"I am grateful Commissioner Bettman took the opportunity to condemn war criminal Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine," Wilson said in a statement to OutKick/Fox News Digital."At this point the League has done everything reasonable to make it clear they do not endorse the regrettable position held by Mr.Ovechkin.
I hope the Capitals organization takes the opportunity to do the same."ALEX OVECHKIN SIGNS A ONE-YEAR DEAL TO RETURN FOR ANOTHER NHL SEASON WITH THE CAPITALSRep.Joe Wilson, R-SC (right), praised Gary Bettman's condemnation of Russia's invasion but now wants the Washington Capitals to distance themselves from Alex Ovechkin (left).
(Getty Images)In a Sept.28 letter to the South Carolina Republican, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Ovechkin participated in the video in a "personal capacity" and reiterated the NHL's opposition to Russia's invasion."The NHL's position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine is clear and remains unchanged," Bettman wrote.
"Since the outset of the war, the League has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and called for a peaceful resolution as quickly as possible."The controversy centered on a United Russia campaign video featuring Ovechkin standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Russian state-controlled network RT, also appeared in the advertisement, which aired ahead of Russia's Sept.
18-20 parliamentary elections.Wilson sent Bettman a letter Sept.15, copying Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.
He called Ovechkin's participation "shameful" and asked the league to review the matter."American hockey fans deserve better leadership from their star players," Wilson wrote on social media.THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!Wilson wanted the NHL to explain whether it had policies governing active players' participation in political advertisements for foreign parties or regimes.
He also asked the league and Capitals to make clear t...