The war in Ukraine has put a damper on the National Hockey League’s planned return to Europe next month to play its first games outside North America since the pandemic began.
The Czech Foreign Ministry told two NHL teams opening their seasons in Prague that any Russian players would not be welcome due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It may not amount to an outright ban and league officials have played down the potential impact, but it has added a layer of uncertainty to a World Series the NHL is proud of.
The Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks are scheduled to play regular-season games Oct. 7-8 at the O2 Arena in Prague as part of the series that aims to showcase the best players in the world, primarily in Europe. There aren’t many Russians on either roster: Nashville has forward Yakov Trenin and San Jose has Alexander Barabanov, as well as Evgeny Svechnikov, who is in training camp under a deal. test.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press on Thursday that he had “no concerns” about players traveling to Prague or dressing up to play on the ice. Neither Daly nor the department would say whether the league responded to the letter.
Agent Shumi Babaev, who represents Trenin, echoed Daly’s sentiment that he does not foresee any problems. Agent Dan Milstein, who represents Barabanov and Svechnikov, declined to comment.
“We’re a team, so if they say some guys can’t go, either we all go or nobody goes,” San Jose general manager Mike Grier said. “We’re a group. It’s not the players’ fault. They didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t think they should be punished for it. We’re with them, and we’re all together as one. alone here.”
As the Predators deferred to the league, Sharks captain Logan Couture echoed Grier.
“I think we’re a team here and if we’re going over there, we want everyone on our team to be there,” Couture said. “All the guys who are going to be part of the team are part of our team.”
The NHL never considered the ban
The ministry said it informed the league “about ongoing negotiations on banning entry to citizens of the Russian Federation who had previously received valid visas”. A ride involves passports from other countries or visas issued by other European countries.
The Czech ministry said a ban on Russian athletes in sporting events in European Union countries had also been recommended by EU sports ministers.
The NHL never considered banning the Russians, many of whom are among the most talented hockey players in the world. Commissioner Gary Bettman told the AP over the spring that the Russians “play in the NHL for their NHL team for the NHL fans.”
The league has banned Stanley Cup-winning players from going to Russia or closely allied Belarus this summer because of their role in the invasion of Ukraine. Valeri Nichushkin was the only Russian player for the Cup-champion Colorado Avalanche.
First European matches since before the pandemic
The NHL returns to Europe for its first games outside North America since 2019. After the two games in Prague, the Avalanche and the Columbus Blue Jackets will play twice in Tampere, Finland, on the 4th and November 5. The Finnish government’s position on Russian players was not immediately clear.
Czech NHL great Dominik Hasek has led the opposition to Russian players coming to Prague since the games were announced in April. Hasek has approached the upper house of parliament, the senate, the government and the foreign ministry about it.
“It’s very important for the support of our Ukrainian ally and the safety of our citizens,” Hasek said in an interview for a Russian broadcaster. After it was not aired in Russia, he published it in Czech media.
“Yes, we don’t want any promotion of Russian aggression here,” Hasek posted on Twitter after the ministry’s decision. “We protect our lives and those of our allies first.”
In Washington, Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who is Russian, was asked Thursday about the latest developments in the war, including protests in his home country.
Ovechkin, who previously backed Russian President Vladimir Putin but also expressed a general desire for peace after the war started, said he would need to get more information, adding: “We’ll see what happens. happen”.
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