Canada says Russian players with visas will still be barred from World Juniors

Detailed summary

The statement appears to close the door on Russia's return to the world juniors after last month's court ruling that the IIHF must reinstate the country in international hockey.

The federal government says Russian hockey players will not be permitted to compete at next month’s world juniors championship in Alberta, even if they already hold valid Canadian visas.

A statement provided Wednesday by Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden says Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will take measures to individually assess and prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering Canada to compete.

There are Russians with valid visas playing in the Canadian Hockey League, the umbrella organization for the country’s three top major junior hockey leagues.

Russians and Belarusians were banned from the CHL’s import draft from 2022-24 before being allowed back in. According to the CHL, Russia led this year’s draft with 32 of the 114 players selected.

Wednesday’s statement appears to close the door on Russia’s return to the world juniors following last month’s Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) must reinstate the country in international hockey.

Norway’s hockey federation said Sunday the IIHF had informed it that Russia would be added to the tournament at Norway’s expense.

Norway qualified for the tournament and has said it still hopes to compete.

The IIHF has not formally announced any changes to the tournament field. Its website continues to list Norway among the 10 participating teams.

Hockey federations from several nations, including Finland, Sweden, Czechia and Norway, have said their teams will refuse to compete against Russian players.

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