Canadian Government Says Russian Players with Visas Will Still Be Barred From WJC
Canada says Russian athletes and officials will be denied entry for the tournament, despite valid visas, after a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling.
- On Wednesday, Canada announced it will prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering for the 2026 World Junior Championship in Alberta, even those holding valid visas.
- Secretary of State for Sport Adam Van Koeverden stated these measures counter Russia's war in Ukraine, overriding a recent Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation to reinstate Russian teams.
- Van Koeverden clarified the government aims to prevent Russia and Belarus from using events as platforms for "state representation, political legitimacy and propaganda," explicitly ruling out neutral team participation.
- Hockey federations from Finland, Sweden, Czechia, and Norway have declared their teams will refuse to compete against Russian players, while the International Ice Hockey Federation has yet to clarify Norway's tournament status.
- The World Junior Championship begins December 26 in Alberta. Prime Minister Mark Carney previously vowed Russian teams would "absolutely" not be allowed into the country as long as the war continues.
66 Articles
66 Articles
Canada Confirms No Entry for Russians With or Without Visa for World Junior Championships
Russia’s hopes of returning to the World Junior Championships have suffered another major setback. Canada has now made its position clear: Russian players will not be allowed into the country for the tournament, even if they already possess valid visas. According to TSN’s Gord Miller, the Canadian government has formally informed both Hockey Canada and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) that it will refuse entry to Russian players se…
The Canadian authorities have notified the International Ice Hockey Federation of their refusal to issue visas to Russians for the 2027 World Cup
The Canadian authorities have notified the International Ice Hockey Federation of their refusal to issue visas to Russians for the 2027 World Cup. "The government of Canada has officially notified Hockey Canada and the IIHF that it...
Hastings Tribune
Secretary of Sport says Canada will not allow Russians to play at world junior championships
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — 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.
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