to the tournament days after a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision ordered it reinstated.

Carney, speaking to reporters at the Commonwealth Summit in Antigua in comments broadcast by CPAC, was asked whether Canada would deny visas to the Russian team before the tournament opens Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer. He said it would.

“Russia and Belarus are supporting this illegal and unjustified horrific war in Ukraine,” Carney said. “As long as that’s going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada. So if you’re asking specifically about the World Juniors, the Russians will not be there.”

The question referenced several European federations that have said they will not play Russia in international competition, and a call from Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, for other hockey nations to follow. “Refuse to play against Russia and deny visas to its players,” Sybiha wrote on X on Tuesday.

Finland, Sweden, Czechia, Latvia and Norway, all entered in the 10-team world junior field, are among the federations that have refused to face Russia. Denmark has taken the same position for the 2027 men’s world championship in Germany.

Carney said Canada’s decision did not depend on those countries. “We respect the decisions of the Finns, the Czechs, the Swedes, other nations, but this is a decision we take on our own,” he said.

In a joint statement Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden said Ottawa would use immigration powers to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering Canada to compete under their national symbols. Entry requests will be assessed individually, and athletes competing in a neutral capacity can still take part in international events hosted by Canada.

Canada acts after CAS orders Russia’s reinstatement

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Friday that the IIHF must allow Russia back into its competitions, starting with the world juniors. The panel found the federation’s safety and security arguments “were not supported by sufficient evidence.” Russia had been barred from IIHF events since February 2022, when it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the ban extended annually.

Hockey Canada thanked the government for “today’s strong position” and said it will meet its board of directors this week to discuss next steps. The IIHF did not respond to a request for comment. Russia’s ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov, told the state news agency TASS that the decision was regrettable.

Sweden is the defending champion in a field that also includes Canada, the United States, Finland, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia and Norway. The tournament runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, with Canada in Group B alongside Czechia, Latvia, Norway and Switzerland.

Edited by Sonali Verma