Wayne Gretzky Supports Canada's Ban on Russian Athletes for World Juniors

Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky has publicly endorsed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s directive to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in Canada. The ban applies to the upcoming world junior hockey championship, which is scheduled to be held in Edmonton and Red Deer.

The policy was established by the Prime Minister in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. This move comes despite a recent ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport that had mandated the reinstatement of Russian teams to international hockey events.

Gretzky shared his support during a ceremony in Toronto, noting that he believes many Canadians and players share his perspective on the matter. The tournament is slated to run from December 26 to January 5.