The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles will represent the Canadian Hockey League at a Russian tournament next week.
It’s a unique experience, but the timing of the series comes as Canada imposes sanctions against Russia over the crisis in Ukraine.
With tensions escalating between Russia and Ukraine, the organization is taking every precaution to ensure its players and staff are safe while in Russia.
“The issue is more than 2,000 kilometres away from Ufa, where we’re going to be staying, so we’re not really concerned, but Hockey Canada is monitoring the situation on a daily basis,” says the Eagles’ head coach, Marc Andre Dumont. “They will have a rep with us.”
Player Clark Bishop was a member of Canada’s under-18 team at the Sochi Olympics last year and remembers security being tight.
“They had a security tent before you go into the rink parking lot,” says Bishop. “We all had to get off the bus and dogs came on the bus and that sort of thing, so I don’t know if it’s as tight in Ufa as it was in Sochi.”
The tournament will feature teams from Finland, the U.S., the Czech Republic, as well as five teams from Russia.
“It’s pretty exciting to go over there with your club team and enjoy the experience,” says Bishop. “I think it will be really good for bonding for the new guys coming in.”
As the only two Russians playing for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, returning forward Maxine Lazarev and rookie defenceman Evgeny Svechnikov are especially excited to compete in their homeland.
“To play against Russian teams, it will be nice for me, against my friend as well,” says Lazarev. “It will be a good experience.”
“For them, it’s going to give them a chance to wear the Screaming Eagles jersey in Russia, in their homeland, in front of their family and friends,” says Dumont.
The team leaves for Russia on Monday. They hit the ice for their first game on Aug. 23.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kyle Moore
