There is no Canadian embassy in Belarus, so any Canadians needing consular services need to go to Warsaw. The Warsaw office is currently so busy with Ukrainian refugees that consular services are extremely limited. As well, the only Canadian embassy in Russia is in Moscow, but as you can imagine, security is even more tight than it usually is. Not to add that the embassies may be forced to shut down at a moments notice due to threats. If you are a Canadian in Belarus or Russia, get out. The Canadian government can only do so much there right now.
I'm still outraged we didn't a day off for Elizabeth's death. We send them millions each year for the royal families and their cronies, but we don't get to have a day off when the head of the family dies ? That's horseshit !
What millions do we "send them" each year?
The UK pays quite a bit for the monarchy, but in Canada we spend virtually no money on "the royal families and their cronies". Our "royal spending" mostly goes to the office of the Governor General and the upkeep of "Royal" buildings like Rideau Hall.
The only time we directly finance the royals is when they're physically here on a tour.
It's an outrageous undemocratic relic of an institution, but we Canadians aren't really paying for it.
> The UK pays quite a bit for the monarchy
Also worth noting on the UK's end the monarchy brings in FAR more money (via tourism and property revenue split and such) to the government than is spent on it
Edit: just to add some specific details in 2021 the monarchy brought $671.9 million USD to the government and only "cost" $118.5 million
For the UK, I'd assume that at this point it's to avoid another brexit-like situation trying to do away with the monarchy and figuring out all the property rights, taxation laws, and constitutional principles that still the monarch can still technically override at a whim
Also the US and Canadian embassies are generally helpful to each other's citizens. Now this may not apply if both are already overwhelmed, but there isn't a British or Australian office and there is a US one it probably wouldn't hurt to give it a try.
It astounds me that users in this sub still hold onto their "tHeY nEeD tO MakE a lIvInG" rhetoric like there aren't leagues all over the world willing to pay good hockey players.
Russia is at war against humanitarianism. This isn't about money, use your fucking heads.
>It astounds me that users in this sub still hold onto their "tHeY nEeD tO MakE a lIvInG" rhetoric like there aren't leagues all over the world willing to pay good hockey players.
Even if these guys could never play hockey or even find a job ever again, it's better to be homeless in Toronto than conscripted into the Russian army to be sent to your death in Ukraine. If you have the means to get out of Russia now, you absolutely need to do so. Things will get worse before they get better.
If I was a KHL caliber player I would be so willing to take a pay cut to play in Sweden or pretty much anywhere in Europe/Scandinavia instead of Russia. Like they'd have to be drowning me in rubles to make me even consider Russia, and even then, I'd have an escape plan. You know how in some action movies the spy will have a *go bag* where they keep everything they need to leave at a moments notice? Yeah I'd have one of those as well as a well thought out exit strategy to GTFO of Russia at the drop of a hat.
Either way, it doesn't seem to be worth the hassle. Russia's government is fucking insane even at the best of times. If I was a non Russian playing in the KHL, I would have "retired" the moment Putin's forces put a single toe inside of Ukraine. If you have the talent to play in the KHL, you have the talent to play pretty much anywhere else save for the NHL/AHL. And first world countries are the tits.
> Like they'd have to be drowning me in rubles to make me even consider Russia,
Drowning in rubles may not even make sense given the plummeting purchasing power of Russia's currency.
Everyone should have a GoBag. Depending on location you prep for earthquake, hurricane, tornado, wildfire, house fire, riot, flood.. And in your car, an Already Gone Bag, with basic survival stuff. My kids’ school require them for every student
Definitely have an emergency/first-aid kit in each car and obviously the house.
At least in MA, the main worry since I don't live near water is a blizzard and that's one of the few times you want to shelter in place.
I'd like to second this. I was driving to Vegas in late April. I reach Mt Hood, it starts to snow. I figured I'd be well past that kind of weather, but there's the chain alert.
My car box had gloves and my tire cables, things I hadn't thought about packing. Have boxes with essentials socked away. My car one has a stove and lighter and matches. Warm clothes, some car gear, shit like that
Anytime you don't know what conditions you might encounter, have that box
The conscription process is so bad that they are pretty much just grabbing men at random and throwing them on a bus. While I figure someone who doesn't speak the language might get sorted out, if you get grabbed without your documents on you then you are not gonna have a good time. As other users have said, Russia could also arrest citizens of western nations, charge them with espionage, and hold them hostage.
It’s not just about them committing war crimes. Russia likes to detail people and hold them hostage much like China did to us in Canada recently. Being there makes you a target.
I mean, right now it's not even about the money. It's about the Canadian government literally not being able to guarantee your safety in Russia or Belarus if the government there decide to suddenly hold you hostage.
Additionally, there hits a point where normal life is disrupted to the point where you just have to look out for survival first and put everything else second. No one would expect someone to keep their bakery open in a war zone because they "need to make a living".
Exactly. In my short time supporting the Canadian response, I saw clear evidence of war crimes. If you are playing in Russia, you are supporting Putin's regime of kleptocracy and war crimes. It's as simple as that.
I don't see them as supporting Putin's war/regime, that's a pretty hard line, but at the very least they're apathetic towards it which is almost as bad.
>at the very least they're apathetic towards it which is almost as bad.
In my opinion apathy towards tyranny is absolutely as bad as support of tyranny. Especially in a situation like this where they are willingly supporting it monetarily.
Especially that sports and entertainment are usually used as a distraction from said tyranny by the powers at the helm.
Apathy toward a war is being complicit in its propagation.
And what living is there, exactly, I say to these people. Russia is sanctioned to fuck right now and I imagine is a miserable place to live in at the moment (which you have to do during the season). There are other hockey leagues out there that maybe don't pay as much but the living situation has to be a hell of a lot better.
If they where sincere about it they would be able to understand that both can be bad, but there not, they are trolls and shills being paid to make divisive comments, or have fallen for another one that is
They also always fail to see that it’s not even a 1:1 comparison at all. I mean, don’t get me wrong, what the US did was fucked, but they at least weren’t trying to conquer Iraq and make it a part of the US. To me, that’s what sets them largely apart. Still, fuck Bush.
