Former hockey reporter says he was blacklisted by Caps after questions about Ovechkin's politics years ago

A Russian-born former hockey reporter says he was blacklisted by the Washington Capitals back in 2014 after questioning Alexander Ovechkin's involvement in a political campaign in Russia in 2014. Slava Malamud, who came to the United States as a refugee in 1991, during the fall of the Soviet Union, explained on Twitter that he sent an email to Washington's PR team in 2014 asking about Ovechkin's involvement in the "Save Children From Fascism" campaign, which painted Ukraine as a Nazi country and Russia's occupation of Crimea and Donbas as a "rescue" mission.

"In response to which I got an email from the @CapitalsPR employee Kurt Kehl, consisting of one word: 'Really?'" said Malamud on Twitter.

Malamud explained that he replied to the email with further questions, and was called a "a smug fan with an agenda" by Kehl and was then threatened with having his credentials pulled.

The exchange continued: pic.twitter.com/f0wq4WpZMJ— Slava Malamud 🇺🇦 (@SlavaMalamud) March 1, 2022

Malamud was working for Sport-Express.Ru in Russia, covering hockey in North America for the publication. He says he considered the matter moot when the publication was sold to a supporter of Putin and he quit because of it.

"However, when the IIHF wanted to get me accredited for World Cup tuneup games in DC, I was informed by their media officer that Caps VP of communications @SergeyKocharov personally informed them that I am blacklisted from the arena. The ban, AFAIK, remains in place to this day," said Malamud.

However, when the IIHF wanted to get me accredited for World Cup tuneup games in DC, I was informed by their media officer that Caps VP of communications @SergeyKocharov personally informed them that I am blacklisted from the arena. The ban, AFAIK, remains in place to this day.— Slava Malamud 🇺🇦 (@SlavaMalamud) March 1, 2022

Malamud, who now works as a school teacher in the United States, says he's spent years trying to tell people who Ovechkin really is, but no one would listen.

"I won't be in the Hall of Fame. I can't change many minds," said Malamud. "Ovechkin will be and can. Contrary to what you think, his family risks nothing. One strong statement from him about how much he opposes the war and wants Russia to leave Ukraine will have a big effect on Russian people."

"He can undo a lot of damage he helped cause. He can own up to his mistakes. He can become a hero. He is one of very few people in the world who can do so quickly, easily and at no personal risk."

Ovechkin has made a statement saying he wants peace, not war. However, he was twice asked by reporters if he supports Russian President Vladimir Putin, and dodged the question each time.

He can undo a lot of damage he helped cause. He can own up to his mistakes. He can become a hero. He is one of very few people in the world who can do so quickly, easily and at no personal risk.
If he chooses to. If he is made to feel he has to.
I am done.— Slava Malamud 🇺🇦 (@SlavaMalamud) March 1, 2022

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