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Carney says Russia will not play at 2026 world juniors in Alberta

Carney says Russia will not play at 2026 world juniors in Alberta

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Russia will not compete at the 2026 world junior hockey tournament in Alberta.

The tournament, for men’s players under 20, begins on Dec.

26 in Edmonton and Red Deer.

Canada’s decision comes as the war in Ukraine continues, which Carney said means Russian and Belarusian athletes cannot represent their countries in Canada.

Six European hockey federations have said they will not play Russia while the war continues: Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Norway, Latvia and Denmark.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport recently ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation must reinstate Russian teams, starting with the world juniors; Russia has been excluded since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The ruling and threatened boycotts put the tournament’s lineup in question, and Norway has said it could be removed if Russia takes its place.

Hockey Canada says it is consulting the international federation and other stakeholders about the tournament’s possible impact.

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What people are saying

Mark CarneyCanadian prime minister
So if you're asking specifically about the world juniors, the Russians will not be there.
via CBC
While Russia and Belarus are supporting this illegal and unjustified horrific war in Ukraine, as long as that's going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada.
via ESPN
Anders LarssonSwedish hockey federation head
The Three Crowns will not play Russia in coming world championship tournaments.
via ESPN