Canada leads coalition refusing to play ice hockey against Russia
Multiple countries are blocking Russian participation in international hockey competitions over the Ukraine war.
At a glance
- Canada is leading a coalition of countries refusing to play ice hockey against Russia
- Russian athletes will be excluded from a world junior championship in Canada next month
- The decision comes after a sports court lifted a ban on Russian competition
- Prime Minister Mark Carney cited the Ukraine war as the reason for the ban
Canada has joined a coalition of nations refusing to compete against Russian ice hockey teams, with Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing that Russian athletes will not be permitted to participate in a world junior championship scheduled for next month in Canada.
The move reflects growing resistance to Russia's reintegration into international hockey following a sports court decision that lifted a previous ban on competition. Carney stated that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be barred from competing for their countries in Canada while the conflict in Ukraine continues.
Why it matters
The move represents coordinated international pressure on Russia through sports, as multiple nations resist the reintegration of Russian teams into global competitions.
Original reporting
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