The general manager of Minnesota revealed the details of how and why team leader Kirill Kaprizov was able to enter the United States only on the second attempt. He also hinted that Washington helped with this issue.

Hot summer for dodgers

The possible purchase of a military ticket by several well-known Russian hockey players at once, which began with the story of the detention of goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov, is the most discussed hockey topic of the past summer.

Now it is getting its logical continuation: SKA forward Mikhail Vorobyov confessed to giving a bribe to an employee of the military registration and enlistment office in order to evade service and received a fine of two million rubles, the former goalkeeper of Salavat Yulaev Anvar Suleimanov was less fortunate.

Mikhail Vorobyov / Photo: © KHL / Yury Kuzmin

He was sentenced to five years probation, although he, like Vorobyov, admitted his guilt, and the state prosecutor asked the court to punish the goalkeeper with a fine of three million rubles. In two weeks, the trial will take place in the case of another accused hockey player – Vladislav Lukin.

Operation to return Kaprizov

At the same time, there were many speculations at the very beginning of this story, and Kaprizov was mentioned among the possible violators of the law, who, like Vorobyov, Suleymanov and Lukin, played in the Salavat system in the past.

Although almost immediately Kaprizov’s involvement in any violations of the law was denied by his father, specifying that his son was a student and had a deferment from the army, the possible involvement excited the organization, which literally depends on the Novokuznetsk forward – Minnesota.

It is impossible to imagine the Wild now without its leader, top scorer and holder of several club records at once. While Kaprizov was unable to single-handedly drag the Minnesota into the second round in the last playoffs, his contribution to the team’s heyday and motivation for each partner cannot be overestimated.

Photo: © REUTERS / Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

That is why in the middle of summer, long before European hockey players from the NHL usually fly to North America, in Minnesota they thought about how to get Kaprizov back faster. “Until he returns to the US, I will be a little nervous,” club owner Craig Lipold concluded.

Helped “people from Washington”

In early August, the Russian finally entered the country, but not the first time. The details of what happened, and how Kaprizov was going to get to North America without a visa, were told by Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin, who became a guest on KFAN radio.

In July, the striker left Russia and tried to board a plane to the United States in one of the Arab countries. But he did not succeed in doing this due to problems with the documents. At that time, it was not known whether he had a visa at all, given that during the covid seasons in the NHL, Europeans were allowed to play without them. Now Gerin revealed his cards: Kaprizov had a work visa, but it expired in June. It was impossible to extend it in Russia, the American embassy no longer provides such services. Then, according to the general manager, Kaprizov applied for a visa in Turkey.

“It was stressful,” Guerin admitted. “But we have been fortunate to have received incredible help from some people in Washington. They knew much better than us what to do. Without them, we would not have succeeded. And now we are just happy that Kirill is with us and safe.

Although the upcoming season will be for Kaprizov already the third in a row overseas, for the first time he will start the training camp on time. Perhaps this will help him correct the mistakes of last year, when the Russian had an eight-match dry streak at the start, for which he was crushed in social networks and the media. However, he finished the season on a high note in the status of the best hockey player of the “savages” – and this is much more important.