Norway dropped from junior hockey championship to make room for Russia
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has moved tenth-ranked Norway down to Division 1A to create a spot for Russia at the World Junior Championship in Alberta, scheduled from 26 December to 5 January. The decision follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling ordering Russian teams reinstated after their 2022 suspension over the invasion of Ukraine. However, the IIHF has yet to formally confirm the change, and Russia has not secured Canadian entry visas. Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation general secretary Petter Salsten noted that this visa uncertainty leaves open the possibility that Norway could still compete, while pointing out the severe disruption caused by the immediate reinstatement order.
Russia's potential return faces fierce resistance across the sport. Six nations, including Norway, have pledged to boycott matches against Russian teams, while long-standing corporate sponsors have threatened to withdraw funding. The CAS ruling also extends to five tournaments in 2027, including the senior men's championship set for May in Germany, where newly qualified Ukraine could be displaced as the lowest-ranked team. With the German government calling Russia's participation "virtually impossible," German Ice Hockey Federation chief executive Frank Lutz indicated that Germany may consider relinquishing its hosting rights entirely.
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