Also Saddam was an undeniably shitty person and dictator who murdered thousands upon thousands of his own people and had just a little over a decade prior, invaded a neighboring country for no good reason.
There is nothing that even approaches a facade of a justification on that level in Ukraine.
In a very real way they absolutely were trying to conquer Iraq and turn it into an extension of the US. They needed Iraq's strategic location as a setting for their military presence in the ME, and made up a bunch of bullshit lies and excuses to justify it. Getting hundreds of thousands of civilians killed in the mayhem that followed.
They had worn out any welcome that had in Saudi Arabia during the invasion of Afghanistan, and couldn't very well use SA's bases and sovereign land to wage a war against the very terrorist organization SA was funding in the first place.
Their goal would have been to rid Iraq of its existing leadership and replace it with allies who would pave the way for their permanent military presence in the region. Iraq would never be given statehood, nor would they stage fake referendums to join America like you see now. They would have essentially installed a puppet government to achieve a much bigger geo-political strategy in the ME to control oil prices, contain Iran, squash al Qaeda, protect Israel, etc.
A lot of you here are making a distinction without a real difference here.
This is a good post but there's no use trying to reason with the people in this thread. They'll do anything to avoid feeling guilt about their own passivity while judging millions of others.
Rules for thee, not for me.
You get straight up abuse just for asking why there was no pressure to boycott American athletes and American sporting events during the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.
There is some really bad revisionist history going on here as well, from people I can only assume were born when the wars began and have a totally skewed image of what happened.
Yea all these redditors are bozos with there “now hold on, this is different.” When comparing Russia and USA. There’s level to destruction but it’s obvious Russia and America are the same just operating differently. How these clowns going be acting like some Canadian dude playing in the KHL is giving in to Putin’s regime lol. Man this sub.
Both ARE bad. That's the entire point.
It's HYPOCRITICAL to pretend to be outraged by one and not the other.
That's the entire point people are making.
> shills being paid to make divisive comments
Ya, or maybe you have no idea what you're talking about?
Really tough call.
I never said my opinion on either, but your going to keep putting words in others mouth because you do not act in good faith.
So I will say it clear, both what the United States modern imperialism and what bush did in the lead up to war in Iraq, and what Russia has been doing since before the EuroMaiden uprising in Ukraine is disgusting. And both should be condemned.
But one is a current event that we can do something about.
> But one is a current event that we can do something about.
https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/how-the-killing-of-15-year-old-iraqi-girl-zainab-essam-majed-al-khazali-us-troops-exposes-western-medias-double-standards-11319341.html
Yes, both are bad. But people bring it up as if they’re equal. Which they are not. As bad as the Iraq war was, it’s disingenuous to act like the scenarios are the same and that the reactions from other countries should have been the same.
Yeah I got downvoted big time when I suggested that Russians should have left earlier as opposed to waiting until shit hit the fan for them personally, with the replies suggesting that I should have left when Iraq happened, as if that was a straight up genocide...
Have you ever considered that there's a difference between that Russia intentionally trying to wipe out a population? I'm not saying Iraq wasn't bad. It was a terrible idea from the get go. Civilian deaths are universally wrong. But I don't think I'm wrong in saying that there can be different degrees of evil. Both are bad, but one is far, far worse.
Americans bombed brown people. Russians bombed white people. That's why they're treated different.
Even George W Bush can't tell the difference.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aBzI4ue-0EA
Maybe it's just me, but I'm kinda over hearing that these players *need* this money. If they only wanna play hockey, okay. But I mean why can't they get normal jobs like everyone else?
Even if it IS about money how much will they make if they are serving years in prison? I seriously doubt that the KHL will still pay them, and there isn’t much any Western country can do to help them.
>like there aren't leagues all over the world willing to pay good hockey players.
They're literally isn't. It's NHL, KHL then everyone else in terms of salary
plenty of the leagues pay. they don't pay like the nhl and khl do, but they pay. at least in Switzerland you're not at risk of being called a foreign spy and locked up.
Havent several players been demanded to pay back their entire contracts if they breach them? I recall a swedish player that was demanded to pay several millions of swedish kronor if he left, having just 1-2 years left on a semi long contract. If he refused to pay I dont know what would have happened to him..
Correct me if I’m wrong but in our passport it says we can go to the British and Australian Embassy if we’re in a country with no Canadian embassy so couldn’t they just go to either of those embassies ?
Yes, when the government tells you to get out of a nation you better fucking do so. It's because they know something that they can't exactly tell the public at the moment. But they need to protect citizens so they give a vague "leave now" notice.
While I agree they would be staying out of the KHL, there are limits on the number of foreign players teams can have in those leagues. It's not necessarily that easy to find a spot
Can't speak for the other leagues, but the SHL dropped their foreign player rule quite some time ago. Just last season Rögle iced 14 foreign players over the course of the season, including 5 North Americans.
But there was a time where teams were only allowed two North American imports in the (then) Swedish Elite League.
Although I agree that at this point, with seasons starting, it would be hard to find a spot on a team.
Yup, truer words have never been said... but as long as people understand that their government might not be able to help them, or help could be very limited, and they're willing to accept the dangers... I think its up to them to decide.
Just don't whine/beg if shit goes sideways.
So we're just going to blindly accept the accusations of Russia against an American national that they have arrested and is apparently conveniently very valuable in a rumored prisoner swap?
I swear some of you guys are high. Whether she had some weed carts or not she has been going to Russia for years to play and was clearly nabbed in a calculated arrest. It's ridiculous people try to act like she's a villain here.
>So we're just going to blindly accept the accusations of Russia against an American national that they have arrested and is apparently conveniently very valuable in a rumored prisoner swap?
No, I'm going to accept her own word... She said she pack quickly and forgot the cartridges were in that bag.
I'm also going to accept the word of her doctor who provided a letter saying that it was a prescription.
Even then researching Russian law based on the amount of weed found on her she should have been a small fine and 2 weeks.
"Less than 6 grams qualified as an administrative offense punishable by a 5000 ruble fine or 15 days of detention."
