Wayne Gretzky is throwing his support behind Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to prevent Russian hockey players from competing at the upcoming World Junior Championship in Alberta.
The hockey legend spoke to reporters Friday at an event in Toronto hosted by Upper Deck, where he was asked about Canada’s position following a controversial ruling that could have allowed Russia to return to international hockey competition.
“I understand the stance the prime minister has taken, and good for him. He’s made that stance, and he’s made it clear, and I think a lot of the players and the people of Canada feel the same way,” Gretzky told reporters.
Gretzky also expressed his opposition to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“Nobody likes war, right? We definitely don’t want to see this. We hope it ends. We wish it didn’t start,” he added.
Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images
The comments come after Carney announced Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not be permitted to represent their countries at sporting events on Canadian soil while the war continues.
The federal government said it would use its immigration powers to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering Canada, effectively keeping Russia out of the 2027 World Juniors in Edmonton and Red Deer.
The decision followed a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) must reinstate Russian teams into international competition, beginning with the upcoming World Juniors.
Russia and Belarus have been excluded from IIHF competitions since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Several European hockey federations have also voiced opposition to Russia’s return, with multiple countries threatening not to play against the nation while the war continues.
Gretzky’s comments are particularly interesting given his own Ukrainian heritage. His paternal grandmother was from Ternopil Oblast in western Ukraine.
The 2027 World Junior Championship is scheduled to begin Dec. 26, with Edmonton and Red Deer serving as the two host cities.
Canada will enter the tournament looking to capture its first gold medal since 2023, while the ongoing dispute over Russia’s potential return has become one of the biggest off-ice storylines surrounding this year’s event.
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