Ice hockey-Russia to miss World Juniors over Canada restrictions, IIHF confirms

Nov 15 : Russia will miss the 2027 World Junior Championship because of entry restrictions imposed by the Canadian government, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) confirmed on Sunday.

The IIHF said it had considered alternative arrangements but decided Canada would remain as host, with the tournament proceeding from December 26 to January 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer.

Citing Russia's war in Ukraine, Canada's Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden told Reuters on Wednesday that Canada would deny entry to Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials coming to compete, even those with valid visas.

The IIHF suspended teams from both countries in 2022 after Moscow launched its invasion from Russian and Belarusian territory, although last month’s Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling ordered the federation to readmit Russian teams to five championships.

The World Juniors were the first of the five tournaments covered by the October 30 ruling. The IIHF said it disagreed with the ruling but would comply.

Prime Minister Mark Carney had previously said Canada would not permit Russian athletes to compete for their country on Canadian soil, a statement some perceived as keeping the door open for their participation as neutrals.

Van Koeverden said Canada allowed neutral participation only by individual athletes, ruling out that option for the Russian team.

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation called the IIHF's decision "unacceptable and unlawful" and said it would appeal to the International Olympic Committee to resolve the situation.

"The IIHF's decision was made solely due to political reasons," it said in a statement.

"The exclusion of the Russian national team violates fundamental legal principles, Olympism, the