The Canadian federal authorities just lately despatched phrase to hockey groups touring in Russia and Belarus to depart as quickly as doable, based on the Toronto Solar. Forty-eight Canadian hockey athletes are on the roster for the Kontinental Hockey League, and 44 of them are taking part in in Russia and Belarus (the opposite 4 are in Kazakhstan).
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, and Canada was an early supporter of Ukraine for the reason that battle started. The Canadian authorities has given $626 million in army help, and $320 in humanitarian reduction. “Our authorities has been very clear. Canadians ought to keep away from all journey to Russia and Belarus,” World Affairs Canada mentioned in a press release to The Canadian Press. “If they’re in Russia or in Belarus, they need to go away now. Our capability to supply consular providers could turn out to be extraordinarily restricted.”
There might be a risk {that a} scenario much like the imprisonment of U.S. WNBA athlete Brittney Griner may happen as a result of ongoing battle. In accordance with Maria Popova, Affiliate Professor of Political Science at McGill College in Quebec, there’s a actual menace to gamers. “Anyone who’s in Russia is all the time in peril of being framed, incarcerated, used as a pawn in regardless of the native authorities, central authorities et cetera decides to do,” Popova mentioned. “I feel one thing like what occurred to Brittney Griner is feasible. The identical playbook might be repeated in a case towards a Canadian participant for certain.”
Griner was detained in Russia on Feb. 17, simply earlier than Russia invaded Ukraine. Popova did add, nonetheless, that whereas there’s a threat for gamers taking part in overseas, she doesn’t see a transparent cause why Russia would select to detain extra athletes. “I don’t see why Russia would attempt to use these individuals as a pawn as a result of Canada just isn’t Russia’s major drawback on this battle,” Popova mentioned. “There isn’t actually any hope that Russia may change Canadian coverage in Ukraine. They know Canada is firmly in NATO, clearly backing Ukraine.”
Adrien Blanchard, press secretary for Canadian International Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, advised CBC.ca that gamers ought to clarify why they’re selecting to remain in Russia and Belarus. “President [Vladimir] Putin’s battle in Ukraine is a battle on freedom, on democracy and on the rights of Ukrainians, and all individuals, to find out their very own future,” Blanchard mentioned. “Athletes who resolve to play and affiliate with Russia and Belarus ought to clarify their selections to the general public.”
Participant-agent Ritchie Winter, primarily based in Alberta, manages three gamers at present concerned within the Kontinental Hockey League. In his opinion, gamers have each proper to proceed making a dwelling.
“We reside in a world the place people are allowed to make these selections. It’s simply a person choice associated to an employment alternative. Has each participant that’s gone, push, tugged and pulled and wrestled with the choice? Yeah, completely,” Winter mentioned. “On the finish of the day, they’re husbands and fathers who’ve obligations to their households. When you’re a younger household with restricted assets since you performed principally within the minors, there’s a need to care for your loved ones. Generally that leads individuals to the oilfields in Kazakhstan and typically it leads them to the KHL.”
An NBC News report from March shared that gamers typically compete in Russia as a result of they will probably earn 4 or 5 occasions greater than their U.S. salaries. Citing Ketra Armstrong, a professor of sport administration and the director of the Middle for Race & Ethnicity in Sport on the College of Michigan. “It’s a tragic scenario in lots of regards, however it’s not completely past the realm of understanding,” mentioned Armstrong. “The amount of cash that athletes could make all through different components of the world is unimaginable and nearly a no brainer relying on how good you might be and your total market attraction.”
The Nationwide Hockey League (NHL) does conduct THC drug checks on gamers, however CBD is permitted. Moderately than being punished for hashish use, the NHL refers the gamers to a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.