Carney Says Russia Barred From World Juniors
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Russian athletes will not compete at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta despite a sports court ruling.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hockey
Live Poll
Should Russian athletes be barred from competing in Canada while the war in Ukraine continues?
Prime Minister Mark Carney said at the Commonwealth Summit in Antigua that Russia will not be allowed to compete at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta. The statement follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that Russia must be reinstated to international hockey competition.
Why it matters
Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be permitted to represent their countries in Canada while the war in Ukraine continues. Sweden, Finland, Czechia and Latvia have said their teams will refuse to face Russia, putting the sport's governing structure under pressure.
The World Junior Hockey Championship is scheduled to begin Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer. Hockey Canada has been consulting with the International Ice Hockey Federation about the potential impact on the tournament, and no final decision has been announced.
The players
Mark Carney
Mark Carney is the Prime Minister of Canada, who announced that Russia will not be allowed to compete at the tournament.
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada is the national governing body for ice hockey in Canada, which is consulting on the tournament's future.
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the global governing body for ice hockey, which is being consulted on the potential impact of the ruling.
The details
Carney made the comments at the Commonwealth Summit in Antigua. Hockey Canada has been consulting with the International Ice Hockey Federation and other stakeholders about how the ruling affects the tournament.
Timeline
Friday: Court of Arbitration for Sport rules Russia must be reinstated to international hockey competition.
Dec. 26: World Junior Hockey Championship scheduled to begin in Edmonton and Red Deer.
Season Trajectory
The dispute over Russia's participation extends the sporting sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine, now colliding with a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling. The outcome could shape how international hockey tournaments handle athletes from countries at war.
Fans planning to attend the World Junior Championship in Edmonton or Red Deer should watch for changes to the tournament lineup. Rosters and matchups could shift depending on whether Russia's participation is resolved before the Dec. 26 start.
The takeaway
The dispute highlights how sports bodies, courts and governments can pull in different directions during wartime. Readers should expect the lineup and rules for the tournament to remain in flux until officials announce a final decision.
What happens next
The World Junior Hockey Championship is scheduled to begin Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, when organizers' decisions on participation will take effect.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see our Hockey coverage.
Live Poll
Should Russian athletes be barred from competing in Canada while the war in Ukraine continues?
