Overview
- Ukrainian Canadian groups organized a “No War Crimes in Hockey” protest outside the Canadian Tire Centre during Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals' visit on Tuesday to spotlight his public ties to Vladimir Putin.
- Two House of Commons petitions sponsored by Liberal MPs Yvan Baker and Bardish Chagger call for sanctions that would bar Ovechkin from entering Canada and the petitions are being advanced alongside the street demonstration.
- Ovechkin has a long record of public support for Putin that includes the 2017 'Putin Team' effort and his appearance in a September United Russia campaign video that the Washington Capitals said he filmed while in Russia.
- The protests and petitions come as a separate dispute over Russia's return to international hockey has intensified after the Oct. 30 Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that the IIHF must reinstate Russia, a move protested by federations such as Norway, Sweden and Finland.
- The immediate effect is heightened domestic pressure on Canadian officials and the hockey world, with possible policy moves on travel or sanctions and continued tension over which national teams will face Russia at coming tournaments.