MOSCOW, RUSSIA ? JANUARY 17, 2021: CSKA Moscow?s Nikita Soshnikov (R front) and teammates Nikita Korostelev, Anton Slepyshev, Maxim Sorkin and Maxim Shalunov (L-R back) celebrate a goal in a 2020/2021 KHL Regular Season ice hockey match between CSKA Moscow and SKA St Petersburg at CSKA Arena. TASS

Canadian Hockey League ban Russian, Belarusian players from upcoming draft

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated Apr 27, 2022 4:25 PM ET

The Canadian Hockey League announced in a statement on Wednesday it will not make Russian and Belarusian players eligible in its upcoming draft.

A statement from the Canadian Hockey League / Une déclaration de la Ligue canadienne de hockey pic.twitter.com/Fo1E8IkTpr
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 27, 2022

The statement also says that Russian and Belarusian players currently on CHL rosters' protected lists will remain so.

The announcement is just the latest as hockey leagues across the globe make statements regarding players of Russian and Belarusian origin in light of Russia's continued attack on Ukraine.

The NHL faces a conundrum in light of its plans to host preseason games in Europe next fall. After it was announced the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators will play a preseason tilt in Prague, former NHL goaltender and Czech native Dominik Hasek went on a lengthy Twitter tirade saying he would do everything in his power to cancel the game if Russian players are allowed to participate.

The NHL San Jose Sharks - Nashville Predators match should take place in Prague in October. If the NHL (given the situation) wants to allow any Russian player to play in this match, I will consider it an inexcusable act. https://t.co/to2w9LwQ34
— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) April 22, 2022

If that were the case, I would do everything I could to ensure that this match does not take place in our country. I will appeal to the government of the Czech Republic, the event organizers, potential partners and the public.
— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) April 22, 2022

In the event that the match is still held, so that it is ignored by as many public as possible and condemned worldwide. Let us realize that with the public participation of Russian athletes in events, we are doing a huge advertisement for the Russian country and its actions.
— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) April 22, 2022

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