Gretzky Supported the Ban on Russian Hockey Players Playing in Canada

On October 30, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to allow Russian teams to participate in international tournaments. The nearest competition, the World Junior Championship, will take place in Canada in the cities of Edmonton and Red Deer in December 2026 - January 2027. Carney stated that Russians will "definitely" be denied visas for this tournament. "Good job. He took such a position and clearly stated it. I think many players and residents of Canada feel the same way," said Gretzky. The IIHF has not yet decided how Russians will be allowed to participate in international tournaments. The federation noted that the scale of the consequences of the decision made by the CAS, as well as the complexities faced by all parties involved, has clearly been underestimated, and the return of Russian teams is associated with significant difficulties - obtaining visas, ensuring security, logistics, as well as changes in the format of competitions. In addition, the national teams of Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic have already announced that they will not play against Russia.