“We acted according to the letter of the law”: Kalnins made his debut for Amur after the decision of the IIHF to approve the transition

“The page with the Latvian national team is closed for me”

The story of the transfer of Janis Kalnins to Amur ended with a long-awaited happy ending.

The goalkeeper signed a contract with a club from Khabarovsk back in early July, but the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation (LHF) in every possible way prevented the transition and even blocked the transfer.

Nevertheless, on Sunday, August 28, the athlete nevertheless made his debut as part of a new team in the match for third place in the Moscow Mayor's Cup with Spartak.

The goalkeeper went on the ice from the first minutes and made 28 saves, but missed two goals.

Such a result for him can be called not the worst, because he has not played for a long time, and in the summer he experienced a real persecution in his homeland.

It is not surprising that after the final siren, the native of Limbazi did not hide his joy.

“At home I had dry classes and an exercise bike.

And here I worked with the team, but did not play.

When you train for a long time, but do not take part in meetings, it is difficult to start.

I don't feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

I knew everything would be fine, you just need to wait a bit.

The only question was when I can go on the ice, ”Allhockey quotes Kalnins.

Also, Janis once again stressed that he wanted to play in the KHL, where he had previously defended the colors of Dynamo Riga and Jokerit, and only Amur made a concrete offer to him.

The lifelong interdiction for a call in a national command of Latvia of the goalkeeper does not disturb any more.

“I didn’t go there last season anyway.

The page with the Latvian national team is closed for me.

I'm 30 years old and I've only played two full matches for her so far.

If this happens, you need to step back and spend more time with your family.

My mood is excellent.

Played the game, all is well.

The appeal from the Latvian federation does not strain.

There is a transfer card - that's it, play, ”added Kalnins.

He was supported by the head coach of the team Vadim Yepanchintsev.

He stressed that, in general, the newcomer coped, although in some moments he still needs to improve.

“From our side, everything was done correctly, it was necessary to wait ... Are there any concerns about the decision of the Latvians to file an appeal?

They are always there.

Our club, the FHR and the KHL are doing everything right.

Janis is determined to play.

Otherwise, he simply would not have come, ”the specialist noted.

"Sport should not be mixed with politics"

The LHF blocked the transfer of the goalkeeper in mid-July, preventing the corresponding application from being transferred to the International Ice Hockey Federation's transfer system.

However, a month later, the IIHF still approved him, after which the athlete got the opportunity, including to play in the KHL.

Nevertheless, in Latvia they do not intend to give up and have already filed an appeal against the verdict of a higher organization.

“On the evening of August 26, the LHF received a decision from the IIHF with an explanation, in which the international federation approved the transfer of the player to Amur.

Despite this, the LHF appealed to the IIHF disciplinary commission, ”the press service explained to TASS.

In the KHL, they supported the decision of the IIHF.

Valery Kamensky, vice-president of the league for development, emphasized that the organization had no right to do otherwise.

He expressed satisfaction with the fact that once again politics did not come to the fore.

“The ban on calling Kalnins to the national team and further attempts to disrupt his transfer is sheer stupidity.

Thank God, the international federation took the side of the club and the hockey player.

It remains only to repeat, in no case should sports be mixed with politics.

It is gratifying that at least now the leaders of world hockey have acted according to the letter of the law.

It is by no means possible to deviate from the norms of the regulations for the sake of the interests of individual countries.

There are still people in the IIHF who understand this, ”Kamensky said in a conversation with RT.

Earlier, league president Alexei Morozov promised to uphold the rights of hockey players to the end, although he complained that they could not go on the ice without a transfer card.

The situation with the registration of another representative of Latvia, Nikolai Eliseev, who signed an agreement with Admiral in July, is also likely to be resolved soon.

At least, after the Sunday game with Spartak, Kalnins said: “I talked with Eliseev, everything is in order with him.

Everything will be done in a couple of days."

However, at home, both of them, as well as coaches Leonid Tambiev, Andrey Banada and Grigory Panteleev, who work in Russia, are under serious pressure.

In particular, the Latvian State Security Service promised to monitor their activities in accordance with the law and threatened with criminal prosecution.

Hockey players and coaches were also warned against promoting Russia's success in sports, which allegedly contradicts the national interests of the state.

At the same time, back in the spring, amendments were made to the local law, according to which all athletes and specialists participating in competitions held on the territory of Russia and Belarus are deprived of the opportunity to be called up to the national teams for life.

Under the appropriate restrictions, Kalnins also fell, who played with the national team at four world championships and the Beijing Olympics.

Despite the sanctions, he explained his decision to move to Amur with concern for the future of the family.

“I accepted it because my career will no longer be long ... I'm an adult and I understand how people will react and how the media will turn it.

Each of us lives our own lives and makes decisions that are best for us and our family, ”said the goalkeeper in an interview with Sportacentrs.

“Kalniņš needs to feed his family”

Experts interviewed by RT supported Kalnins.

According to Kamensky, the goalkeeper would be happy to continue to defend the honor of the country, but he was not given such an opportunity.

“In this situation, Janis has no choice but to play for Amur.

Perhaps other times will come in the future, and he will still take to the ice in the national team sweater.

Now a person wants to earn money for his relatives and increase his own wealth.

Why doesn't he have the right to?

It is wrong to forbid people to do their work, ”the KHL vice president emphasized.

Three-time world champion Alexei Tereshchenko fully agreed with him, emphasizing that the main source of income for athletes in team sports is not playing for the national team, but a club career.

“I think in Amur they were sure that everything would end well.

Yes, Kalnins was removed from the national team, but playing for her, you won’t earn a living for yourself.

Playing for the club is his job.

He needs to feed his family.

In my opinion, some foreigners can follow the example of Janis and come to the KHL, despite the obstruction at home, ”Tereshchenko said.

He also rejoiced at the decision of the IIHF, which took the side of the player and the Khabarovsk team, and expressed the hope that it will serve as a starting point for further lifting of restrictions.

“Before that, the international federation committed only illegal acts.

And for them, she must answer to Russia financially ... As for Janis, the organization had no other choice.

They simply do not have the right to agree with the arguments of the Latvians and forbid a person to go on the ice.

On what basis is this to be done?

And it does not matter what country we are talking about.

If the IIHF had made a different decision, uniform chaos would have begun.

All the letters of the law would have been crossed out, although the federation didn’t give a damn about them anyway, ”added Tereshchenko.