Russia to replace Norway in ice hockey championship as more countries vow to boycott games
In the new layout of the 2027 World Junior Hockey Championship, which is due to take place in Canada from Dec. 26, 2026, to Jan. 5, 2027, Russia will place tenth. As the lowest-ranked team, Norway will move down to Division 1A.
The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association (NIHF) announced on November 8 that Norway's team has been relegated to a lower division at the 2027 World Junior Hockey Championship due to Russia's reintegration into the tournament. This decision came after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) could not exclude Russian athletes from international ice hockey competitions.
The IIHF expressed disagreement with the CAS's decision on Russia's participation but is exploring ways to find a constructive solution that serves global ice hockey interests.
Norway, the lowest-ranked team in the new championship layout, will be placed 10th at the event set to take place in Canada from December 26, 2026, to January 5, 2027. As the lowest-ranked team, Norway will be moved down to Division 1A. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated during a press conference that Russians will not be present for the World Junior Hockey Championship, and the Canadian government will take steps to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering the country to compete under their national symbols.
Switzerland has joined the list of countries refusing to play against Russia, with the Swiss U20 national team declining to compete against the Russian U20 team in the upcoming World Championship. Other national hockey federations, including those from Czechia, Germany, Finland, Canada, and others, have aligned with Ukraine's stance.
Captains of the Ukraine men's national team, Ihor Merezhko, expressed his view that sports and politics are intertwined, emphasizing the destructive impact of missile attacks on ice arenas and athletes.
Russian and Belarusian teams have been excluded from IIHF competitions since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Belarus supported the war. The reintegration of Russia into global sports has gained momentum, and the European Union is considering potential responses to this development.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
