Russian, Belarusian players’ eligibility for draft OHL teams in Hamilton, Mississauga, Oshawa and St. Catharines take part in a hot topic

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Published March 2, 2022 at 7:54 pm

The Canadian Hockey League has taken one decisive action after Russia’s attack on Ukraine — but apparently not the one that had been rumoured this week.

The CHL, which includes the Ontario Hockey League and teams such as the Hamilton Bulldogs, Mississauga Steelheads, Niagara IceDogs and Oshawa Generals, also said it is mulling a move that would affect roster composition. The CHL announced on Wednesday (March 2) that it has cancelled next season’s Canada Russia Series, which is a six-game cross-Canada competition held every November before the final selection camp of Team Canada for the world under-20 championship (AKA the world juniors).

There were reports that the CHL seriously mulled barring Russian and Belarusian players from next season’s import draft. However, the CHL says that the date and format for the import draft is undetermined.

“The Canadian Hockey League strongly condemns the recent actions by Russia involving military force in Ukraine and encourages a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” the statement reads.

“In addition to supporting the measures announced by the International Ice Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada barring Russia and Belarus from international competition, the Canadian Hockey League today announced the cancellation of the 2022 Canada Russia Series. The date and format for the 2022 CHL Import Draft has yet to be determined and will be announced at a later date.

“The Canadian Hockey League is committed to the safety and well-being of all of its current players and is supportive of their continued development regardless of their country of origin.”

On Monday, the IIHF joined the legion of sports leagues and governing bodies that are sanctioning Russia and Belarus for the invasion of Ukraine. Both nations were banned from the world championship, which is scheduled to be hosted by Finland in May. Both have also been expelled from the world juniors, which may be held at some point in the summer after being cancelled in late December due to COVID-19 cases among several competitors.

Russia was also supposed to host both major men’s world championships in 2023, but that has been pulled from the country.

The CHL, which is a pro-environment development league for players aged 16 to 20, allows teams to carry two players hailing from outside of Canada and the United States. The import draft is held each summer, typically a few days after the National Hockey League’s entry draft.

‘I do not believe (in) banning teenagers’

Prior to the announcement, Dan Milstein, an NHL-certified player agent, wrote a tweet criticizing the possible exclusion of Belarusian and Russian players from the import draft.

“I am Ukrainian born and want peace,” Milstein wrote. “I do not believe banning teenagers for something they do not control is the answer.”

One of the foremost media chroniclers of the CHL, Sunaya Sapurji of The Athletic, also questioned the efficacy of such a move.

“It’s mostly messaging,” Sapurji wrote.

On Monday, Sapurji also noted that the Russian Hockey Federation would welcome an import draft ban.

“They want nothing more than to prevent their players from leaving home and going to the CHL,” she wrote.

The war in Ukraine, and Russia’s growing isolation from G7 nations such as Canada, could create visa and logistical issues around bringing players from eastern Europe to the CHL.

All four OHL teams within inSauga’s coverage regions will likely have an open import spot on their 2022-23 rosters, since each one has at least one 19-year-old European. Both Hamilton and Oshawa’s rosters also include an 18-year-old defenceman from either Russia or Belarus.

Hamilton’s import duo consists of 19-year-old Jan Mysak, a Montreal Canadiens prospect who would be in line to go pro in next season. Eighteen-year-old Russian defenceman Artem Grushnikov, a Dallas Stars draft choice, is in his first full season in North America.

In Mississauga, the Steelheads presently have two 19-year-old Scandinavian defenders, Kasper Larsen from Denmark and Ole Bjorgvik-Holm from Norway. If either was to return next season, it would be as a ‘two-spotter,’ occupying both an import and a 20-year-old overage spot on the roster. Teams can dress three of the latter for a game.

The Niagara IceDogs feature 19-year-old Russian forward and San Jose Sharks prospect Danil Gushchin. Niagara’s younger import is 17-year-old rookie defenceman Rodwin Dionicio, a Dominican-Swiss player who was born in Newark, N.J., but raised in Switzerland.

A 19-year-old Swedish right wing, Colorado Avalanche first-round choice Oskar Olausson, is one of the top offensive threats for the Oshawa Generals. Oshawa is also carrying 18-year-old Belarusian defenceman Nikita Parfenyuk, who has battled injuries this season.

The last change to the player pool for the CHL import draft involved netminding, rather than nationality. From 2014 to ’17, teams were not allowed to select goaltenders. The thinking during that period was that the exclusion would create more opportunities for American and Canadian goalies. Goaltenders were included again in 2018.

The CHL did not announce what, if anything, might replace the Canada-Russia series, which was held every season from 2003 to ’19 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The format consisted of select teams of Canadians from the OHL, Quebec and Western leagues playing two games apiece against the Russian selects, who would pick up players based in the region. All-time, the CHL was 66-36 in competition, with Team OHL owning a 26-8 record.

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