Abols about Latvian hockey players who are ready to go to the KHL: I do not understand and do not support it – Hockey

Goalkeeper Jānis Kalniņš and forward Nikolajs Yeliseevs chose to go to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), but the situation with Mika Indraš’ allegedly signed contract with Moscow “Spartak” is still unclear.

Abols is currently preparing for his debut at the helm of the U-20 national team in the rescheduled elite world championship, which is expected in Canada in August. Similarly, Ābols is also the assistant of the head coach of the Latvian adult national team, Harijs Vītoliņš.

When asked what his attitude is towards those hockey players who have chosen to go to Russia, Ābols said on Latvian Radio that he does not understand these players.

“How can it be done in these circumstances? I understand everything, but not this. Many will say that the western countries still do not really understand the real threats. We have been there, it is really scary and nobody wants to go back there. Even with the Swedes when speaking understand that they do not fully understand [notikušo]. But Sweden is closer to us than Kyiv. Even Americans calmly travel to Russia to play, sign contracts. I don’t understand them.”

Both Kalniņš and forward Yeliseev have announced that they will play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) next season. On the other hand, striker Miks Indrašis, after almost a week of silence, announced in the introduction of July that he will not continue his career in Russia. Indrašis has signed a contract with “Wild Wings” of the German top league (DEL) club of Schweningen.