Detroit Red Wings
Former Red Wings Defenseman Fetisov Blasts IIHF
Former Russian Five member calls world tourney a crime
The International Ice Hockey Federation is confirming the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from all sanctioned international hockey events for the 2023-24 season and former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov is calling this a crime against hockey.
Fetisov is currently a member of the upper house of the Russian Federal Assembly. Formerly the country’s Minister Of Sport, his work was instrumental in Sochi, Russia gaining host city status for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Slava Fetisov on Ovechkin:
"He represents Putin Team, he wears its merchandise. So he represents our country, our hockey and the current situation (the war). He wasn't afraid, didn't shrink away, didn't change his position. This commands respect."https://t.co/FkYrdvT9P7— Slava Malamud 🇺🇦 (@SlavaMalamud) May 19, 2023
Lately, though, Fetisov has been outspoken in his criticism of Russian bans from international sporting events since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“For me, there is no World Hockey Championship,” Fetisov told Sport-Express.ru. “I believe that it is a crime to show it in our country, and also to discuss its results. The topic is closed for me.
“It’s a crime to discuss the World Cup. When you don’t respect yourself, no one will respect you.”
Fetisov Owns Impeccable Hockey Resume
In the NHL, Fetisov was part of Detroit’s famed Russian Five. He won successive Stanley Cup titles with the Red Wings in 1996-97 and 1997-98. The Russian star was earning enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. Fetisov is also a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won multiple Stanley Cup, World Championship and Olympic titles. He’s among a select group of eight players to win all of those championships, as well as World Junior and Canada/World Cup titles.
Fetisov was named to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team in 2008. Of late, however, the only international acclaim coming Fetisov’s way is criticism and expulsion due to his support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last year, the Canadian and US governments were moving to ban Fetisov from entry into North America. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) includes Fetison on a list of Russians facing sanctions over the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Fetisov is among 328 members of the Duma, the Russian parliament, who were given this ban.
The ban prevented him from attending this season’s anniversary celebrations of Detroit’s 1996-97 and 1997-98 Stanley Cup teams.
The Daily: Red Wings Seider vs. Yzerman For World Honors; Cossa Chased, Walleye Ousted
The Daily: Cossa Facing Elimination; Dubas Mulls Penguins Job?
Red Wings Review: Jonatan Berggren’s Future
Red Wings Review: Alex Nedeljkovic’s Future
Former Red Wings Defenseman Fetisov Blasts IIHF
Which Goal Scorers May Interest Yzerman In Free Agent Market?
Former Red Wings Star Kozlov Still Struggles to Discuss Near-Death Experience (+)
Gotta See It: Red Wings Veleno Could Be Facing Sanctions After Stomping on Niederreiter
The Daily: Red Wings Rookie Camp Sensation Signs AHL Deal With Islanders; Mazur Impressing Lalonde at Worlds
The Daily: Ex-Red Wings D Stecher Blasts ESPN; Golden Knights Stanley Cup Favorites
Fetisov is a Putin Commie. Always has been. He came here for American money. Fact
Putin has influence over these Russian and Russian satellite players. If they don’t do his bidding Putin may harm their loved ones. That’s as far as anyone need to go with this. Putin is evil.
Fetisov, and other wealthy Russians, either agree with Putin or they’re too weak to respect basic humanity. They have the resources to move themselves and family members out of Russia, but they prefer to support Putin’s terrorism and protect their lifestyle. It is estimated that around 1.5 to 4 million Russians have left Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. Honoring the innocent civilians being slaughtered by Russia is far more important than any hockey player or team.
I prefer to judge case by case John. You may recall Putin killing off political dissidents and out of favor Oligarchs. With Putin, you are either with or against him and rich and famous who are against him don’t last. He can’t afford bad publicity and he’s almost if not crazy so they don’t want to be on his bad side. Certainly some walk in step with him but by choice or by intimidation? Hard to know. Lets hope someone gets to him soon or one of his illnesses takes over. Too much power in one place never turns out well for those living under it.
Some of these people have some very odd ideas and say some very odd things. They are starting to remind me of how the Nazi’s acted in the run up to WW2. Just some of the absolute crazy stuff coming out of their brains is very worrying. It won’t take long thinking these kinds of crazy things and going unchecked, before these people give themselves the “right” to go gallivanting across Europe in order to “correct” Europes “criminal” behaviour towards them. This is how Hitler got his start, saying crazy things and going unchecked.