Canada Excludes Russia From World Juniors as Six Nations Threaten Boycott

Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Tuesday that Russia will not be permitted to compete in the world junior hockey tournament scheduled for late December in Alberta.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Tuesday that Russia will be barred from the upcoming world junior hockey tournament in Alberta. The decision follows a ruling last week by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) must reinstate Russian teams, starting with the under-20 event in late December. Carney stated that as long as the war in Ukraine continues, Russian and Belarusian athletes will not compete in Canada.

Six nations—Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Norway, Latvia, and Denmark—have issued statements refusing to play against Russia. The Swedish hockey federation board reversed its previous stance on Tuesday, confirming the "Three Crowns" will not face Russia in upcoming world championships. Norway’s federation cited security risks and the mental health of players as primary reasons for their boycott, noting they may be removed from the tournament by the IIHF to accommodate a Russian entry since they were the last team to qualify.

Financial and logistical pressure is mounting ahead of the men’s world championship next year in Germany. Finnish tire manufacturer Nokian Tyres announced it will withdraw its sponsorship if Russia participates, while long-time sponsor AJ Products requested its logo be removed from broadcasts if Russia plays. Germany is currently evaluating the feasibility of hosting the men's tournament due to security and cost concerns, and the city of Turku has refused to co-host the next world juniors if Russia is included. Austria is currently coordinating with other European authorities to determine if it will join the formal boycott.