Russia’s junior hockey return pushes Norway into lower division
Switzerland says its under-20 team will not face Russia, while Canada has pledged entry restrictions for Russian and Belarusian competitors.
Norway has been moved to Division 1A for the 2027 World Junior Hockey Championship following Russia’s reinstatement, the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association said on Nov. 8. Switzerland has also announced it will refuse to play Russia at the tournament.
Under the revised tournament arrangement, Russia takes the tenth position and Norway, the lowest-ranked team, drops a division. Canada is scheduled to host the championship, starting Dec. 26, 2026, and ending Jan. 5, 2027.
Russia’s return follows an Oct. 30 ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that found the International Ice Hockey Federation’s exclusion of Russian athletes unlawful. The IIHF said it disagrees with the ruling and is considering its options. Belarus remains excluded from the upcoming tournaments.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney previously said Russian participants would not attend the championship. His government later said Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab would assess Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials individually and use her authority to prevent entry for competition under their national symbols. Canada has not commented on the latest developments.
The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation cited the continuing conflict in Ukraine and current circumstances in announcing that its under-20 team would not face Russia. Hockey federations in Czechia, Germany, Finland and Canada have also sided with Ukraine.
The IIHF has barred teams from Russia and Belarus since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Belarus supporting the war.
