Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has declared that athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be permitted to compete at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships in Alberta. The tournament is scheduled to begin next month.
The announcement, reported by AFP on Wednesday, reinforces Canada's ongoing stance against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international sporting events hosted on Canadian soil. Carney's vow comes amid continued geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Belarus supporting the offensive.
The World Junior Championship is one of the premier annual events in international ice hockey, showcasing the top under-20 talent from around the globe. Alberta is set to host the competition across multiple venues.
Neither the International Ice Hockey Federation nor Hockey Canada has issued an immediate public response to the prime minister's statement. The decision effectively prevents the Russian and Belarusian national junior teams from defending or contesting their places in the tournament.
