Canada won’t let Russian players enter for ice hockey junior championship
Summary
Canada says it will block Russian athletes and officials from entering the country for the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in Alberta, even if they hold valid visas. The tournament runs from December 26 to January 5; Belarus’s team will not take part under a separate International Ice Hockey Federation decision.Key Facts
- Canada’s Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden announced the planned entry restrictions on Wednesday.
- Canada says the restrictions apply to Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, with individual assessments regardless of existing visas.
- Van Koeverden said Canada permits neutral participation only for individual athletes, not a Russian team.
- The Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation to admit Russian teams to five upcoming championships, starting with the World Junior Championship.
- The International Ice Hockey Federation said it disagreed with the court’s decision and has barred Russia from most international competitions since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- Teams from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Finland have said they will not play Russia at next year’s men’s World Championship.
- The World Junior Championship in Alberta is scheduled for December 26 through January 5.
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