[Rumour] CHL to ban Russians and Belarusians from the upcoming import draft

[PaperBagger'14]

I totally agree with the decision. The fact some kid can't play a game in a country of his choice, while some of his friends will simultaneously be murdering Ukrainians is completely irrelevant to me. If these kids want to play here, they can earn that privilege and put that pressure on their government.

It is a privilege to play here and not a right. And as of right now it isn't a privilege any Russian national has earned.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I totally agree with the decision. The fact some kid can't play a game in a country of his choice, while some of his friends will simultaneously be murdering Ukrainians is completely irrelevant to me. If these kids want to play here, they can earn that privilege and put that pressure on their government.

yes, because that is the job of 16 year old kids

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I totally agree with the decision. The fact some kid can't play a game in a country of his choice, while some of his friends will simultaneously be murdering Ukrainians is completely irrelevant to me.

First off, killing people in battle is not murder.

Second, the Russian army in Ukraine is mostly made up of conscripts. Those guys don't have any choice about being there. Either they risk getting shot by Ukrainians or they get shot for sure by a firing squad. Nobody deserves to be punished for having a friend who gets drafted into the army.

If these kids want to play here, they can earn that privilege and put that pressure on their government.

It's like you don't know what the word ‘dictatorship’ means. A 16-year-old kid in Russia has absolutely no means of putting any pressure on anybody in power.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

First off, killing people in battle is not murder.

Second, the Russian army in Ukraine is mostly made up of conscripts. Those guys don't have any choice about being there. Either they risk getting shot by Ukrainians or they get shot for sure by a firing squad. Nobody deserves to be punished for having a friend who gets drafted into the army.



It's like you don't know what the word ‘dictatorship’ means. A 16-year-old kid in Russia has absolutely no means of putting any pressure on anybody in power.

The whole situation sucks for both sides, but when a nuclear threat is made, I have 0 sympathy or F's to give about some kid who wants to play hockey here. They don't deserve to play a game on Canadian soil.

They could put pressure on the government. I would personally house, feed and financially support any kid who would turn a car into a diesel fertilizer bomb and blow up the Kremlin with it.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

The whole situation sucks for both sides, but when a nuclear threat is made, I have 0 sympathy or F's to give about some kid who wants to play hockey here. They don't deserve to play a game on Canadian soil.

They could put pressure on the government. I would personally house, feed and financially support any kid who would turn a car into a diesel fertilizer bomb and blow up the Kremlin with it.

That's quite the non sequitur.

[CASe333]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

yes, because that is the job of 16 year old kids

Putting pressure on all aspects of Russian society does not make it the job of the 16 year old.

[Elkyiv]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Let the xenophobia begin!!!

Even if you were to accept that this is what's happening, it is still far worse than invading a sovereign country and killing civilians.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Elkyiv

Even if you were to accept that this is what's happening, it is [b[still[/b] far worse than invading a sovereign country and killing civilians.

What Russia is doing is wrong.

Banning Russians from playing our leagues is also wrong.

We are not Russia. We are free and fair society with opportunities for all. We don’t discriminate based on race. At least that’s how we used to do things.

I hope the evils in Europe right now don’t change who we are as a society.

[Elkyiv]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

What Russia is doing is wrong.

Banning Russians from playing our leagues is also wrong.

We are not Russia. We are free and fair society with opportunities for all. We don’t discriminate based on race. At least that’s how we used to do things.

I hope the evils in Europe right now don’t change who we are as a society.

This approach only works with those who are capable of self-correction.

Gandhi's NVR worked against the British, it wouldn't work against the Third Reich.

It's impossible for me to sympathise with some russian kids who can't play hockey here when I see limbs of Ukrainian children on city streets.

[Ryan Coke]

I view discrimination as wrong, and I’m not a fan of twisting myself into knots justifying why I’m good with it in certain cases.

It’s wrong, and this is wrong, and it has little, if any, benefit to stopping Putin’s transgressions.

[Circa89]

The outrage!!!
In regards to the super privileged athlete sons of the Russian Elite not being able to send their teenagers across the globe to play hockey! I think they’ll survive, no pun intended.