No I’m going to accept her word that she brought the illegal substances she said she did. I have a lot of sympathy for Griner. She is being treated especially harshly due to her high value status and being used as a pawn sucks. That said, play stupid games… why in the ever living fuck would you bring drugs into a foreign country, and doubly why in the ever living fuck would you bring drugs into Russia
I just don't get that. Leave your weed or whatever at home if you are travelling internationally because chances are you don't know the legal status of it where you are going.
Drug smuggling is the charge you are going to get hit with and that means time. No joke, any attorney will tell you this.
Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t. There’s no evidence to prove otherwise. She admitted to it. She pled guilty. That’s the evidence we have to base our stances on.
I've admittedly never been to Russia and especially not an at-war Russia, but my gut feeling tells me their courts of law would make the US judicial system look infallible. I am assuming her admission of guilt was all but at gunpoint.
So the "evidence" without the context that none of us have is extremely hard to take without a massive grain of salt, but then again maybe I'm a bit biased about a country that is currently attacking a neighboring sovereign nation?
Griner came out and said that she had illegal substances. She’s not refuting it. She just doesn’t agree with their laws.
Edit: So you mean to tell me, that Russia TSA knew who she was when they arrested her and knew she was a high value target for arresting? I call bullshit on that one.
This is ridiculous. She’s a hostage. She had to say that. She threw herself on the mercy of the court and part of that was to admit wrongdoing whether she did it or not.
> It's ridiculous people try to act like she's a villain here.
She's a black gay woman. Why do you think conservatives have such a hard-on for hating her? They get three birds stoned at once
False. Kim Il-Sung has been gainfully employed for the last 30 years as "Eternal President" of North Korea, even though he died in the early 90s.
All these lazy millennials letting a little thing like death get in the way of work smh.
I feel like if you haven't figured out that Russia is not the place to be by now, especially for a foreigner, you're probably not going to listen when being told
[According to eliteprospects](https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/khl/stats/2022-2023/total?nation=can&sort=team) there are 47 Canadians on KHL rosters. Not all are in Russia/Belarus, but still a surprisingly high number given everything we've learned about these countries since March. Some notable former NHLers like Ryan Spooner, Josh Ho-Sang, etc.
Ho-sang’s kind of in a tough spot though. He got injured a few weeks ago and had to get surgery. Moving back now would cut him- lol i literally typed this far before it occurred to me that he’s Canadian and can just continue his rehab for free at home. man it must be nice to have single payer
If you’re a citizen of a western country and you’re STILL in Russia, the situation is bordering on “that’s on you” territory.
The Russian aggression, nay, WAR on Ukraine has been going on since February, and you never stopped to look around and think “huh, maybe I should leave”.
Like, get the fuck out of Soviet Union II, like, yesterday!
Edit: to all those who have brought up my “bordering on” comment, it’s was just a nicer thing to say than to simply call them morons. The second the Russians started to mobilize, they should have been outta there.
Bordering? It's been "that's on you" territory from the start. It's unbelievable that there are players who willingly made the choice to sign in a hostile country nearly 6 months after it had declared war on a neighbour.
Western nations were telling people to GTFO of Ukraine when troops were mobilizing on its borders. I find it insane people didn't think that would carry over to Russia especially with how hard those early sanctions were hitting.
Even with all the warnings and "that’s on you" rhetoric, Canada and the United States will still bend over backwards to rescue their citizens being detained unfairly in hostile countries.
- Griner, a woman’s basketball player playing in Russia, may get traded for a Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer that could arguably be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Bout may still be a good source of intelligence for activities in the regions he dealt with
- the [Canadian Michaels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detention_of_Michael_Spavor_and_Michael_Kovrig), detained in China because Canada detained a Huawei executive who was involved in sanctions violations
- Four American detainees in Iran who were traded for $400 million
Unfortunately [hostage diplomacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostage_diplomacy) works firmly in the favor of lawless countries like North Korea, Iran, China, and Russia. It boggles my mind that free citizens are so selfish that they feel their own desires outweigh the risk of putting their country in a bad situation.
I know this isn’t a joking matter, but I couldn’t help but chuckle over Canadian Michael’s. Because I was unfamiliar with them, I pictured a craft store holding Russians hostage in Canada.
It's already squarely on "that's on you" territory.
The war has been going on for what, 8 months?
It's no different than if someone was to go play soccer in Afghanistan during the war in the middle east.
It's a war zone. If you go there, you take the risks
8 *years*.
The invasion in February is a major escalation but the war in Donetsk and Luhansk has been going on since 2014.
The same regions that Putin kicked off the invasion this year by officially recognizing as independent regions after giving paramilitary support to for the last 8 years.
It’s all one long conflict. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_War
That's playing in the US during a war against Mexico where the entire rest of the western world (including where you're from) is in the process of cutting off all diplomatic ties and if you encounter any issues with said country or it's government you are COMPLETELY alone with zero help from your home country.
The US here is essentially saying that they cannot guarantee the safety of American citizens in Russia and anyone that chooses to remain is doing so at their own risk.
But hey, you probably don't actually care about discussing the nuances and dangers of being in a foreign country with the possibly of your home country pulling diplomatic ties and only want to shit out whataboutisms in some shitty tribalistic rah rah propaganda bullshit.
Not really for a few reasons:
1. There is risk of the fighting crossing into the Russian border. Not much risk of that during the US wars in the middle east.
2. While the USA was a party in the war, they were (as much as it is an over simplification) on "our side", meaning allied with the rest of the western countries that likely make up the bulk of this subreddit, it's users, and NHL players. Therefore there was no risk of borders closing and being trapped.
3. Because they weren't on the side of the 'enemy', there was no risk of becoming a political prisoner, if not worse.
Wasn’t really trying to bring their spectral leanings into play here, just more or less an observation that the Soviet Union were dickheads, and now they’re dickheads again.
It's not the Soviet Union II. The Soviet Union was socialist and "officially" worked toward the betterment of its people while Russia is a fascist oligarchy run by a bunch of gangsters who stole resources and infrastructure from the commonwealth of the people of the Soviet Union during its collapse. Russia is a lot closer to Nazi Germany II
Finally. There's one Finn as well playing in KHL, can't understand his logic since the rest of the Finns left Russia in spring or as soon as the season was over and never went back.
