Alberta’s NHL clubs supporting Ukraine with Ovechkin set to arrive this week
The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames have demonstrated support for Ukraine and its struggle to repel Russia’s invasion, but how far will Alberta’s NHL clubs and their fans go when league star Alex Ovechkin is in their buildings?
The Washington Capitals are in Calgary on Tuesday and Edmonton on Wednesday.
Ovechkin has historically been a vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the Capitals’ captain’s Instagram account features a photo of himself standing beside Putin.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, Ovechkin told reporters “please, no more war.”
When asked about his relationship with Putin, Ovechkin said “he’s my president, but I’m not in politics. I’m an athlete.”
There are nearly 370,000 Albertans of Ukrainian origin, according to a 2016 Statistics Canada census, which is the second-largest among Canada’s provinces and territories.
The Edmonton Oilers’ support of Ukraine was emphatic Saturday when Oilers’ helmets bore stickers of Ukraine’s flag and a men’s choir sang both the Ukrainian anthem and “O Canada” before a game against Montreal at Rogers Place.
A Ukrainian folk ensemble will perform at Rogers during Wednesday’s
As we saw during Saturday’s home game, Oilers fans were very respectful in showing their support for Ukraine. TIM SHIPTON OILERS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP VICE-PRESIDENT
game against the Capitals “to share Ukrainian culture with Oilers fans and help sing the national anthems,” the Oilers said.
“The Edmonton Oilers stand in solidarity alongside the people of Ukraine,” Oilers Entertainment Group vice-president Tim Shipton said Monday in a statement.
“Alberta is home to more than 345,000 people of Ukrainian heritage, and their culture and traditions are a significant part of the fabric of our community here in Oil Country.
“As we saw during Saturday’s home game, Oilers fans were very respectful in showing their support for Ukraine.”
Rogers Place’s spectator policy doesn’t address flags or banners specifically, but limits the size of signs and doesn’t permit “inappropriate language” on signs.
“For the enjoyment of all guests, signs must roll up under a seat and be displayed only during warm-up or breaks in play,” the policy states.
What people wear isn’t restricted either. Fans are allowed to wear costumes, including masks while in their seats, as long as they’re not distracting other fans.
Alberta’s provincial government on Friday donated $5 million to the World Ukrainian Congress for nonlethal civilian defensive equipment such as helmets and bulletproof vests, and another $5 million to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation for humanitarian aid.
Nearly 160,000 people in Edmonton are of Ukrainian descent, while just over 90,000 reside in Calgary, according to the 2016 census.