Adam van Koeverden, the Secretary of State for Sport in Canada, has expressed skepticism about the possibility of Russia participating as a neutral team in the forthcoming world junior hockey championship set to take place in Alberta.
This situation arises after last month’s ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which stated that the International Ice Hockey Federation must allow Russia back into international hockey. This ruling came after Russia and Belarus were prohibited from international hockey events in 2022 due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not be allowed to compete in Canada under their national flags while the conflict persists. However, a statement from the government on November 3 indicated that individual athletes could compete as neutrals, but it did not make it clear whether this would apply to a Russian team at the men’s under-20 tournament, which begins on December 26.
On Monday, Van Koeverden clarified that the neutral athlete classification for Russians at other competitions pertains to individuals, not teams.
His remarks followed Norway’s hockey federation revealing on Sunday that the IIHF had notified them that Russia would be included in the world juniors in Edmonton and Red Deer next month at the expense of Norway.
“This is a rapidly changing situation with Norway,” Van Koeverden stated from a sports summit in Ottawa. “I have been in discussions with sports ministers from Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Germany, and I am hoping to meet with the Czech minister this week, among others, to address this quickly evolving matter.”
“The Prime Minister has been very clear that sport will not serve as a platform for propaganda on Canadian soil, and any suggestion that accommodations might be made is something the Prime Minister has been exceptionally straightforward about.”
“We will continue to collaborate with Hockey Canada, and it’s worth noting that the IIHF’s previous stance was consistent with Canada’s. We aim to ensure that excellent Canadian hockey and outstanding international hockey are showcased here on Canadian ground.”
As of now, the IIHF has not officially announced any modifications to the world junior participants, and its website still lists Norway as one of the 10 teams scheduled to compete in the tournament.
On Monday, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association also confirmed that it had been made aware of the new development but reiterated its decision to not face Russia in competition.
Sweden sympathizes with Norwegian junior team
The Swedish association expressed its sympathy for Norway, which qualified for the tournament but now faces the risk of losing its spot.
“I have great empathy for Norway’s national junior team, which successfully qualified for the world juniors but is now at risk of losing its place in the tournament. It is hard to view this as anything but unjust,” stated SIHA secretary general Tony Wirehn.
The Finnish Ice Hockey Association also reiterated its stance on Monday, declaring it would not compete against Russia as long as the war in Ukraine continues. They indicated that they would refrain from speculation and await further developments.
Neither federation clarified whether they would engage with a Russian team competing under a neutral designation.
Norway expressed on Sunday that it still hoped to participate in the tournament.
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“The situation remains uncertain,” remarked Norway’s hockey secretary general Peter Salsten in a statement published on the association’s website and translated from Norwegian. “This leads us to hope that the final word has not been spoken regarding our participation in Canada.”
Hockey Canada directed The Canadian Press to the federal government’s statement from November 3 and indicated that they had no additional comments to provide.
The IIHF and the Russian Hockey Federation did not respond immediately to requests for comments on Monday.
Individual Russian athletes who have competed in the Olympics since the onset of the war have done so in a neutral capacity.
Russian and Belarusian professional tennis players have also been able to compete as individuals under neutral status on the ATP and WTA tours, including at the National Bank Open events in Toronto and Montreal.
World Aquatics initially barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from its competitions in 2022 but later allowed them to return as neutrals in the following year. In April, they lifted restrictions for senior athletes, permitting them to compete under their national flags and have their anthems played, subject to certain screening criteria.
