CALGARY - The federal government says it will maintain restrictions on Russian athletes competing at federally funded sporting events in Canada, raising questions about whether Russia will be allowed to participate in the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta.
The statement comes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled Friday that Russia must be allowed to return to international hockey, potentially paving the way for its participation in the tournament, scheduled for Edmonton and Red Deer in December.
In a statement to CTV News, Liberal MP Adam van Koeverden, who also serves as the secretary of state for sport, said Canada strongly opposes the ruling.
“Canada maintains, as it has since 2022, that Russia should not be represented in international sport competitions while Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable full-scale invasion against Ukraine continues,” the statement said.
“Canada will maintain restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes at events hosted in Canada that receive funding from the Government of Canada and explore further options to ensure that the Russian government is held accountable.”
The ruling overturns a suspension imposed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The IIHF says it will comply with the decision but warns that reinstating Russian teams presents logistical and security challenges for tournaments already in advanced stages of preparation.
The ruling has drawn strong criticism from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC).
“The Court of Arbitration’s decision to reinstate Russia in international hockey tournaments is disgraceful,” UCC chief executive officer Danylo Korbabicz said in a statement to CTV News.
The organization is calling on Ottawa to refuse entry visas to Russian hockey teams.
Lydia Migus, president of the UCC’s Alberta provincial council, said the possibility of Russian athletes competing in Alberta is particularly upsetting for Ukrainians who fled the war and settled in the province.
“It’s very disappointing. It’s very, very disappointing. It’s normalizing. It’s a way of normalizing the war,” Migus told CTV News.
“It’s complete disregard for humanity, in my opinion. It’s complete disregard for what’s happening there and those who fled to be safe and secure,” she said.
Migus also rejected the argument that sports and politics should remain separate.
“Generally, yes, they should remain separate,” Migus said. “Unfortunately, the Russian government is politicizing and propagandizing, you know, both sports and culture.”
The possibility of Russian players returning to international competition is drawing mixed reactions from Canadians.
Calgary resident Emma Collier believes young athletes should not be penalized for decisions made by their country’s political leaders.
“They’re not necessarily the ones that have started the war,” Collier said, adding that Russian players should have the opportunity to compete because decisions about the war are largely beyond their control.
Fellow Calgary resident Lucas Andrews said the issue is complicated.
“I sympathize with them on one hand. But, you know, I also sympathize with the people of Ukraine,” Andrews said.
“I don’t think there’s any real winners out of it.”
Hockey Canada, headquartered in Calgary, says it is still trying to determine what the ruling means for the upcoming tournament.
“The implications of today’s decision by CAS are not immediately clear, and our organization is in contact with the IIHF to learn more,” Hockey Canada said in a statement to CTV News.
The IIHF expressed disappointment with the ruling, maintaining that its suspension of Russian teams was necessary to protect the safety of participants and the integrity of international competitions.
The federation says implementing the decision will require co-ordination with national hockey associations, organizing committees and host authorities to review schedules, travel arrangements and security measures.
“Our task now is to implement this ruling responsibly,” IIHF president Franz Reindl said in a statement to CTV News.
“Several championships are only weeks away, and changes to participation affect many people: players, teams, organizing committees and host cities.”
Reindl said safety and the integrity of the championships will guide the federation’s next steps.
Russian hockey officials welcomed the ruling.
“The CAS ruling is an important step forward for Russian hockey as a whole,” Roman Rotenberg, first vice-president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, said in a statement to CTV News.
“I’m especially happy for the young hockey players who dream of putting on a Team Russia jersey and competing for World Championship medals.”
Rotenberg said the federation is preparing its teams to return to international competition and hopes to work with the IIHF to implement the ruling.
