Janis Kalnins moved to the KHL despite warnings from Latvia.
Janis Kalnins will no longer be seen in the Latvian national team. PDO
Latvian ice hockey goaltender Janis Kalnins celebrated the Finnish championship last spring as Tappara’s second keeper. For this season, he moved to KHL Amur Khabarovsk.
It caused a big conflict in Kalninsi’s home country. The Latvian Ice Hockey Federation did not accept Kalnins’ transfer to Russia, which is waging a war of aggression.
Secretary General of the Federation Robert Plajevs told the Swede For Expressenthat the Latvian government banned the movement of athletes to Russia and Belarus as soon as the war of aggression began last spring.
According to Plajevs, the transfer of Kalnins could not be prevented because the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF did not have a clause set in case of war that would limit player transfers. The union plans to take forward the complaint about Kalnins’ transfer to Amur.
– I am not surprised by the IIHF’s actions, because they have never been able to prepare for something like this, Plajevs said.
Kalnins has played in the KHL before. The former Dinamo Riga goalkeeper played three seasons in the Helsinki Jokers and in two seasons was also responsible for defense in the playoffs.
Kalnins justified his move to the Amur on economic grounds. You will hardly see a top goalkeeper at the World Cup.
– Now it has been decided that Kalnins can never represent the Latvian national team again, regardless of the league level. He also cannot work, for example, as Latvia’s goalkeeper coach after his playing career, Plajevs continued.
Kalnins has participated in four adult WC tournaments.
Expressen asked if Kalnins could even be sentenced to prison for violating the articles set by the Latvian government.
– I cannot confirm anything, but according to my information, he has not received any punishments for the transfer.