Russia Ousting Norway At World Juniors, Setting Up Austria Or France To Lose Their Spot From 2027 Women's Worlds

Norway will not be competing at the 2027 World Junior Championships in Alberta, Canada despite earning promotion from the Division 1A tournament last year. This news, given to the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association just over a month before the tournament was set to open, came in order to make room for Russia. Russia was recently reinstated to IIHF competition following a Court of Arbitration of Sport decision requiring the IIHIF to immediately reinstate the nation following bans due to Russia's illegal invasion and war against Ukraine.

Norway was one of the nations who first stepped forward and said they would not play Russia in international competition.

"In the new setup for the U20 World Cup in Canada, which starts on December 26, Russia has been placed as nation number ten. This means that Norway, as the lowest ranked team, will be moved down to division 1A," Norway's national association wrote in a statement.

"We are aware of the status and the measures the IIHF feels compelled to take, and will await further information from the IIHF in the coming days," said Norway's secretary general Petter Salsten in a translated statement. "We have previously made it clear where we stand on the issue of Russia's participation, where we believe they should not be able to participate internationally as long as the war in Ukraine continues. This also clearly shows all the practical challenges and immediate consequences for everyone involved when countries are to be reinstated immediately."

Russia's participation remains in question, meaning the tournament could be without Norway and Russia as the Canadian government has said they will not permit Russian athletes into the country to play at the World Juniors.

"The authorities in Canada have made it clear that Russian players will not be granted visas to participate in the Junior World Championships," said Salsten. "In addition, several of the participating countries have said that they will not participate, or face Russia, if they are faced with them in the championship. This makes us hope that the last word has not been said about our participation in Canada in December."

If the IIHF repeats the protocol for the 2027 women's World Championships in Quebec City, it could spell the end of their top division hopes for Austria, regardless of their performance at the 2026 World Championships in Denmark. Austria is currently the lowest ranked nation in the top division, or that could remain in the top division.

Alternatively, those world rankings could switch over the next 12 months with placing France, who earned promotion from the Division 1A World Championships at risk.

France earned promotion to the top division back in April 2026 and due to the change in the women's international calendar, now has to wait until November 2027 to receive that promotion. Following the IIHF's decision to replace Norway with Russia at the men's U-20 level however, France may never get that promotion.

The options appear to include demoting both teams headed to relegation play at the current World Championships, which would send Japan and Austria down, while allowing France to be promoted and filling the second position with Russia; or to relegate only a single nation, and keep France at the Division 1A level despite the nation earning promotion.