Canada bans Russian and Belarusian players from World Junior hockey
Prime Minister Mark Carney said on November fourth that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be barred from competing under their national symbols at the World Junior Championships in Alberta, citing the war in Ukraine. The announcement followed weeks of Canadian officials denouncing a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that reinstated Russia for the 2026-27 tournament, with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand calling the decision unwelcome amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. European hockey bodies, including Finland, Sweden and Norway, also declared they would not face Russian teams while the conflict continues, prompting Canada to move to prohibit Russian and Belarusian players from the event.