The Slovak Ice Hockey Federation has decided not to invite players from the Continental Hockey League (KHL) to the national team. This was expressed by Peter Fryugauf, assistant coach of the Slovak national team.
“We’ve had long talks with players from the KHL in the last few weeks. They have always represented our country with joy and pride. During the negotiations, it was thought that it would be better to remove players from the KHL in order to have a calm preparation process and our team to concentrate one hundred percent on the World Cup. World Championship this season, ”says Frühauf spor.sk Via Hockeyslovakia.sk link.
It is worth noting that there has been a decrease in foreign hockey players and clubs in the league since the end of last season. Many legionnaires left Russia because of the situation in Ukraine. Some federations opposed the performance of hockey players in the KHL. That is why in Latvia they passed a law prohibiting local athletes and coaches from participating in competitions in Russia and Belarus.
Former French striker of avtomobilist Stéphane Da Costa spoke About the decision of his national federation not to call him to the national team due to the continuation of the game in the KHL.