Sweden’s national junior governing body says it will refuse to play Russia at the world juniors if the teams meet, after it was informed of a plan to include Russia in the tournament in Alberta.
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The Swedish Ice Hockey Association says it was informed of an International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) plan to include Russia at the men’s world junior championship in Alberta.
Sweden said it will maintain its stance of not competing against Russia if the teams meet.
The IIHF inclusion plan comes after a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision requiring Russia’s reinstatement in international hockey following Russia and Belarus being barred from international hockey competition in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Canada’s federal government said in a Nov. 3 statement that individual Russian athletes could compete as neutrals, but the statement did not clarify whether that neutral provision could extend to a Russian team at the world juniors.
In Ottawa, Canada’s Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden said the neutral designation used for Russians at other events applies to individuals, not teams.
Norway’s hockey federation said the IIHF told it Russia would be added to the world juniors in Edmonton and Red Deer next month at Norway’s expense.
Norway’s hockey secretary general Peter Salsten said the IIHF told Norway it was bound by the CAS ruling and that the communication made no mention of Russia competing under a neutral designation.
The IIHF has not formally announced any changes to the world junior participants, and its website still lists Norway among the 10 teams in the tournament.
The Finnish Ice Hockey Association also reiterated it would not play Russia while the war against Ukraine continues, and said it would wait for the outcome rather than speculate.
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