Russian players not welcome in Prague for NHL European tour: Report

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 22: A general view of an NHL logo on the back of a net during warms up prior to a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 22, 2018, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
By The Athletic Staff
Sep 22, 2022

Russian players who are scheduled to participate in NHL games in Prague next month will not be welcomed by the Czech government because of its stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to a report from The Associated Press.

The Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks are slated to face off at the Czech capital’s O2 Arena on Oct. 7 and 8. While rosters are still to be set, Russian forward Yakov Trenin plays for the Predators while forward Evgeny Svechnikov and left wing Alexander Barabanov are members of the Sharks. San Jose defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov is injured.

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“We can confirm that the Czech Foreign Ministry has sent a letter to the NHL to point out that, at this moment, the Czech Republic or any other state in the (visa-free) Schengen zone should not issue visas to the Russian players to enter our territory,” Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Smolek said in a statement, according to AP.

The ministry has informed the league “about ongoing negotiations about banning entry for those citizens of the Russian Federation who already had received valid visas before,” AP reported.

The ministry would not say if the league has responded, AP said.

Sharks GM Mike Grier said Thursday that the NHL is handling the situation with Russian players and Czechia. When asked about forfeits, he referred again to the league handling it and said he doesn’t anticipate it coming to that. He also said that his squad is a team and “we all go or we don’t go.”

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Former Czech star Dominik Hasek has been outspoken about banning Russian players and approached the Czech government to voice his concern.

“Yes, we don’t want any promotion of the Russian aggression here,” he tweeted this week in Czech, according to AP.

The Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets are slated to play in Finland in early November. The Finnish government’s position on Russian players is unclear, AP said.

(Photo: Patrick Gorski / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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