[FlamesAddiction]

I wonder how many Ukrainian kids won't be able to play hockey at all next year because of the war and destruction there. Many will either be fighting, rebuilding, or if they are lucky enough, trying to get out to play somewhere else.

Maybe make a point to draft a few Ukrainians into the CHL instead, they could probably use the development and a change of scenery. They used to produce the occasional decent NHL players and just recently, Vegas drafted a Ukrainian in the 6th round (a big physical defenseman) playing with the Colts. And he seems like he is on the right track.

[CliffFletcher]

EDIT:

This sort of performative solidarity is getting gross. A CHL ban would have no effect on undermining Putin’s regime. If it has any effect on Russia’s political climate at all, it’s more likely to increase resentment of the West among moderate Russians.

There are plenty of practical, effective ways to aid Ukrainians fighting off invasion or fleeing as refugees. Donations to the Red Cross, sanctioning or boycotting businesses owned by oligarchs, etc. Gestures like the one rumoured to being considered by the CHL are an opportunistic PR exercise. I can’t wait for the special edition blue and yellow M&Ms to be available in stores. Though that would actually be less cynical than a CHL ban, because Mars Inc could donate some of the money they made to Ukrainian refugees.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

This sort of performative solidarity is getting gross. A CHL ban will have no effect on undermining Putin’s regime. If it has any effect on Russia’s political climate at all, it’s more likely to increase resentment of the West among moderate Russians.

There are plenty of practical, effective ways to aid Ukrainians fighting off invasion or fleeing as refugees. Donations to the Red Cross, sanctioning or boycotting businesses owned by oligarchs, etc. Symbolic gestures like the one taken by the CHL are an opportunistic PR exercise. I can’t wait for the special edition blue and yellow M&Ms to be available in stores. Though that would actually be less cynical than the CHL ban, because Mars Inc could donate some of the money they made to Ukrainian refugees.

Well, nothing is ever perfect.

[nfotiu]

The CHL hasn't even done anything. This is their only statement on the matter.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1499139161617489922

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I wonder how many Ukrainian kids won't be able to play hockey at all next year because of the war and destruction there.

Extremely few. Hockey is a very minor sport in Ukraine; according to IIHF numbers reported by Statista there are only about 5,000 registered hockey players in the whole country. (Compare with 112,000 in Russia and 345,000 in Canada.)

The invasion of Ukraine is a ghastly crime and an affront to humanity. How it affects the game of hockey is immaterial, and viewing it through that lens is simply farcical.

The actual statement made by the CHL (thanks, nfotiu) is measured and sensible. The idea of retaliating against Russian junior players is not.

[PuckSlap]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

First off, killing people in battle is not murder.

Second, the Russian army in Ukraine is mostly made up of conscripts. Those guys don't have any choice about being there. Either they risk getting shot by Ukrainians or they get shot for sure by a firing squad. Nobody deserves to be punished for having a friend who gets drafted into the army.



It's like you don't know what the word ‘dictatorship’ means. A 16-year-old kid in Russia has absolutely no means of putting any pressure on anybody in power.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[herashak]

Getting talented people out of Russia is a good thing

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

First off, killing people in battle is not murder.

If they are not active combatants it might be considered murder.

Second, the Russian army in Ukraine is mostly made up of conscripts. Those guys don't have any choice about being there. Either they risk getting shot by Ukrainians or they get shot for sure by a firing squad. Nobody deserves to be punished for having a friend who gets drafted into the army.
.

That's not totally true and a bit simplistic.

You really have 3 classes of soldiers in Ukraine:

The first kind are conscripts:

Who don’t want to be there.
They want to go home and they hungry
Poorly armed and trained and supplied.
And they usually surrender without much of a fight.


The second kind are soldiers:

Professionally trained soldiers, who view this as their job/career.
They will have officers with them who naive and they will stand and fight.


The third kind are Chechens:

Estimated 10 to 70 thousand (numbers vary widely depending on the source)
They are dangerous and violent.
Chechens have earned the reputation they have been given.

[flambers]

They have no choice, they have to ban Russian teams and or players from many sports including FIFA, world championships, Juniors etc.,

Its for sure not wrong,

Just like the sanctions these unfortunately are hurting the residence not the army or leaders.