Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Blocks Russian and Belarusian Juniors from Alberta Tournament
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Tuesday that Canadian authorities will bar Russian and Belarusian ice hockey players from participating in the upcoming World Junior Championship in Alberta. Carney delivered the decision during a televised press conference in Antigua and Barbuda following the conclusion of a summit. Canada stands as a primary international backer of Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia. The tournament is scheduled to run from late December through early January for male players under the age of 20. “So, if you are asking specifically about the World Junior Championship, the Russians will not be there.” Carney affirmed that Canada respects those decisions, but that the country had to take its own separate course. “Mientras Rusia y Bielorrusia apoyen esta guerra ilegal, injustificada y atroz en Ucrania, mientras esto continúe, ninguno de esos atletas competirá por sus países en Canadá”, dijo Carney.
International Boycotts Mount Against International Ice Hockey Federation Readmission
The court ruled last week that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) must readmit Russian teams, beginning with the junior tournament. Teams have remained sidelined since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Federations from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the Czech Republic announced on Tuesday that their men’s national teams will refuse to play against Russia during next year’s world championship in Germany, [es-us.noticias.yahoo.com] reported. Associated Press coverage added that Finland, Latvia, and Austria are either joining the boycott or evaluating participation, while a major tournament sponsor has threatened to withdraw. The Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation cited player safety and the mental well-being of athletes and staff as primary drivers for its boycott of the May men’s tournament.
Russian Ambassador Criticizes Canadian Stance on Hockey
Oleg Stepanov, Russia’s ambassador to Canada, criticized the Canadian government’s stance in a statement to the state-run TASS news agency. “It is regrettable that Carney’s office introduces politics even into junior hockey, which is designed to unite, not to divide,” Stepanov said, as noted by [es-us.noticias.yahoo.com]. German organizers expressed uncertainty regarding their ability to host the upcoming men’s championship amid the growing boycott movement. Meanwhile, the IIHF has not issued an immediate response to the boycotts, and Hockey Canada did not respond to requests for comments.