The Swedish Ice Hockey Affiliation says it’s going to refuse to play Russia if the groups meet on the world juniors, after being knowledgeable of a plan from the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to incorporate Russia that might value Norway its place within the Alberta match.
Norway’s hockey federation mentioned Sunday the IIHF had knowledgeable it that Russia can be added to the lads’s under-20 match in Edmonton and Pink Deer subsequent month at Norway’s expense.
The IIHF has not formally introduced the change, and its web site nonetheless lists Norway among the many 10 groups within the match.
The event follows final month’s Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport ruling that the IIHF should reinstate Russia in worldwide hockey, after Russia and Belarus have been barred from worldwide hockey competitors in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Swedish affiliation advised The Canadian Press on Monday it sympathized with Norway, which certified for the match however now dangers dropping its place.
“I really feel deeply for Norway’s nationwide junior workforce, which certified for the World Juniors however now dangers dropping its place within the match. It’s troublesome to see this as something apart from unfair,” mentioned SIHA Secretary Normal Tony Wiréhn.
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The Finnish Ice Hockey Affiliation additionally reiterated Monday that it could not play Russia so long as the struggle towards Ukraine continues.
It mentioned it could not speculate additional and would watch for the end result.
Neither federation mentioned whether or not it could play a Russian workforce competing beneath a impartial designation.
Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned final week Russian and Belarusian athletes couldn’t compete in Canada for his or her international locations whereas the struggle continues.
The federal government’s Nov. 3 assertion permits particular person athletes to compete as neutrals however doesn’t make clear whether or not that might lengthen to a Russian workforce on the world juniors, which opens Dec. 26.
Norway mentioned Sunday it nonetheless hoped to compete within the match, citing uncertainty over its participation.
“The scenario remains to be unclear,” Norway’s hockey Secretary Normal Peter Salsten mentioned in an announcement posted on the affiliation’s web site and translated from Norwegian.
“This makes us hope that the final phrase has not been mentioned about our participation in Canada.”
Hockey Canada referred The Canadian Press to the federal authorities’s Nov. 3 assertion and mentioned it had nothing so as to add.
Particular person Russian athletes who’ve competed on the Olympics for the reason that struggle started have achieved in order neutrals.
Russian and Belarusian skilled tennis gamers have continued to compete as people beneath impartial standing on the ATP and WTA excursions, together with on the Nationwide Financial institution Open occasions in Toronto and Montreal.
World Aquatics barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from its occasions in 2022, then allowed them to return as neutrals the next 12 months.
In April, it lifted restrictions on senior athletes, permitting them to compete beneath their nationwide flags and with their anthems, topic to screening necessities.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