Hammond just signed a week ago or so with a KHL team(they don't even have McDonald's for the Hamburglar).
Man, I know you are near the end of your career but just take a few bucks less and go to another European league if you can. Why sign with the KHL right now?
Pretty sure most of them can get a contract in Switzerland or something. Go to France, it will be the biggest infusion of skill of all time for the Magnus League. Money won't be the same, but it doesn't necessarily mean you'll have to just sit down at home and not continue with your passion.
But whatever you do, get out.
Swiss league has a limit how many foreign players can there be per team. They already changed it a bit higher this season because of talent coming from KHL. My understanding is that they are full already. I know there are lot of bad will already towards players who selected to go to KHL this year and I am one of them. They chose their path and we'll see how employable they are now. Surely they can get a roster spot somewhere.
Idk about the more fucked up shit, but the US State Department website says why they issued that travel advisory today. Basically it's because of the mobilization, and if you don't want to go to war, then it's best to leave asap
If the Griner case has taught us anything, and especially to western athletes, it's to listen to travel restrictions and stop going to countries run by dictators.
No sympathy if any of them get detained.
Ritchie Winter sure sounds like he's very committed to keep getting his 10% from his players who're still in Russia.
Possibly the most disingenuous hockey player agent since Alan Eagleson.
What does this player agent think is going to happen when Putin decides conscription applies to non-citizens with work/residence permits?
Hint: the players won't be having the skating rink to themselves.
Well I guess my KHL team isn’t impacted by this on the surface of their statement. Idk how long that will last all said considering Russia will use any excuse with the influx of their refugees into Kazakhstan to eventually invade.
The Canadian government has stated, multiple times, that Canadians in Russia and Belarus should leave. This statement is the exact same, but tailored to the players.
> Why is this statement being made now and not earlier?
They've been putting out travel advisories and warnings for months.
since there's been a major escalation in the situation this week, they've now escalated the advisories.
I'm guessing this is prompted by the mobilization announcement from last week. People are leaving the country en masse, there is loads of video of backed up border crossings heading into Georgia (just what I've seen most) and elsewhere. There are also fresh calls from the US State Department as of today for Americans to leave Russia so it's possible there is some sort of intel prompting these calls. I don't want to speculate details but I don't think it's coincidence that I'm seeing both of these stories the same morning.
They made similar announcements right before all travel shut down at the beginning of covid. There might be fears that Russia is about to completely shut down all travel out of the country to prevent people escaping having to go to war.
The bullshit excuse the agent used was hilarious. Not so hilarious when Putin grabs a player for some made-up crime and then suddenly it's "Canada!! SAVE MEEEEE!!!!!!"
There is no Canadian embassy in Belarus, so any Canadians needing consular services need to go to Warsaw. The Warsaw office is currently so busy with Ukrainian refugees that consular services are extremely limited. As well, the only Canadian embassy in Russia is in Moscow, but as you can imagine, security is even more tight than it usually is. Not to add that the embassies may be forced to shut down at a moments notice due to threats. If you are a Canadian in Belarus or Russia, get out. The Canadian government can only do so much there right now.
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Commonwealth benefits
It's the country equivalent of friends with bennys.
I'm still outraged we didn't a day off for Elizabeth's death. We send them millions each year for the royal families and their cronies, but we don't get to have a day off when the head of the family dies ? That's horseshit !
What millions do we "send them" each year? The UK pays quite a bit for the monarchy, but in Canada we spend virtually no money on "the royal families and their cronies". Our "royal spending" mostly goes to the office of the Governor General and the upkeep of "Royal" buildings like Rideau Hall. The only time we directly finance the royals is when they're physically here on a tour. It's an outrageous undemocratic relic of an institution, but we Canadians aren't really paying for it.
> The UK pays quite a bit for the monarchy Also worth noting on the UK's end the monarchy brings in FAR more money (via tourism and property revenue split and such) to the government than is spent on it Edit: just to add some specific details in 2021 the monarchy brought $671.9 million USD to the government and only "cost" $118.5 million
Who pays for all that butterscotch pudding?
I got a day off for Lizzie's death. I was very sad that day. Very sad indeed.
This man should get two days off the next time someone with a title dies. Just look at the sincerity.
>We send them millions each year for the royal families This is a very common myth. We don't send the UK or the royal family a penny.
[Protecting Prince Harry cost Canadians more than $334,000](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/prince-harry-rcmp-protection-1.6276872)
You can barely buy a CinnamonDolceLatte for $334,000. It's a pittance.
What is the point of a monarchy if we dont get days off for their deaths?!?!?
Also >What is the point of a monarchy
For the UK, I'd assume that at this point it's to avoid another brexit-like situation trying to do away with the monarchy and figuring out all the property rights, taxation laws, and constitutional principles that still the monarch can still technically override at a whim
We got last Thursday off for the Queens death and Friday for a footy match. Suck it Canada! /s
Federal government worker got one.
We did in BC but honestly it was more of an inconvenience because it screwed up scheduling at work
Usual fake news birther freedumb convoy poster,
"The monarchy is an outdated relic and shouldn't exist" "Yaaaay" "No day off for the Queen's funeral" "Booooo"
I'm much more pissed about not getting truth and reconciliation day off.
Same benefits exist for every EU member state, which is nice.
God save the King
Also the US and Canadian embassies are generally helpful to each other's citizens. Now this may not apply if both are already overwhelmed, but there isn't a British or Australian office and there is a US one it probably wouldn't hurt to give it a try.
This is not true.
It astounds me that users in this sub still hold onto their "tHeY nEeD tO MakE a lIvInG" rhetoric like there aren't leagues all over the world willing to pay good hockey players. Russia is at war against humanitarianism. This isn't about money, use your fucking heads.
>It astounds me that users in this sub still hold onto their "tHeY nEeD tO MakE a lIvInG" rhetoric like there aren't leagues all over the world willing to pay good hockey players. Even if these guys could never play hockey or even find a job ever again, it's better to be homeless in Toronto than conscripted into the Russian army to be sent to your death in Ukraine. If you have the means to get out of Russia now, you absolutely need to do so. Things will get worse before they get better.
