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Alex Ovechkin Is in Moscow Playing Soccer: Why Should NHL Fans Care?
A news report from USA Today noted that Alex Ovechkin was in Moscow playing a soccer “friendly.” Why should matter to all of us?
Without going into a lot of history, let’s put the report that Alex Ovechkin was playing soccer in Moscow into perspective and context. There’s a war of aggression going on that could be threatening to all of us.
On February 24, 2022, Russia escalated the Russo-Ukrainian War that began in 2014 and invaded Ukraine in an all-out effort to take over the country. Ukraine is a country that regained its independence in 1991 after years of rule by the Soviet Union.
Almost immediately, most Western nations – Canada and the United States included – issued economic sanctions to try to pressure Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to send troops into Ukraine.
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It Is Not Business as Usual in Russia
Yesterday, in two separate news stories, the New York Times reported that Russia missed its bond deadline. That means that it has defaulted on paying its foreign debt. It was Russia’s first default on a foreign debt payment since 1918 (or 104 years). Moscow can’t afford to pay its foreign investors, which can be interpreted to mean that the foreign sanctions are working to stifle Russia’s economy.
Yesterday, as well, a Russian missile attacked a crowded shopping center in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk. At least 15 Ukrainian people were killed.
How Does the Russian War with Ukraine Impact the NHL
After Russia invaded Ukraine, not only did a wave of economic sanctions and anti-Russian sentiment build from the West, some sports banned Russian and Belarusian players from playing in their leagues. The NHL has supported its Russian and Belarusian players and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. In fact, players from those countries could be selected in this year’s NHL Entry Draft.
However, the Stanley Cup won’t be traveling to Russia. Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin is Russian, but he’s been denied the chance to take it there. Usually, each winning player gets a chance to take the Stanley Cup home for a party.
Now Back to Ovechkin
That’s the context of Ovechkin’s soccer game. Back in Moscow, the capital of Russia, Alex Ovechkin – who played soccer before he played hockey – signed a one-day contract with FC Dynamo Moscow to play in a “friendly” match on Saturday.
A story in the USA Today noted that Ovechkin scored a goal in a fun game against a team made up of social media stars and bloggers. Dynamo won the exhibition contest by a score of 5-0 and the fans voted Ovechkin to be the MVP. (from “Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin moonlights as a soccer player for FC Dynamo Moscow, continues scoring goals,” Robert Zeglinski, USA Today, 26/06/2022).
Two questions come to mind. First, why is USA Today reporting news out of Russia? Second, why is anyone – including me – reading it?
I get it that Russian players head home after the NHL’s regular-season or postseason has been completed. Fine. I don’t even care that Ovechkin plays soccer in a game that is called – ironically, given the human tragedy that’s being inflicted on citizens of Ukraine – a “friendly.” I just don’t think anyone from USA Today (or any other newspaper in Canada or North America) should be covering it as if it’s a friendly little fun event.
What Are You Thinking USA Today?
Come on USA Today. Why are you trying to make it even seem that things in Russia are “normal” while not far away the Russian army is dropping missiles on people who are grocery shopping? Don’t cover Ovechkin playing a fun little soccer friendly as if everything in Russia is alright. As if Russia and Moscow (and nearby Ukraine) are fun places to be?
There’s not so much fun around Russia; and, it really isn’t all right.
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