{"id":13728,"date":"2026-11-09T21:30:52","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T21:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/11\/09\/whats-going-on-with-the-russia-iihf-world-juniors-controversy-national-globalnews-ca\/"},"modified":"2026-11-09T21:30:52","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T21:30:52","slug":"whats-going-on-with-the-russia-iihf-world-juniors-controversy-national-globalnews-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/11\/09\/whats-going-on-with-the-russia-iihf-world-juniors-controversy-national-globalnews-ca\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s going on with the Russia IIHF World Juniors controversy? – National | Globalnews.ca"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The decision by the International Ice Hockey Federation to allow Russia back into the World Juniors<\/a> Hockey Championship next month continued to stir backlash on Monday with Norway saying its team was being bumped to make room for Russia<\/a> and Sweden vowing not to play against Russia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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In a statement to Global News on Monday, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister\u2019s Office reiterated Ottawa\u2019s stance saying, \u201cathletes from Russia and Belarus will not be able to compete for their countries in Canada so long as the unjustified war against Ukraine continues. That position has not changed.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is not yet clear whether Russian and Belarussian players will be allowed to compete for a neutral team rather than for their national teams.<\/p>\n

The first puck drops on Dec. 26., with the tournament taking place in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFor better or for worse, athletes that are participating and representing their country do get involved, whether they like it or not, in the political implications of international sports,\u201d says Simon Darnell professor of kinesiology and Sport for Development & Peace at the University of Toronto.<\/p>\n

\u201cAllowing the Russians to play at the World Juniors, unfortunately, would be a tacit acceptance of the war in Ukraine, and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s what the international sports community should be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to know about how this came to be and everything we know so far.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tRussia barred from 2027 World Juniors in Edmonton and Red Deer<\/span>
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Russia has been waging an ongoing unprovoked war on Ukraine since early 2022, and various international sports groups banned Russia from participating in response, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), which conducts the World Juniors Hockey Championship.<\/p>\n

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The IIHF ban on Russia\u2019s participation was squashed last month after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled on Oct. 30 <\/a>that the federation must allow Russia to compete in its sanctioned events, including the upcoming tournament.<\/p>\n

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Norway\u2019s hockey<\/a> federation said Sunday the IIHF<\/a> had informed it that Russia would be added to the men\u2019s under-20 tournament in Edmonton and Red Deer next month at Norway\u2019s expense<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The IIHF has not formally announced the change, and its website still lists Norway among the 10 teams in the tournament.<\/p>\n

Global News sent a request for comment to the IIHF on Monday asking if Russia has been added to the upcoming tournament and replaced Norway. A response was not received as of publication.<\/p>\n

Shortly after the court ruling last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a ban on Russian athletes<\/a>, in addition to those from Belarus, from participating in the tournament while in Canada because of the war with Ukraine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a decision we take on our own, which is we will deny, while Russia and Belarus are supporting this illegal unjustified horrific war in Ukraine \u2014 as long as that\u2019s going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada,\u201d Carney said last week.<\/p>\n

That decision by Carney was also supported publicly by Wayne Gretzky.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Ukrainian Canadian leaders say the court ruling allowing Russia to participate was \u201cunjustified, ridiculous and egregious.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe court decision to allow Russia back into international hockey is a disgrace and has brought shame onto that court,\u201d says Orest Zakydalsky, senior policy advisor with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.<\/p>\n

\u201cNorway and the Norwegian people have been strong supporters of Ukraine and continue to be. We are immensely grateful for all that they have done for Ukraine and I think that the Hockey Federation should take a look at the logic of this ruling and reverse it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Norway acknowledged that the IIHF has been handcuffed by the court\u2019s ruling. As the 10th-ranked team entering the tournament, Norway said it was relegated to the 1A Division to open the spot for Russia.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe situation is still unclear,\u201d Norway\u2019s ice hockey secretary general Peter Salsten said in a statement posted on the association\u2019s website and translated from Norwegian to English. \u201cThis makes us hope that the last word has not been said about our participation in Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are aware of the status and the measures the IIHF feels compelled to take, and will await further information from the IIHF in the coming days,\u201d Salsten said. \u201cThis also clearly shows all the practical challenges and immediate consequences for everyone involved when countries are reinstated immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

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