The Russian Sports Ministry’s decision last year to tighten the legionnaire limit in the Continental Hockey League put clubs in a difficult position in selection policy. Now CEOs have to calculate all kinds of risks when signing foreigners, as the cost of making a mistake when signing a foreigner has increased considerably. After trading three foreign players, every foreigner in the Russian club should be its full-fledged star, and not just a good hockey player; otherwise, what do they need it for?
At the same time, naturally, it was much more difficult for the foreigners themselves to find employment in the Russian KHL clubs, since the number of places for legionnaires decreased by 40 units. In this situation, both parties – clubs and hockey players – began to think about how to continue to live. The decision was prompted by Dynamo Moscow, who promptly naturalized American defender Brennan Menell. After the newly created Russian, three more foreign hockey players decided to get rid of their legionnaire status in the KHL. Which of the foreigners felt a deep love for Russia and expressed a desire to acquire citizenship of the country?
Related Materials
Dynamo Moscow does not consider Menell’s naturalization a deviation from the legionnaire limit
h. Brennan Menell, 26 years old, Dinamo (Moscow)
The 26-year-old Minnesota native returned to the KHL last season after an unsuccessful trip to North America. Brennan played for the first time in the Russian league in the 2020/2021 season, when he defended the colors of Dynamo Minsk. In his first season in the KHL, the American left a very good impression, displaying enviable attacking skills. Menell successfully led most of the “bison” and produced effective actions. Against the background of a successful game in the KHL, Brennan wanted to take another chance to play in the best league in the world, but he failed to break into the NHL through either the Toronto or Philadelphia system.
Related Materials
Exclusive
“Everyone in Washington loves Ovechkin, but the President of the United States is 50/50.” Conversation with an American from the KHL
Bidding farewell to the dream of conquering the North American League, Menell came to the KHL, joining the now Dynamo Moscow squad. A serious injury suffered by the hockey player in the October derby against CSKA prevented Brennan from expressing himself fully last season. He was pretty good, but he could play even better. Dynamo evaluated the defender’s potential and renewed his contract for three seasons.
Nothing threatened Menell’s positions at the club, but the tightening of the legionnaire limit put the blue and whites in an unpleasant situation. Dinamo could lose one of its main leaders, Canadian striker Eric O’Dell, and Menell went to meet his club, expressing his desire to obtain a Russian passport. Dynamo coach Alexei Kudashov wrote a letter of recommendation allowing the player to apply for citizenship, and Brennan himself refused to play for the US team. And in mid-July, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree granting the hockey player Russian citizenship.
“You all know there is a limit of three foreigners, and even one of the Americans agreed to let O’Dell play on the team. You know that Brennan Menell obtained Russian citizenship. He said he wanted O’Dell to play with him. Good game.
He responded very well to his decision. A truly extraordinary move. I don’t know how well adjusted he is, but I didn’t doubt his decision at all. He almost immediately said that he was ready to accept Russian citizenship. I wrote, I arrived, I went through all the formalities and, in addition to the main attributes, I even took the military oath, “said Viktor Voronin, president and chairman of the board of directors of Dynamo Moscow.
Related Materials
Selection by 10 points. Dynamo spent the summer in style and are you ready for the precious breakthrough?
north. Ostap Safin, 24 years old, Lada
The second foreigner who has already acquired Russian citizenship was the newcomer Lada Ostap Safin. In February, the striker will be 25 years old. He started playing hockey in the Czech Republic and had a good reputation until he came of age. Safin represented Sparta and regularly participated in international competitions, defending the colors of the national team. At the 2018 World Youth Championship, Ostap played five games and scored 4 (1+3) points.
Initially, the striker came to Togliatti for a trial contract, but after receiving Russian sports citizenship, a full agreement was signed with the hockey player. In the Czech Republic, Ostap’s decision was extremely critical and the attacker had to apologize even to the local press. There he claimed that he had never renounced Czech citizenship and that he had had a Russian passport since childhood.
“I always had a Russian passport, but the media made up that I had just received it. This is not true, as is the statement that I renounced my Czech citizenship. I don’t understand what the hell this is. I had dual citizenship since I was little, I didn’t have to cancel anything.
Obtaining sports citizenship is just a formality. It was easy for me because I already had dual citizenship and a Russian passport. I knew about the limit of foreigners in the league and thanks to Russian sports citizenship I had a better chance of getting into the team. They don’t consider me European,” Safin said.
Related Materials
Newcomer from “Lada” Safin: I did not renounce Czech citizenship, I do not understand what kind of nonsense this is
north. Brendan Leipsik, 29, SKA
The 29-year-old striker moved to St. Petersburg this offseason after leaving Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Immediately after moving to the cultural capital, the Canadian was so inspired by the beauties of St. Petersburg that he instantly realized how much he wanted to be Russian. It’s noteworthy that SKA itself (at least so far) fits into the Legionnaire cap even if Brendan retains Canadian sports citizenship, but who knows what will happen next? The transformation of Leipsik into Russian leaves a legionnaire position vacant. This may prove useful in the future.
“How are things going with obtaining Russian citizenship for Lipsik? We wait. From all points of view, we complied with everything: we wrote all the relevant letters, we received all the relevant resolutions. It is already a matter of time. I think that very soon he will receive a Russian passport, ”said the coach of the military club Roman Rotenberg.
Related Materials
The new trend in the KHL excites many. But naturalization is another blow to competition in the league.
h. Cameron Lee, 26, Cupid
In the process of obtaining Russian citizenship, the American defender of Amur Cameron Lee is still in the process of obtaining Russian citizenship. Here everything is extremely clear and prosaic. There are currently four foreign players in the Tigers field. And one of them is goalkeeper Janis Kalnins. And in the event that the 31-year-old goalkeeper gets a place in the match bid, then one of the foreigners from the field will have to get on the podium. Obtaining Lee citizenship solves all of these problems.
“Cameron Lee expressed his desire to obtain a Russian passport and we support him in this. The process has started. We are waiting for the results,” said Vadim Pokotilo, general director of Amur.
