Norway Removed From World Juniors
The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association announced on Sunday that its national junior team has been officially removed from the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, with Russia taking its place.
The tournament setup landed in federations’ inboxes on Saturday, revealing that Norway had been dropped from the field in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. Russia now occupies the tenth spot, while Norway drops down to Division 1A.
Court Ruling Triggers Reintegration
The shakeup stems from an October 30 Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that overturned Russia’s over-four-year international ban. The court cited insufficient evidence from the International Ice Hockey Federation to keep Russia out of competition.
The IIHF published a statement on Saturday confirming it is taking the steps required by the ruling while reviewing conditions and exploring available avenues. The governing body noted that Belarus remains excluded from the 2027 tournaments because its disciplinary board found no legal basis for immediate reintegration.
Canada Plans to Block Russian and Belarusian Athletes
Substantial political barriers threaten Russia’s actual participation in the upcoming tournament. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on November 3 that Russian athletes would not be allowed into the country while the war in Ukraine continues.
Ottawa plans to use immigration powers to block entry for Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials competing under national symbols. Meanwhile, several participating nations—including Finland, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Denmark, and Czechia—have committed to refusing games against Russia.
Norges Ishockeyforbund har mottatt informasjon fra IIHF om at Russland settes inn i U20-VM på bekostning av Norge. – Vi håper siste ord ikke er sagt om vår deltakelse i Canada i desember, sier NIHFs generalsekretær Petter Salsten.https://t.co/yCIky2hjzY
Hopes for a Reversed Decision
Norwegian officials have not accepted the roster demotion as final. Petter Salsten, the general secretary of the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association, stated that the federation is awaiting further information from the IIHF in the coming days.
We hope the last word is not said about our participation in Canada in December,
Salsten said in a translated statement, pointing to Canadian visa restrictions and boycotts from other federations as reasons for potential change.
When and Where Is the 2027 Tournament Scheduled?
When and where is the 2027 tournament scheduled?
The event is scheduled to take place in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, starting in December.
Which tournament will Norway play in if the demotion holds?
Norway will be demoted to the Division 1A World Junior Championship, which takes place in Hungary from December 6–12.
Which countries have joined Norway in refusing to play Russia?
Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Denmark, and Czechia have also committed to refusing games against Russia in international competition.
Keep reading