Gretzky backs Carney’s Russian world junior ban

Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky announced his support for Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to bar Russian athletes from the upcoming world junior championship in Alberta. The move follows Canada's refusal to grant visas to Russian and Belarusian teams representing their countries during the ongoing war in Ukraine, directly challenging a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that reinstated Russia to international hockey.

Speaking at an event unveiling the Walter Gretzky Upper Deck Hockey Resource Centre, Gretzky agreed with the federal government's stance. Canada plans to use immigration powers to block teams competing under national symbols, while European federations including Sweden, Finland, and Czechia have also stated their refusal to play Russia.