Feds urge Canadian hockey players with KHL teams to get out!

Wow… this is getting scary as news emerge on Wednesday morning from the Canadian Press that the federal government is now warning Canadian players to get out of Russia and Belarus.

According to the report, 48 Canadian players currently on KHL team rosters this season is the most from any country outside Russia.

Back on February 24th, Russia invaded Ukraine and Canada has been supporting the latter in the conflict “with $626 million in military aid and over $320 million in humanitarian assistance since February, as well imposing financial sanctions on Russia and Belarus.”

Now, the government is urging the players to return to Canada, but the agents point out that these men are looking to make a living in their profession as other Canadians do working in foreign countries

“We live in a world where individuals are allowed to make those decisions. It’s just an individual decision related to an employment opportunity,” Alberta-based player agent Ritchie Winter said. “Has every player that’s gone, push, tugged and pulled and wrestled with the decision? Yeah, absolutely.”

This has to be troubling for those players and their families. But the Canadian government has been clear, states Adrien Blanchard, press secretary for Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly:

“Canadians should avoid all travel to Russia and Belarus. If they are in Russia or in Belarus, they should leave now. Our ability to provide consular services may become extremely limited.”

There has been less signings in the KHL by Canadian players this offseason, though goalie Andrew Hammond was the most recent Canadian to sign with a KHL club. He joined Chelyabinsk Traktor on Sept. 16.

Craig Woodcroft, the brother of Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft, coaches Minsk’s KHL team in Belarus.

“With what’s going on in the world obviously, we’re paying attention to that for sure,” the Oilers’ head coach told CP.
“My brother is in Belarus, so it’s not the big Russian mainland, but they play in that league. He’s carved a good career for himself there at a high level in the KHL.“

This has to be scary for players and their loved ones… Let’s hope that if things get worse over in Russia and Ukraine, they will be able to return to Canada.