Secretary of Sport says Canada will not allow Russians to play at world junior championships
Team of Russia players celebrate during the Ice Hockey World Championship group A match between the Russia and Czech Republic at the Olympic Sports Center in Riga, Latvia, Friday, May 21, 2021. Credit: AP/Oksana Dzadan
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s Secretary of Sport says the country will not allow Russian players to compete at the upcoming world junior championships, even if they already hold valid visas.
Adam van Koeverden’s statement Wednesday comes a week after the Canadian government threatened to supersede the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to force the International Ice Hockey Federation to allow Russia back by refusing to offer visas for the tournament the country is hosting.
It was not immediately clear if the decision would put Norway back into the tournament for the best men’s players under the age of 20 that is set to begin on Dec. 26 in the Canadian province of Alberta. Norway said last weekend it had been informed by the IIHF that it had been bumped from the world juniors to fit Russia, which had been banned since invading Ukraine in early 2022.
“These measures are not directed at the Russian and Belarusian people,” van Koeverden said. "Rather, they are intended to prevent the governments of Russia and Belarus from using international sporting events hosted in Canada as platforms for state representation, political legitimacy and propaganda.
"Canada’s position is unequivocal: As long as Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine, there can be no return to business as usual. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine.”
Hockey Canada referred to statements last week when asked again about the latest development. A message sent to the IIHF seeking comment and clarification on the status of the final team in the field between Norway and Russia had not been returned.
