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Wayne Gretzky has expressed his approval for Canada’s choice to prohibit Russia from participating in the upcoming world junior ice hockey tournament hosted in Alberta.
Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Mark Carney declared that competitors from Russia and Belarus will be forbidden from competing under their national flags inside Canada while the conflict in Ukraine persists.
This action was taken following a determination by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that Russia should be allowed back into international hockey tournaments, beginning with the world junior championship. Squads from Russia and Belarus have faced exclusion following Moscow’s initial assault on Ukraine in 2022.
During a Friday gathering in Toronto organized by Upper Deck to dedicate the Hockey Hall of Fame’s research facility to his deceased father, Gretzky voiced agreement with Carney’s stance.
“War is something no one desires, correct?” stated the highest-scoring player in NHL history, whose Eastern European ancestry traces back to modern Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. “This is certainly something we wish to avoid. Our hope is for its conclusion. We wish it had never commenced. I comprehend the position taken by the prime minister, and commend him for it. He took a firm stance and communicated it unequivocally.
“It seems to me that numerous players and Canadian citizens share that exact sentiment.”
The world junior tournament is slated to take place between Dec. 26 and Jan. 5 across Edmonton and Red Deer.
“As long as Russia and Belarus remain behind this unlawful, unprovoked, and devastating conflict in Ukraine, no sportspeople from those nations will be allowed to represent them on Canadian territory,” Carney stated to journalists on Tuesday in Antigua during the Commonwealth Summit, responding to inquiries regarding visa rejections for Russian athletes.
“Therefore, if your question pertains explicitly to the world junior tournament, Russian competitors will be absent.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney asserted that because Russia and Belarus continue to back ‘this illegal and unjustified war in Ukraine,’ no sports competitor representing those states will be permitted to perform in Canada, extending to the upcoming winter World Junior Hockey Championship held in Alberta.
Government authorities announced this week that immigration authority will be utilized to block athletes and delegates from Russia and Belarus from gaining entry into Canada to perform under their state flags.
“This policy does not target the citizens of Russia and Belarus,” official figures explained in a released statement. “Instead, the objective is to stop the administrations in Russia and Belarus from leveraging global athletic tournaments in Canada as avenues for national presentation, political validation, and state propaganda.”
Immigration permission will be evaluated case by case, officials noted, pointing out that competitors participating under a neutral status may still join international athletic contests hosted within Canada.
Mikhail Degtyarev, Russia’s sports minister, issued a statement on Oct. 30 asserting that the CAS verdict was non-appealable.
He further remarked that his nation intends to collaborate with the International Ice Hockey Federation to facilitate its re-entry into international play, beginning with the world junior event.
In the meantime, several European hockey associations—such as those of Sweden, Finland, Czechia, and Latvia, with the exception of Germany—have declared their national teams will decline to face Russia on the ice.
German authorities seek to maintain hosting rights for 2027 men’s world championship
The governing bodies in Germany intend to host the 2027 men’s ice hockey world championship domestically “as scheduled.”
The German hockey organization suggested it might surrender its rights to host the May event across Duesseldorf and Mannheim to avoid dealing with unpredictability surrounding elevated security measures and rising expenses.
“Holding these competitions as originally planned ought to remain our objective,” stated German government representative Stefan Kornelius on Friday. “Nevertheless, that becomes unfeasible in light of potential boycotts should Russia be allowed to take part. As a result, we are looking to investigate alternatives through dialogue so the event can still proceed.”
Gretzky alongside Upper Deck, a manufacturer of sports cards and collectibles, also revealed several collaborative projects on Friday.
Following its 2022 military action in Ukraine, Russia was barred from international ice hockey events. The Court of Arbitration for Sport set aside rulings by the International Ice Hockey Federation that had barred Russia from 2026-27 season competitions, which included both the men’s and women’s world championships. How Russia will be integrated remains uncertain, given that introducing an additional squad leads to unbalanced groups and extended tournament schedules.
The 65-year-old sports icon was queried on how such initiatives might influence his public standing among Canadians, which experienced some strain recently due to his personal relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“That is beyond my control,” Gretzky responded with laughter. “Friends remain your friends, don’t they? Individuals are free to hold their own views. That’s the essence of life, and one simply takes it in stride. Everyone has the right to their own beliefs and perspectives… it’s that straightforward.
“My father frequently advised me, ‘Reciprocate the way individuals treat you.’ That is the principle I follow in life.”
As the sole player in NHL history to record 200 points within a single season—an achievement he accomplished four times—Gretzky was also questioned regarding Connor McDavid’s performance at the start of the current campaign.
The Edmonton Oilers team leader has accumulated 44 points across 17 matches, positioning him on a trajectory toward 217 points for 2026-27. Achieving that would surpass Gretzky’s historical high of 215 points established back in 1985-86.
“Extraordinary,” remarked Gretzky, who hoisted the Stanley Cup four times while captaining the Oilers. “His contributions to his club, to the sport overall, and to the city of Edmonton are currently unparalleled. My impression is that he is fully committed to capturing a Stanley Cup. He desires it intensely, which is precisely the drive required from your premier skater and your squad leader.
“That caliber of guidance is vital if you aim to reach the next tier, and he possesses it completely.”
