Canada blocks Russian players from World Junior hockey championship

Canada will deny visas to Russian players for the upcoming World Junior ice hockey championship, blocking their participation despite a court ruling allowing them to compete. The move also bars Russian players already residing in Canada from eligibility. The International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had ruled Russia could enter the tournament, initially at Norway's expense. However, Canada's government has informed both its hockey federation and the International Ice Hockey Federation that players with valid Canadian visas will not be eligible, even under a neutral flag. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated last week that no athletes from Russia or Belarus will compete in Canada while the war in Ukraine continues. Sports Minister Adam Van Koeverden emphasized that sport should not be used for propaganda on Canadian soil.