Canada Bars Russia and Belarus from World Junior Hockey Championship

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the Russian and Belarusian national ice hockey teams will not take part in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, which will be held in Alberta next month. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at the end of the Commonwealth summit in Antigua, Carney said the ban will remain in place as long as Russia and Belarus continue the war in Ukraine. The announcement came despite the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision of October 30. Canada had previously criticized that ruling.

The tournament will be played in Edmonton and Red Deer from December 26, 2026 to January 5, 2027. The event is known for bringing together young talent, and many of its players go on to build careers in the NHL.

The court ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) had not presented sufficient evidence to justify continuing to exclude Russian teams on grounds of security, safety and sporting integrity. The ruling covers five international events in the 2026/27 season. These include the World Junior Championship in Alberta, the men's and women's under-18 world championships, the men's World Championship to be held in Germany in May 2027, and the women's World Championship to be held later in the year.

The IIHF had kept Russia and Belarus out of international competition since February 2022. The federation reaffirmed these restrictions in July, after which Russia won its appeal against the decisions at the CAS.

The Canadian government also announced measures under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said visa applications from athletes and officials from the two countries will be reviewed individually. Applications from those who wish to compete under national flags and symbols may be refused. Officials stressed that the measures target the official representation of the Russian and Belarusian states, not the nationality of individuals. Athletes who wish to compete as neutrals may still have their applications assessed on an individual basis.