Hockey Canada in talks with IIHF over potential impact on WJC with Russian return

“The Swedish line was and is crystal clear: Sweden will not play ice hockey matches against Russia in the situation we are in right now,” the Swedish Ice Hockey Association said in a statement. “The decision does not mean that Sweden will refrain from participating in World Cup tournaments where Russia is participating.”

Norway said it will not play Russia at the 2027 men’s world championship in Germany. Its statement did not specifically address the world juniors.

Norwegian Ice Hockey Association general secretary Petter Salsten told The Associated Press that Norway could be removed from next month’s world junior championship in Canada to make way for Russia.

Denmark, which is not in the world junior field, has also said it will not play Russia at the men’s worlds.

Canadian Hockey League commissioner Dan Mackenzie called the situation “very fluid” while attending the league’s summit in Calgary.

The CHL, which is made up of the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, releases players to compete at the world juniors and gets about 35 per cent of the profit.

“Our concern is always for the safety of the players, their treatment and how they tie into the competition level of the tournament,” Mackenzie said. “If the situation were to compromise any of those things, we would be concerned.”

Mackenzie added the CHL is not involved in decisions of who gets to play in the tournament.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha thanked the federations that had refused to play Russia and urged other hockey powers, including co-host Canada, to follow suit.

“If CAS lacks a moral compass, let’s show that hockey still has values. Refuse to play against Russia and deny visas to its players,” he wrote in a post on X.

Meanwhile, an official with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress said the decision by the Court of Arbitration is “a disgrace and entirely unjustified,” and the Canadian government needs to take action to prevent Russia from attending the World Juniors.

“We were shocked and disgusted by the ruling of the court,” said Orest Zakydalsky, the senior policy adviser for Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

“We expect the Canadian government to not issue visas to the Russian team. There’s absolutely no reason, there’s no obligation for Canada to let the Russian team into the country, so we expect that the Canadian government will not issue them visas.”

He said he’s encouraged by comments from Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said the court decision is “unwelcome.”

“So we look to the government to act on that and deny the Russian team entry should they try to enter the country.”

Sweden is the defending champion and one of 10 teams currently set to compete at the world junior tournament, along with Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, the United States, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, Norway and Finland.

Finland’s federation said no player or team official would be obliged to take part in a tournament involving Russia or Belarus, and that it supported those who chose not to.

Canada’s federal government has said it opposes Russia’s return and will maintain restrictions on Russian athletes at events in Canada that receive federal funding. Hockey Canada confirmed the world juniors is not federally funded.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the province would comply with the CAS ruling.

— With files from Bill Graveland in Edmonton and Donna Spencer in Calgary.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Hockey Canada in talks with IIHF over potential impact on WJC with Russian return

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