Russia one step closer to competing in World Juniors despite Carney's disapproval

Canada and Russia battling for world junior gold. A sight not seen since 2020, but now a possibility. Norway says it's been told by the International Ice Hockey Federation that it will be replaced by Russia, just weeks away from the first puck drop in Alberta. This is so up in the air, what's going to happen? Russia had been banned from the tournament since it invaded Ukraine in 2022. But in a binding decision, the Court of Arbitration of Sport ruled late last month that the country must be allowed to return, a decision that sent a shockwave across the hockey world. It's certainly testing the limits of... Where do we draw the line between sport and politics? But the government of Canada has shut down the idea of Russian involvement and says it would deny visas to athletes. There will be none of those athletes competing for their country. In Edmonton, where this arena will host most of the games. I don't like it. Many fans also want Russian athletes to stay out. I don't think there should be welcome in Canada here. Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Latvia and the Czech Republic have previously said they would refuse to play Russia. Swiss Ice Hockey Federation President Mark Lutze says his country is also opposed. I think it would be ethically questionable if we were playing against them, he says. It's now uncertain which country will be the 10th and final team in the tournament. And if Russia's ultimately allowed to play, whether failing to take the ice against the team would result in a forfeit. We're going to hit kind of a quandary of what hockey really, as a broader institution, will do with the Russia conundrum. Hockey Canada would not provide comment on the controversy and it's unclear if Canadian players would be willing to take the ice against the Russians if they do manage to make it to the tournament. Alexander Silberman, CBC News, Montreal.