Russia threatens compensation if barred from world juniors in Alberta

Russia's hockey federation president Vladislav Tretiak threatened to seek compensation from Canada and push for relocation or cancellation of next month's world junior championship in Alberta if Russia is barred, following Ottawa's confirmation that Russian players cannot compete despite a court ruling. The warning came after Canada confirmed Wednesday that Russian players would be denied entry even with valid visas, contradicting an Oct. 30 Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling ordering Russia's reinstatement. Tretiak also threatened compensation from Germany, host of the 2027 men's world championship, and requested an IIHF ethics investigation into federations boycotting Russian teams. Russia and Belarus have been banned from international hockey since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Several federations, including Finland, Sweden, Czechia and Norway, refuse to face Russia, while Norway's tournament spot is reportedly at risk. Tretiak is under Canadian sanctions, and Prime Minister Mark Carney said Russian athletes cannot represent their country in Canada during the war.