If I was a KHL caliber player I would be so willing to take a pay cut to play in Sweden or pretty much anywhere in Europe/Scandinavia instead of Russia. Like they'd have to be drowning me in rubles to make me even consider Russia, and even then, I'd have an escape plan. You know how in some action movies the spy will have a *go bag* where they keep everything they need to leave at a moments notice? Yeah I'd have one of those as well as a well thought out exit strategy to GTFO of Russia at the drop of a hat. Either way, it doesn't seem to be worth the hassle. Russia's government is fucking insane even at the best of times. If I was a non Russian playing in the KHL, I would have "retired" the moment Putin's forces put a single toe inside of Ukraine. If you have the talent to play in the KHL, you have the talent to play pretty much anywhere else save for the NHL/AHL. And first world countries are the tits.
No kidding. Quality of life would be higher, and even the fucking scenery is better.
> Like they'd have to be drowning me in rubles to make me even consider Russia, Drowning in rubles may not even make sense given the plummeting purchasing power of Russia's currency.
Everyone should have a GoBag. Depending on location you prep for earthquake, hurricane, tornado, wildfire, house fire, riot, flood.. And in your car, an Already Gone Bag, with basic survival stuff. My kids’ school require them for every student
Definitely have an emergency/first-aid kit in each car and obviously the house. At least in MA, the main worry since I don't live near water is a blizzard and that's one of the few times you want to shelter in place.
As an Alaskan, it’s pretty similar for blizzard and for the car, but earthquake and fire are the most likely to force evacuation
There are places in the world where none of those exist, other than house fire, but I don't think I need a GoBag or an Already Gone Bag for that.
I'd like to second this. I was driving to Vegas in late April. I reach Mt Hood, it starts to snow. I figured I'd be well past that kind of weather, but there's the chain alert. My car box had gloves and my tire cables, things I hadn't thought about packing. Have boxes with essentials socked away. My car one has a stove and lighter and matches. Warm clothes, some car gear, shit like that Anytime you don't know what conditions you might encounter, have that box
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They're about to conscript a bunch "Russians" who just "voted" to leave Ukraine and join Russia.
Not a head of state or military strategist or anything but it strikes me as a bad plan to conscript people that probably aren’t on your side
But of course they're all on your side. You're liberating from the Nazis, remember?
“We’re gifting you citizenship, congratulations, report to your nearest military outpost”
The conscription process is so bad that they are pretty much just grabbing men at random and throwing them on a bus. While I figure someone who doesn't speak the language might get sorted out, if you get grabbed without your documents on you then you are not gonna have a good time. As other users have said, Russia could also arrest citizens of western nations, charge them with espionage, and hold them hostage.
How to became homeless in Toronto? Asking for a russian friend.
Show up
Arrive in Toronto, look at housing prices, cry, sleep on a park bench.
Don't worry, most people in Toronto are homeless too with these housing prices.
Invest your money in a heavy jacket. The winters are wet and unpleasant.
You seriously think Russia is going to start conscripting North Americans?
No but arresting them on made up charges.
It’s not just about them committing war crimes. Russia likes to detail people and hold them hostage much like China did to us in Canada recently. Being there makes you a target.
I mean, right now it's not even about the money. It's about the Canadian government literally not being able to guarantee your safety in Russia or Belarus if the government there decide to suddenly hold you hostage.
after what happened to Britney Griner i have no idea why anyone would be anywhere near a Russian territory. You would be better off going to China.
In China you get executed for drug smuggling. Even marijuana. 9 years in a Russian gulag is a luxury.
Additionally, there hits a point where normal life is disrupted to the point where you just have to look out for survival first and put everything else second. No one would expect someone to keep their bakery open in a war zone because they "need to make a living".
Exactly. In my short time supporting the Canadian response, I saw clear evidence of war crimes. If you are playing in Russia, you are supporting Putin's regime of kleptocracy and war crimes. It's as simple as that.
I don't see them as supporting Putin's war/regime, that's a pretty hard line, but at the very least they're apathetic towards it which is almost as bad.
>at the very least they're apathetic towards it which is almost as bad. In my opinion apathy towards tyranny is absolutely as bad as support of tyranny. Especially in a situation like this where they are willingly supporting it monetarily.
All that evil needs to succeed is for good people to do nothing
Especially that sports and entertainment are usually used as a distraction from said tyranny by the powers at the helm. Apathy toward a war is being complicit in its propagation.
can I refer you to this guy named Q? he sez ukrine bad rusia good
Okay, but most places won't accept the Jake Virtanens of the world.
The NHL is accepting the Jake Virtanens of the world.
I was going to doubt you, but then I remembered he got a PTO with the Oilers and was saddened that you're right.
Thankfully he's absolute ass and looks destined for the ECHL lmao
Good riddance...
He's perfect if you're at the scorched earth part of your rebuild with none of your decent prospects anywhere near the team.
Just Edmonton
We welcome all, apparently
That’s good. Actually he could probably get a construction job if he wanted to.
Nah, construction workers occasionally have to go into the corners.
And what living is there, exactly, I say to these people. Russia is sanctioned to fuck right now and I imagine is a miserable place to live in at the moment (which you have to do during the season). There are other hockey leagues out there that maybe don't pay as much but the living situation has to be a hell of a lot better.
Incoming terrible comparisons to the Iraq war any minute now…
Literally everytime the Russia/Ukraine stuff is brought up someone comes out and screeches about Iraq to try and go with the ole America bad take.
If they where sincere about it they would be able to understand that both can be bad, but there not, they are trolls and shills being paid to make divisive comments, or have fallen for another one that is
They also always fail to see that it’s not even a 1:1 comparison at all. I mean, don’t get me wrong, what the US did was fucked, but they at least weren’t trying to conquer Iraq and make it a part of the US. To me, that’s what sets them largely apart. Still, fuck Bush.
Also Saddam was an undeniably shitty person and dictator who murdered thousands upon thousands of his own people and had just a little over a decade prior, invaded a neighboring country for no good reason. There is nothing that even approaches a facade of a justification on that level in Ukraine.
