The Daily Faceoff Show: What impact will Russia’s attack on Ukraine have on hockey?
With the news coming out last night that Russia began an invasion of Ukraine, Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna led off the Daily Faceoff Show with a discussion on the subject and how it impacts the hockey world.
Frank Seravalli: “I think we’ve all been watching in stunned silence over the last 24 hours as Russia has attacked Ukraine, and I think one of the big things that we have a question within the hockey world is: this is impacting so many walks of life at the moment, how will this impact the hockey world?
We’re waiting for Alex Ovechkin to speak on the topic shortly, it’ll probably be a couple of days. You see a tweet from Samantha Pell, expecting him to be available, not today, but he wants further time before speaking about Russia’s attack on Ukraine. His wife, kids, mom, and dad are all in Russia at the moment, so you understand, certainly, the precarious position that Alex Ovechkin and potentially his family are in.
Expecting Alex Ovechkin to be available to media in the coming days. He was requested this AM, but Caps want to keep the focus on tonight’s game vs NYR.
Ovechkin wants further time before speaking on Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
Ovechkin’s wife, kids, mom + dad are in Russia.
Ovechkin has been an ardent supporter of Vladimir Putin to this point, and his profile picture on Instagram is still with Vladimir Putin. He’s also been part TeamPutin.ru, which is a support page for Vladimir Putin.
Looking at just the impact on the hockey world, there are two prominent IIHF world championships — the World Junior Championship in 2023, Novosibirsk and Omsk, and the 2023 Men’s World Championship — that are scheduled to take place in St. Petersburgh. Even though these events aren’t on the schedule in the short term, a lot can happen in between now and the time they take place. But you see the very cozy relationship that the IIHF and their former president in Rene Fasel had with Vladimir Putin, and also what a big part hockey is to Vladimir Putin in terms of getting his message out to the country and also the world. A big hockey fan and this certainly has many layers and connections to the hockey world.”
Mike McKenna: “It does, and you just think about this from Ovechkin’s standpoint that he has been an ardent supporter of Vladimir Putin previously, especially in 2014, the last time there was a real conflict between the Ukraine and Russia, he was very much on Russia’s side. There’s a belief that the Russians are “saving” the Ukrainians and the separatists on the Eastern half.
We haven’t seen an invasion like this in a very long time in world history, and I think that what you’re really worried about are sanctions, not just the World Juniors and how it affects other international events. If there are large sanctions put in place on Russia, or on Russian individuals and citizens, how does that play out? Is there an effect on Russian players?
I’ve been in the league previously and playing pro hockey when there were concerns about players being able to obtain work visas. And I think that’s real, this is a major conflict. I’m not sure how long this may last, what ramifications there might be on a global scale, and I think it’s real. You’re seeing people from other sports, F1 superstar Sebastian Vettel, he’s not going to race in Russia because of this.
So, I think there are ramifications that may be long-lasting, and I’m very curious to hear what Alex Ovechkin has to say when it comes time for him to speak.”
Frank Seravalli: “Yeah, I wanted to give a shoutout to former Washington Post, Capitals beat reporter Isabelle Khurshudyan. She has been a foreign correspondent now for the Washington Post since leaving the hockey beat. She is actually in Ukraine at the moment, so wishing her all the best and safe travels in her reporting journey.
Thinking of Isabelle, thinking of everyone in Ukraine, and in a way too, thinking of Alex Ovechkin, probably not a real comfortable position for him to be in, as he’s at some point going to have to answer questions about his support for Russia and his stance.”
You can watch the full episode here…