Canada bars Russia and Belarus from upcoming junior hockey tournament

Canada will exclude ice hockey players from Russia and Belarus from the World Junior Championships scheduled for December 26 to January 5. This decision follows a suspension of Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, though a recent court ruling lifted that ban. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that as long as hostilities continue, athletes from those nations will not be allowed to compete. The ban has drawn criticism from Russian officials, including ambassador Oleg Stepanov, who condemned the politicization of junior hockey. Other national ice hockey federations, including Norway and Denmark, have also expressed intentions to not compete against Russia in future tournaments.

• 7:58 AMYahoo Sports — Canada bars Russia & Belarus from junior tournament