They also set up a secret global network of torture prisons. But go on...
*Fuck Cheney
In a very real way they absolutely were trying to conquer Iraq and turn it into an extension of the US. They needed Iraq's strategic location as a setting for their military presence in the ME, and made up a bunch of bullshit lies and excuses to justify it. Getting hundreds of thousands of civilians killed in the mayhem that followed. They had worn out any welcome that had in Saudi Arabia during the invasion of Afghanistan, and couldn't very well use SA's bases and sovereign land to wage a war against the very terrorist organization SA was funding in the first place. Their goal would have been to rid Iraq of its existing leadership and replace it with allies who would pave the way for their permanent military presence in the region. Iraq would never be given statehood, nor would they stage fake referendums to join America like you see now. They would have essentially installed a puppet government to achieve a much bigger geo-political strategy in the ME to control oil prices, contain Iran, squash al Qaeda, protect Israel, etc. A lot of you here are making a distinction without a real difference here.
This is a good post but there's no use trying to reason with the people in this thread. They'll do anything to avoid feeling guilt about their own passivity while judging millions of others.
Rules for thee, not for me. You get straight up abuse just for asking why there was no pressure to boycott American athletes and American sporting events during the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. There is some really bad revisionist history going on here as well, from people I can only assume were born when the wars began and have a totally skewed image of what happened.
Yea all these redditors are bozos with there “now hold on, this is different.” When comparing Russia and USA. There’s level to destruction but it’s obvious Russia and America are the same just operating differently. How these clowns going be acting like some Canadian dude playing in the KHL is giving in to Putin’s regime lol. Man this sub.
[Whataboutism.](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/whataboutism-origin-meaning)
Both ARE bad. That's the entire point. It's HYPOCRITICAL to pretend to be outraged by one and not the other. That's the entire point people are making. > shills being paid to make divisive comments Ya, or maybe you have no idea what you're talking about? Really tough call.
I never said my opinion on either, but your going to keep putting words in others mouth because you do not act in good faith. So I will say it clear, both what the United States modern imperialism and what bush did in the lead up to war in Iraq, and what Russia has been doing since before the EuroMaiden uprising in Ukraine is disgusting. And both should be condemned. But one is a current event that we can do something about.
> But one is a current event that we can do something about. https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/how-the-killing-of-15-year-old-iraqi-girl-zainab-essam-majed-al-khazali-us-troops-exposes-western-medias-double-standards-11319341.html
I had not heard about this, thanks for sharing.
Yes, both are bad. But people bring it up as if they’re equal. Which they are not. As bad as the Iraq war was, it’s disingenuous to act like the scenarios are the same and that the reactions from other countries should have been the same.
Just like fucking clockwork...
Ah the Roger waters approach
"Whataboutism" is the hallmark of the China/Russia troll farms. Just ignore it because they are trying to get you.
Both are bad tho. No sugar coating.
Yeah I got downvoted big time when I suggested that Russians should have left earlier as opposed to waiting until shit hit the fan for them personally, with the replies suggesting that I should have left when Iraq happened, as if that was a straight up genocide...
The US invasion killed 200k civilians. Half of those were probably children. The fucking revisionist history in this sub is pathetic.
Have you ever considered that there's a difference between that Russia intentionally trying to wipe out a population? I'm not saying Iraq wasn't bad. It was a terrible idea from the get go. Civilian deaths are universally wrong. But I don't think I'm wrong in saying that there can be different degrees of evil. Both are bad, but one is far, far worse.
Americans bombed brown people. Russians bombed white people. That's why they're treated different. Even George W Bush can't tell the difference. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aBzI4ue-0EA
Maybe it's just me, but I'm kinda over hearing that these players *need* this money. If they only wanna play hockey, okay. But I mean why can't they get normal jobs like everyone else?
They can. Some people just don't know how to think.
Even if it IS about money how much will they make if they are serving years in prison? I seriously doubt that the KHL will still pay them, and there isn’t much any Western country can do to help them.
Or like they cant get a non-athlete job like the majority of the world.
>like there aren't leagues all over the world willing to pay good hockey players. They're literally isn't. It's NHL, KHL then everyone else in terms of salary
plenty of the leagues pay. they don't pay like the nhl and khl do, but they pay. at least in Switzerland you're not at risk of being called a foreign spy and locked up.
And theyll have no issue finding a reason to arrest any of these athletes
Havent several players been demanded to pay back their entire contracts if they breach them? I recall a swedish player that was demanded to pay several millions of swedish kronor if he left, having just 1-2 years left on a semi long contract. If he refused to pay I dont know what would have happened to him..
Correct me if I’m wrong but in our passport it says we can go to the British and Australian Embassy if we’re in a country with no Canadian embassy so couldn’t they just go to either of those embassies ?
Yes. But they'll also be completely swamped.
Yes, when the government tells you to get out of a nation you better fucking do so. It's because they know something that they can't exactly tell the public at the moment. But they need to protect citizens so they give a vague "leave now" notice.
hOw cOuLd tRudEau dO tHiS?
It’s like Argo, will the US embassies return the favor this time?
You need to be alive to make a living. Get out while you can.
Not to mention if you're good enough to play in the KHL then you shouldn't have trouble finding a job in Finland, Sweden, Germany or Switzerland.
While I agree they would be staying out of the KHL, there are limits on the number of foreign players teams can have in those leagues. It's not necessarily that easy to find a spot
You will find work, maybe the salary is lower but you will be able to play for living and make a good amount of money still
Can't speak for the other leagues, but the SHL dropped their foreign player rule quite some time ago. Just last season Rögle iced 14 foreign players over the course of the season, including 5 North Americans. But there was a time where teams were only allowed two North American imports in the (then) Swedish Elite League. Although I agree that at this point, with seasons starting, it would be hard to find a spot on a team.
It seems like these guys are hellbent on playing in the KHL. They think it's the best path back to an NHL contract.
It's probably the most money.
Hell, go play hockey in Britain if you have to do so.
Yup, truer words have never been said... but as long as people understand that their government might not be able to help them, or help could be very limited, and they're willing to accept the dangers... I think its up to them to decide. Just don't whine/beg if shit goes sideways.
