Canada joins coalition refusing to play ice hockey against Russia over Ukraine war

Canada has joined a coalition refusing to allow Russian ice hockey teams to compete, citing the ongoing war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Russian athletes will not participate in the upcoming world junior championship. This decision follows a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that lifted a ban on Russian teams, which had been in place since February 2022. Several national hockey federations, including those from Finland, Norway, and others, have expressed their support for excluding Russia from international competitions. Ukraine's foreign minister praised these actions, emphasizing the incompatibility of aggression and sportsmanship. The world junior tournament is set to start on December 26 in Alberta.