In brief

• Alexander Ovechkin commented on Canada's decision to keep Russian players out of the junior hockey world championship.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney tied the ban to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
• Canadian authorities also said they would not issue visas to Russians seeking to attend the event.

Ovechkin says Russia wants to play

Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin reacted to the decision by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to bar Russian players from the upcoming under-20 world championship. Ovechkin said the Russian players want to compete and that the decision is Canada's to make, adding that he was not sure how the situation would unfold («Мы хотим играть»: путинист Овечкин отреагировал на решение Канады не допускать Россию на молодежный ЧМ – NV).

Carney's decision and the reason given

Carney said last week that Russian hockey players will not be allowed to take part in the junior world championship in Alberta while Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine continues. The tournament is scheduled for next month.

Visa refusals

Canadian authorities also said they would not issue visas to Russians seeking to attend the world hockey championship, a move that effectively keeps Russian athletes and team staff from entering the country for the event (Власти Канады заявили, что не будут выдавать россиянам визы для участия в ЧМ по хоккею – TV Rain).

Reaction in sport

Legendary former player Wayne Gretzky has publicly backed Canada's position on excluding Russia from the junior tournament. Ovechkin's comments, by contrast, focused on the athletes' wish to play rather than on the political reasons behind the ban.

Read also

• Canada Keeps Russian and Belarusian Athletes Out of Its Junior Hockey Championship as CAS Orders IIHF to Readmit Russia