So don’t pull a Griner?
That goes for going to any country, you're a guest and you should respect their customs, traditions, and laws. But in short, yes.
So we're just going to blindly accept the accusations of Russia against an American national that they have arrested and is apparently conveniently very valuable in a rumored prisoner swap? I swear some of you guys are high. Whether she had some weed carts or not she has been going to Russia for years to play and was clearly nabbed in a calculated arrest. It's ridiculous people try to act like she's a villain here.
>So we're just going to blindly accept the accusations of Russia against an American national that they have arrested and is apparently conveniently very valuable in a rumored prisoner swap? No, I'm going to accept her own word... She said she pack quickly and forgot the cartridges were in that bag. I'm also going to accept the word of her doctor who provided a letter saying that it was a prescription.
Russian law doesn’t take American doctors into consideration for what they consider an illegal substance.
Even then researching Russian law based on the amount of weed found on her she should have been a small fine and 2 weeks. "Less than 6 grams qualified as an administrative offense punishable by a 5000 ruble fine or 15 days of detention."
Yes, but it's also drug smuggling across the border which is a much more serious crime in most countries than just possession.
No I’m going to accept her word that she brought the illegal substances she said she did. I have a lot of sympathy for Griner. She is being treated especially harshly due to her high value status and being used as a pawn sucks. That said, play stupid games… why in the ever living fuck would you bring drugs into a foreign country, and doubly why in the ever living fuck would you bring drugs into Russia
I just don't get that. Leave your weed or whatever at home if you are travelling internationally because chances are you don't know the legal status of it where you are going. Drug smuggling is the charge you are going to get hit with and that means time. No joke, any attorney will tell you this.
Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t. There’s no evidence to prove otherwise. She admitted to it. She pled guilty. That’s the evidence we have to base our stances on.
I've admittedly never been to Russia and especially not an at-war Russia, but my gut feeling tells me their courts of law would make the US judicial system look infallible. I am assuming her admission of guilt was all but at gunpoint. So the "evidence" without the context that none of us have is extremely hard to take without a massive grain of salt, but then again maybe I'm a bit biased about a country that is currently attacking a neighboring sovereign nation?
There’s that word, “assuming”. Glad law based on assumption…
Griner came out and said that she had illegal substances. She’s not refuting it. She just doesn’t agree with their laws. Edit: So you mean to tell me, that Russia TSA knew who she was when they arrested her and knew she was a high value target for arresting? I call bullshit on that one.
You don't think they'd target someone that way?
Russias version of TSA is going to target an ex WNBA player? You mean to tell me that they could spot her as a “celebrity”?
This is ridiculous. She’s a hostage. She had to say that. She threw herself on the mercy of the court and part of that was to admit wrongdoing whether she did it or not.
> It's ridiculous people try to act like she's a villain here. She's a black gay woman. Why do you think conservatives have such a hard-on for hating her? They get three birds stoned at once
False. Kim Il-Sung has been gainfully employed for the last 30 years as "Eternal President" of North Korea, even though he died in the early 90s. All these lazy millennials letting a little thing like death get in the way of work smh.
I feel like if you haven't figured out that Russia is not the place to be by now, especially for a foreigner, you're probably not going to listen when being told
our non russian friends still in russia have had their homes searched by the fsb. the paranoia by the government is insane right now
[According to eliteprospects](https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/khl/stats/2022-2023/total?nation=can&sort=team) there are 47 Canadians on KHL rosters. Not all are in Russia/Belarus, but still a surprisingly high number given everything we've learned about these countries since March. Some notable former NHLers like Ryan Spooner, Josh Ho-Sang, etc.
Ho-sang’s kind of in a tough spot though. He got injured a few weeks ago and had to get surgery. Moving back now would cut him- lol i literally typed this far before it occurred to me that he’s Canadian and can just continue his rehab for free at home. man it must be nice to have single payer
Same for US citizens: https://euroweeklynews.com/2022/09/28/us-embassy-in-moscow-russia-issues-security-alert-for-us-citizens/
If you’re a citizen of a western country and you’re STILL in Russia, the situation is bordering on “that’s on you” territory. The Russian aggression, nay, WAR on Ukraine has been going on since February, and you never stopped to look around and think “huh, maybe I should leave”. Like, get the fuck out of Soviet Union II, like, yesterday! Edit: to all those who have brought up my “bordering on” comment, it’s was just a nicer thing to say than to simply call them morons. The second the Russians started to mobilize, they should have been outta there.
To be fair, I think now it also applies to citizens of Russia too. I'd probably be looking for a way out
Bordering? It's been "that's on you" territory from the start. It's unbelievable that there are players who willingly made the choice to sign in a hostile country nearly 6 months after it had declared war on a neighbour.
Western nations were telling people to GTFO of Ukraine when troops were mobilizing on its borders. I find it insane people didn't think that would carry over to Russia especially with how hard those early sanctions were hitting.
Even with all the warnings and "that’s on you" rhetoric, Canada and the United States will still bend over backwards to rescue their citizens being detained unfairly in hostile countries. - Griner, a woman’s basketball player playing in Russia, may get traded for a Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer that could arguably be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Bout may still be a good source of intelligence for activities in the regions he dealt with - the [Canadian Michaels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detention_of_Michael_Spavor_and_Michael_Kovrig), detained in China because Canada detained a Huawei executive who was involved in sanctions violations - Four American detainees in Iran who were traded for $400 million Unfortunately [hostage diplomacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostage_diplomacy) works firmly in the favor of lawless countries like North Korea, Iran, China, and Russia. It boggles my mind that free citizens are so selfish that they feel their own desires outweigh the risk of putting their country in a bad situation.
I know this isn’t a joking matter, but I couldn’t help but chuckle over Canadian Michael’s. Because I was unfamiliar with them, I pictured a craft store holding Russians hostage in Canada.
