Canadian authorities have informed the country's hockey association and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) that they will not issue visas to Russian players for the World Junior Championships, broadcaster TSN reported.
The 2026 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship is scheduled to take place in Canada from December 26, 2026 to January 5, 2027.
The statement comes after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on November 10 that "Russian players will not be allowed to compete in the coming months at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Edmonton and Red Air, Alta." "So, if you're asking specifically about the world's youngest, the Russians won't be there," TSN quoted Carney as saying.