International news not easy for Greyhound players with Russian ties

With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine at the forefront of world news, international players suiting up in the Ontario Hockey League have been indirectly affected.

As Russian attacks continue, hockey federations have issued sanctions on Russian and Belarusian teams potentially competing in international events.

Closer to home, a pair of members of the Soo Greyhounds have Russian roots in defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev and goaltender Samuel Ivanov.

Kudryavtsev, who is from Yaroslavl, Russia, joined the Greyhounds this season after being selected in the CHL Import Draft.

“In both cases, it’s a little bit traumatic for them,” said Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis in a phone interview Friday morning. “They’re saying all the right things and we want to make sure we have the right people they can talk to if they need to. It’s a tough situation for an adult to understand and go through, let alone someone who is thousands of miles from home with the time changes for talking to people.”

“We’re trying to support the guys and make sure they know that we’re there for them,” Raftis added.

Ivanov, who is from Richmond Hill, Ont., has Russian roots.

With the situation ongoing, Raftis also said that the team is continually making sure the players are taken care of.

“On the mental health side, you want to make sure they can talk to somebody or if they need a break, we can be there for them as a team,” Raftis said. “You want to make sure that you’re checking in with them. I’ve talked to them both individually and our coaching staff has checked in with them on the day-to-day too just to make sure everything is ok. It’s like anything, there’s not a lot of answers (right now) for anybody, but you want to make sure that they don’t feel like they’re alone.”

Raftis added that the circumstances mean them team is looking to “do as much as we can for them” both on and off the ice.

“It’s a competitive nature out there and you don’t want them to be singled out for an issue like this,” Raftis said. “That’s a big thing the league is going to have to focus in on.”

On Friday, TSN reporter Rick Westhead reported that one of two Russian-born players on the North Bay Battalion was the target of anti-Russian slurs during a game against the Sudbury Wolves on Thursday night.

While the specific player was not named, player agent Dan Milstein, who represents the targeted player, confirmed the report via Twitter.

Battalion general manager Adam Dennis confirmed to Village Media that the league is currently investigating the incident.

Earlier this week, the OHL released a statement on the situation.

“The Ontario Hockey League condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, desiring a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict as quickly as possible,” the statement began.

“The OHL remains in communication with its member teams, monitoring the well-being of all players and especially those European players originating from countries directly impacted by the conflict,” the statement also said. “These young student-athletes have the full support of the Ontario Hockey League as they continue to represent their respective teams, regardless of their country of origin.”

Additionally, the league pledged support of the measure implemented by the International Ice Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada which suspended Russia and Belarus from international competition and participating in national team events held in Canada.

A similar statement was issued by the Canadian Hockey League, which oversees the OHL, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League, on Wednesday.

The CHL has cancelled its annual Canada/Russia series in the wake of the attacks, while the league is considering options when it comes to Russian players being selected in the Import Draft next summer.