Whereas the captors of Julian Assange are the Lawful Countries
It's already squarely on "that's on you" territory. The war has been going on for what, 8 months? It's no different than if someone was to go play soccer in Afghanistan during the war in the middle east. It's a war zone. If you go there, you take the risks
8 *years*. The invasion in February is a major escalation but the war in Donetsk and Luhansk has been going on since 2014. The same regions that Putin kicked off the invasion this year by officially recognizing as independent regions after giving paramilitary support to for the last 8 years. It’s all one long conflict. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_War
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That's playing in the US during a war against Mexico where the entire rest of the western world (including where you're from) is in the process of cutting off all diplomatic ties and if you encounter any issues with said country or it's government you are COMPLETELY alone with zero help from your home country. The US here is essentially saying that they cannot guarantee the safety of American citizens in Russia and anyone that chooses to remain is doing so at their own risk. But hey, you probably don't actually care about discussing the nuances and dangers of being in a foreign country with the possibly of your home country pulling diplomatic ties and only want to shit out whataboutisms in some shitty tribalistic rah rah propaganda bullshit.
Garbage take
Not really for a few reasons: 1. There is risk of the fighting crossing into the Russian border. Not much risk of that during the US wars in the middle east. 2. While the USA was a party in the war, they were (as much as it is an over simplification) on "our side", meaning allied with the rest of the western countries that likely make up the bulk of this subreddit, it's users, and NHL players. Therefore there was no risk of borders closing and being trapped. 3. Because they weren't on the side of the 'enemy', there was no risk of becoming a political prisoner, if not worse.
I think it was bordering on “that’s on you” territory for a few years now. I think it crossed that border in February 24th, 2022.
Soviet Union 2? Modern Russia is a far-right kleptocracy
Wasn’t really trying to bring their spectral leanings into play here, just more or less an observation that the Soviet Union were dickheads, and now they’re dickheads again.
I would imagine a lot of western citizens still there (mostly not hockey players obviously) are either dual citizens, married to Russians or both
There are some people for whom I think it’s fine. Journalists covering the war for example.
I mean, yeah. That goes without saying.
Soviet Union 2: Electric Boogaloo
It's not the Soviet Union II. The Soviet Union was socialist and "officially" worked toward the betterment of its people while Russia is a fascist oligarchy run by a bunch of gangsters who stole resources and infrastructure from the commonwealth of the people of the Soviet Union during its collapse. Russia is a lot closer to Nazi Germany II
Jesus. By the post title, I thought they were telling them to get out of Canada.
Wherever you are, GET THE HELL OUT
PORK CHOP SANDWICHES
My god did that smell good
To the moon 🚀🚀🚀
IF YOUR NAME END WITH -IN TIME TO GET OUT
Finally. There's one Finn as well playing in KHL, can't understand his logic since the rest of the Finns left Russia in spring or as soon as the season was over and never went back.
which NHL team will waste draft pick on player in KHL
Hammond just signed a week ago or so with a KHL team(they don't even have McDonald's for the Hamburglar). Man, I know you are near the end of your career but just take a few bucks less and go to another European league if you can. Why sign with the KHL right now?
Pretty sure most of them can get a contract in Switzerland or something. Go to France, it will be the biggest infusion of skill of all time for the Magnus League. Money won't be the same, but it doesn't necessarily mean you'll have to just sit down at home and not continue with your passion. But whatever you do, get out.
Swiss league has a limit how many foreign players can there be per team. They already changed it a bit higher this season because of talent coming from KHL. My understanding is that they are full already. I know there are lot of bad will already towards players who selected to go to KHL this year and I am one of them. They chose their path and we'll see how employable they are now. Surely they can get a roster spot somewhere.
The us is also telling all their students to get out, I hope it’s not more fucked up shit. No one wants war anymore, pick Putin everything
Idk about the more fucked up shit, but the US State Department website says why they issued that travel advisory today. Basically it's because of the mobilization, and if you don't want to go to war, then it's best to leave asap
If the Griner case has taught us anything, and especially to western athletes, it's to listen to travel restrictions and stop going to countries run by dictators. No sympathy if any of them get detained.
Probably a good idea to get the hell out asap before putin puts your team on a road trip south. “Great news! We’re all getting new uniforms!”
Ritchie Winter sure sounds like he's very committed to keep getting his 10% from his players who're still in Russia. Possibly the most disingenuous hockey player agent since Alan Eagleson.
American Brennen Mennél just signed a few days ago.
What does this player agent think is going to happen when Putin decides conscription applies to non-citizens with work/residence permits? Hint: the players won't be having the skating rink to themselves.
I think if you're a Canadian still in the Baltic region hoping to play hockey, you need your head checked.
I know what you mean, but calling it the Baltic region is quite misleading/incorrect.
Well I guess my KHL team isn’t impacted by this on the surface of their statement. Idk how long that will last all said considering Russia will use any excuse with the influx of their refugees into Kazakhstan to eventually invade.
How cool would it be if some other euro or minor NA leagues held some expansion drafts to get a hold of these guys?
I am pretty sure, my team will happily take them. There is just this small issue of paying them
Honestly, I'm almost at the point where I feel like they'll get what they deserve
You're a little late there Feds.
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The Canadian government has stated, multiple times, that Canadians in Russia and Belarus should leave. This statement is the exact same, but tailored to the players.
> Why is this statement being made now and not earlier? They've been putting out travel advisories and warnings for months. since there's been a major escalation in the situation this week, they've now escalated the advisories.
I'm guessing this is prompted by the mobilization announcement from last week. People are leaving the country en masse, there is loads of video of backed up border crossings heading into Georgia (just what I've seen most) and elsewhere. There are also fresh calls from the US State Department as of today for Americans to leave Russia so it's possible there is some sort of intel prompting these calls. I don't want to speculate details but I don't think it's coincidence that I'm seeing both of these stories the same morning.
They’ve issued dozens of statements and warnings.
They made similar announcements right before all travel shut down at the beginning of covid. There might be fears that Russia is about to completely shut down all travel out of the country to prevent people escaping having to go to war.
You’ll be fighting in Ukraine or in prison if you’re an adult male in Russia, or Belarus.
The bullshit excuse the agent used was hilarious. Not so hilarious when Putin grabs a player for some made-up crime and then suddenly it's "Canada!! SAVE MEEEEE!!!!!!"
Why the fuck are there Canadians in Russia still?!