Brendan Leipsic, who briefly performed for the Canucks, was booted from the NHL for disparging feedback about girls and teammates.
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The pinnacle coach/proprietor of KHL superpower SKA St. Petersburg claims Brendan Leipsic, who as soon as performed for the Vancouver Canucks, has utilized for Russian citizenship.
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Leipsic is initially from Winnipeg, however in response to Roman Rotenberg, the Russian oligarch who runs SKA, Leipsic has written a letter to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, asking for citizenship.
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In response to Russian state-owned information company TASS, Rotenberg made the declare Tuesday on his Telegram social media channel.
“It’s fairly a typical observe in soccer as simply very not too long ago Brazilian footballers Malcom and Claudinho acquired Russian passports. They’re Brazilians and Brazil in soccer is like Canada in hockey,” Rotenberg mentioned, in response to TASS.
“We at present have to make our league stronger, and if an excellent participant like Brendan [Leipsic] turns into a Russian citizen, then it is going to solely cement his need to play within the KHL.”
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Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat translated extra quotes from Rotenberg’s message.
“It’s no secret that in North America he confronted prejudice and injustice, and in Russia he acquired particular help from followers, coaches and companions,” they mentioned Rotenberg additionally wrote.
“His favorite participant is Alexander Ovechkin , and he grew up watching our greatest gamers. Possibly Brendan himself will play for the Russian nationwide staff in the future.”
Leipsic signed with SKA final month; he’s performed within the KHL since 2020, after he was dumped out of the NHL by the Washington Capitals. Leipsic had been caught making misogynistic feedback about girls and disparaged present and former teammates, together with ex-Canuck Jake Virtanen.
He made the feedback in a personal group chat that was then leaked on Instagram. He was met with quick condemnation by the Capitals and the NHL.
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Leipsic performed 189 NHL video games for Toronto, Vegas, Vancouver (14 factors in 31 video games in 2017-18 and 2018-19), Los Angeles and Washington.
Within the KHL he’s performed for CSKA Moscow and Magnitogorsk Metallurg. He had 44 factors in 65 video games for Magnitogorsk final season.
Rotenberg’s father Boris is one among Putin’s favoured oligarchs; the 2 have recognized one another since childhood.
Roman Rotenberg had no earlier teaching expertise earlier than being named head coach of SKA in January 2022, however mentioned he’d watched tons of {of professional} video games and thought of that good expertise.
The Rotenbergs have been below sanction by america since 2014 for his or her ties to Putin. Past Roman’s involvement with SKA, he’s been basic supervisor of the Russian nationwide staff, sits on the board of the KHL and holds senior positions with the Russian hockey federation and Gazprombank, which makes a speciality of oil and fuel financing.
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