Canada repeats Russia will not play at World Juniors as Norway loses its place

Russia’s return to the World Junior Championship still exists only on paper. Canada’s Secretary of State for Sport, Adam van Koeverden, said in Ottawa on Monday: “The Prime Minister was extremely clear that sport will not be used for propaganda on Canadian soil.” The Prime Minister’s Office repeated that athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be able to compete for their countries in Canada. The tournament runs from 26 December to 5 January in Edmonton and Red Deer.

Neutral status unclear

The Canadian government’s statement of 3 November allows individual athletes to compete as neutrals but says nothing about teams. Van Koeverden said the neutral athlete (AIN) designation applies to individuals and “has not been tested in a team format”. Global News reported that it is still unclear whether Russian players would be allowed to play as a neutral team. Hockey Canada referred questions to the government’s statement and said it had nothing to add. The IIHF and the Russian Hockey Federation did not respond.

Norway out, Sweden will not play

The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association said on Sunday that its team had been officially removed from the top division to make room for Russia. Norway will instead play in Division I Group A in Hungary on 6–12 December. Its secretary general, Petter Salsten, said the federation was aware of the measures the IIHF feels compelled to take and was waiting for more information.

Tony Wiréhn, secretary general of the Swedish federation, said of Norway’s treatment: “It is difficult to see this as anything other than unfair.” Sweden will not play Russia, and Finland repeated the same position while the war continues. Neither said whether it would face a Russian team playing under a neutral designation.

What it means for Latvia

Latvia are in Group B with Canada, Czechia and Switzerland, and the revised schedule sent to national federations now lists Russia in Norway’s place. If Russia take over Norway’s fixtures, Latvia would meet them on 30 December at 22:00 Riga time. Latvia’s hockey federation said on 3 November that its teams will not play Russia or Belarus, and the LETA news agency reported that the squad is preparing for the tournament as planned. The IIHF’s public tournament page still lists Norway among the teams.

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