DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Hockey powers Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic will refuse to play against Russia at next year's world championship, as a growing boycott movement across Europe now includes six of the 16 nations in the men's tournament. The rift in the sport deepened Tuesday as 11-time champion Sweden, Norway, Latvia and Denmark signed up to the boycott, and a top sponsor threatened to walk away, after Finland announced Monday it was rallying other nations to refuse to play Russia. The Czech federation signed up too after initially saying it would wait for a board meeting next week. Austria told The Associated Press it is weighing up whether to join, and Germany is unsure of hosting the men's championship. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled last week that the International Ice Hockey Federation must reinstate Russian teams, beginning with the world juniors starting next month in Canada. The men's world junior championship begins Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer. Hockey Canada said Friday it was seeking clarity from the IIHF on how Russia’s return would affect the event. Canada’s federal government has said it opposes Russia’s return and will maintain restrictions on Russian athletes at events in Canada that receive federal funding. Hockey Canada confirmed the world juniors has no federal funding. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the province would comply with the CAS ruling. The Swedish hockey federation said its board decided Tuesday that it would not play against Russia but would still play other world championship games. That was a turnaround from last week, after Sweden initially indicated a boycott was off the table after the CAS ruling Friday. “The Three Crowns will not play Russia in coming world championship tournaments,” federation head Anders Larsson said in a statement, using the team's nickname. The Swedish statement came shortly after Norway announced its boycott. “Our position is that Russia should be excluded from all international championships as long as the war in Ukraine continues and remains unchanged,” the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association said in a statement. “At the same time, this decision is based on our responsibility to protect the safety and wellbeing of our players, team staff and their families. We believe that playing Russia under the current circumstances could expose our players and team staff to significant security risks. Our priority is therefore their mental health, wellbeing and personal safety.” Norway only referred to the men's world championship in May in its statement. Asked about the world juniors starting in Canada next month, NIHA general secretary Petter Salsten told The Associated Press that Norway would potentially be removed from the tournament by the IIHF to make way for Russia anyway. In that case, “if RUS is added, it is a huge possibility that NOR is out," he wrote via email, because Norway was the last team to qualify. The IIHF did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Finland and Norway's refusal to play Russia. Finland is the defending men's world champion and Norway was the bronze medal-winner this year. Norway joining the boycott means that at least one team in each of the two groups of the 16-team tournament has now pledged not to play Russia. Denmark’s hockey federation chairman told the Ritzau news agency its teams would not play Russia. Latvia’s federation said it maintained its firm position not to play Russia or Belarus. Second major sponsor pressures IIHF Finnish tire manufacturer Nokian Tyres said it will no longer sponsor the world championship if Russia takes part. Tiina Frazer, senior vice president for brand, marketing and communications, said that “under the current circumstances, continuing the sponsorship if Russia participates would not be aligned with our values.” That comes a day after Swedish furniture maker AJ Products, a tournament sponsor since 1989, said it would ask for its logo not to be shown if Russia plays. Previously, the chief executive of Germany's hockey federation said it could pull out of hosting the men's world championship next year over concerns about costs and security. Junior tournaments are affected too, with the Finnish city of Turku saying it will not co-host next year's world juniors if Russia participates. The Czech federation, which is hosting the women’s under-18 world championship in January, said Tuesday it would speak with the government about whether Russian players could be denied entry to the country. The boycott movement echoes soccer in 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. All of Russia’s potential World Cup qualifying opponents threatened to boycott. FIFA successfully argued at CAS that Russia should be excluded, warning that its participation risked “irreparable and chaotic” harm to the competition. One political figure in support of Russia's return is Slovakia's pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico. “I’ve also always wondered what the value of a gold medal is, if on the way to it you don’t have to beat the Russian hockey players, who are undoubtedly among the best in the world," he posted on social media Saturday. The women's world championship starting in Denmark this week is not affected by the CAS ruling and is going ahead without Russia. ___ Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this report. With files from The Canadian Press ___ See AP’s full sports coverage here James Ellingworth, The Associated Press
