World Juniors: Canada Bars Russian Team
Ottawa invokes immigration powers to block Russian and Belarusian players from next month's tournament, despite a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
By Sakura Novak ·
Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s secretary of state for sport, dismissed concerns on Wednesday that excluding Russian players from the upcoming world junior hockey championship could damage the country’s bid to host future international events. Speaking from Ottawa, the official maintained that Canada’s position remains clear regarding its support for Ukraine.
The dispute follows a ruling last week by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ordered that Russia be reinstated to international competition. The decision specifically cited the world juniors as the starting point for this return. Russian and Belarusian teams have been excluded from global competitions since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Dick Pound, a veteran sport lawyer and former International Olympic Committee member, argued that the arbitral court lacks the authority to dictate which athletes Canada admits to its borders. Pound noted that the Canadian government retains final control over entry visas. He observed that outside of protesting, the international sport court has limited practical leverage against a sovereign host nation.
Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed the government’s stance on Tuesday while attending the Commonwealth Summit in Antigua. He stated plainly that if the question is specifically about the world juniors, Russian players will not be present. The federal government plans to use its immigration powers to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering Canada to compete under their national symbols, while potentially allowing neutrals to participate.
The International Ice Hockey Federation reiterated its opposition to the reinstatement ruling on Wednesday, though it stopped short of directly addressing Canada’s refusal. In a statement, the federation cited logistical, security, and competitive challenges, noting that visa requirements and potential format changes were underestimated. The IIHF said it is consulting with national associations and host authorities before determining its next steps.
Oleg Stepanov, Russia’s ambassador to Canada, criticized the decision on Tuesday, describing it as regrettable that politics had been brought onto the ice. Stepanov argued that junior hockey should focus on athletic excellence and fair competition. He suggested the ban would remove some of the strongest competition from the tournament.
The world junior championship opens on December 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. Defending champion Sweden is among the ten scheduled teams. The field also includes Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, the United States, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, Norway, and Finland. Several European federations have already indicated their teams would refuse to face Russia, and major sponsors for next May’s world championship in Germany are reconsidering their involvement.
