Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
Sort of off on a tangent, but it still seems weird to me to see Dawes and Boyd representing the Kazakhstan national team. I think it's great that they were able to pick up Kazakhstani passports and play on the world stage, but it still looks weird to me. Former Flame, Henrik Karlsson in also on their national team.
Here is former NHLer and Canadian Olympian playing professional hockey in Australia for the Brisbane Blue Tongues in 2006:
Jonathan Cheechoo in Croatia:
And of course, Fleury with Belfast:
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It happens often in soccer. A big time European club spots some youngster in the slums of South America was bags of talent, and plucks them out and brings em over at a young age. Young kid essentially grows up in the country of his club, finds himself with a local girl, and wham bam thank you ma'am becomes a citizen.
Happens even is some smaller time leagues like Croatia (Eduardo da Silva, Sammir, and Poland (Roger). I believe Messi and Ronaldo both became Spanish citizens after living there for so long.