# Ottawa is sidelining serious hockey rivals from Russia, envoy says

https://mins.news/en/item/128447

- TASS, 2026-11-04 05:28 UTC
- Sports
- Original: https://tass.com/politics/2212821

> Russian Ambassador to Ottawa Oleg Stepanov said Canada’s refusal to issue visas to Russian athletes for the world junior hockey championship sidelines Russian and Belarusian players before competition begins. He criticized the Carney government for bringing politics into youth hockey and said the move undermines fair competition.

## Related coverage

- [Canada’s prime minister vows to bar Russian hockey players from world junior championship](https://mins.news/en/item/128720) — Meduza, 2026-11-04
- [Canada to bar Russian team from World Juniors, Carney says](https://mins.news/en/item/128209) — The Kyiv Independent, 2026-11-04
- [Carney says Russia will not be allowed to compete in World Juniors](https://mins.news/en/video/128020) — Global News, 2026-11-03