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CALGARY — A ruling ordering the International Ice Hockey Federation to reinstate Russia has raised questions about the upcoming world junior men’s hockey championship in Alberta and angered Canadian politicians.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Friday that Russia must be allowed back into international hockey. That overturned a ban imposed following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Hockey Canada expressed disappointment with the ruling and said it was seeking clarity on the implications for future competitions, including the world junior men’s championship, which begins in less than two months in Edmonton and Red Deer.
The organization said in a statement Friday it was in contact with the IIHF to learn more and had briefed the federal government on the outcome.
But the IIHF said in a statement Friday the ruling will affect five international tournaments in 2027, including the world junior men’s championship that begins Dec. 26, 2026 in Alberta, and also the 2027 women’s world championship in Quebec City.
Russia’s hockey federation indicated it plans to play in Alberta, identifying the world junior championship in Edmonton and Red Deer as its next major tournament in a statement posted to its English-language X account.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Secretary of Sport Adam van Koeverden both condemned the ruling allowing Russia to return to international hockey.
Hosting a Russian hockey team would put Canada in a difficult position given its military and humanitarian support for Ukraine.
“Canada is extremely disappointed by this decision to allow Russia to compete in these junior hockey events,” Anand said from Atlanta, Ga., where she attended the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting.
“We strongly oppose this outcome. We will continue to maintain our own restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes at events hosted in Canada that receive federal funding.
“We’re exploring further options, in fact, to ensure that the Russian government is held accountable.”
The federal government had not yet committed any money to the 2027 world junior tournament, according to Hockey Canada. The provincial government provided $11 million back in 2024 to host hockey events, including the 2027 world juniors.
Russia’s possible return also raises logistical questions about how the 10-country junior men’s tournament in Alberta could accommodate an additional country on short notice, with schedules and other arrangements already in place.
The hockey federations of Finland, Sweden, Germany and Czechia issued statements Friday expressing dismay at the CAS ruling and Russia’s impending return.
— with files from Dylan Robertson in Ottawa and Jack Farrell in Edmonton.
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