14 Russians played in the SM League last season, now there is only one – this is how the Lukko boss commented on his goalkeeper’s contract

The number of Russians playing in the ice hockey SM league has collapsed. Even last season, 14 Russian players played in the domestic main league. At the moment, only Rauma Luko’s goalkeeper by Artjom Zagidulin has an extension contract for the coming season with his club.

CEO of Rauma Luko Jukka Kunnas comment on the topic to Urheilu by email. According to him, the League has not internally discussed limiting the contracts of Russian players.

– The league has not internally discussed alternatives in which special measures would be applied to individual employees or different rules would be applied to others. It would be a legally difficult idea to see the League or league clubs limiting the opportunities for individual people to do paid work, Kunnas communicated.

However, according to the municipality, the SM league and the clubs do not tolerate statements on behalf of Russia.

– Persons who are politically active or linked to the Russian administration would naturally be a completely different matter. Statements on behalf of Russia will not be tolerated by the league and league clubs from anyone, Kunnas formulated.

The municipality also referred to the Olympic Committee’s policy. According to the Olympic Committee, it is not possible to exclude citizens of certain countries from national competition activities where they represent themselves or a Finnish club and not the country.

According to the Olympic Committee’s current recommendation, Russian athletes living in Finland are welcome to participate in sports activities organized in Finland, provided that they have the right to participate in a competition or match as defined by their sport.

However, national and international guidelines differ for several species.

Lukko announced Zagidulin’s extension at the beginning of May after the foreign option in the contract expired. According to Kunnas, the club has not received direct feedback about its contract with Zagidulin.

– The feedback from supporters and the rest of the Lukko community on social media has been along the same lines as the feedback regarding all the Lukko players who have played a good season and signed an extension contract.

Do you see a problem with him playing in Luko’s shirt?

– After the discussions with the player, taking into account all the background factors and the things mentioned above, we do not see any problems in the matter. The player was originally hired with the goal that if he succeeds, he will be in Luko for at least the 2022–23 season. The player has also lived in Finland after the end of the season, including the summer vacation period, preparing for the starting season.

In addition to Zagidulin, two dual citizens play in the SM league. Dual citizen of the United States and Russia, Jukuriden Nikita Krivokrasov will continue next season in Jukurei. Owner of Swedish and Russian passports Maxim Matushkin will play in Tappara next season.

In the 2021–22 season, another 15 citizens of the eastern neighbor played in Mesti. Now only Imatran Ketterä has player contracts with two Russians. However, the structure of the teams is still in progress.

The Ice Hockey Championship League has not made a policy regarding the exclusion of Russian athletes from the activity. Competition director Arto I. Järväla said on Friday that the clubs have been allowed to make their own decisions for the time being.

– The players are employees of the clubs and have contracts with the clubs. The clubs themselves have decided their own affairs, who has then dissolved and who has not. The league has not centrally taken a stand on the matter, at least so far, Järvelä said.