In brief
The Canadian government has decided to block Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the world junior ice hockey championships in Alberta, despite a CAS ruling that would have allowed them, citing the ongoing war in Ukraine. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Mark Carney at a Commonwealth Summit in Antigua and follows similar refusals by several European federations. The decision marks a clear stance by Canada against the participation of athletes from nations involved in the conflict.
In a televised press conference at the Commonwealth Summit in Antigua on 3 November 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Russia and Belarus would not be allowed to compete in the world junior ice hockey championships scheduled to take place next month in Alberta. He stated that because Russia and Belarus are supporting an illegal war in Ukraine, no athletes from those countries would be permitted to represent their nations in Canada.
The decision comes in direct opposition to a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 30 October that had allowed Russian skaters to participate in International Ice Hockey Federation events. Reuters reports that Canada, a major international backer of Ukraine, rejected the CAS ruling and chose to apply its own restrictions. The Prime Minister’s statement was made in the same frame that Canada is taking a hard line against nations that are supporters of the conflict in Ukraine.
Carney’s remarks echoed earlier statements from national ice hockey federations across Europe. According to Reuters, federations in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Czech Republic had said they would refuse to play Russia in the 2027 men’s Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany. The collective action underscores a growing bloc of hockey‑governing bodies that are denying Russian teams and players any participation in international competitions while the war continues.
Prime Minister Carney said: “While Russia and Belarus are supporting this illegal, unjustified, horrific war in Ukraine, as long as that is going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada.”
The Prime Minister’s announcement has been reported by both Reuters and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. CBC coverage also noted that the policy would affect athletes slated to compete from the world junior championships, which are set to run from late December to early January in Alberta. The statement marked Canada’s official stance that sporting events in the country will not invite athletes from nations involved in the conflict, a policy consistent with the country’s broader diplomatic and humanitarian support for Ukraine.
While the decision is aimed at demonstrating solidarity with Ukraine and conversely denouncing supporters of the war, it sets a precedent that other nations may follow. Several European hockey federations have already declared the same refusal. Canada’s move therefore not only applies to the world junior championships but also signals a potential shift in the international governance of hockey competitions amid geopolitical tensions.
