OREANDA-NEWS  Ilta-Sanomat journalist Ville Touru spoke with a Finnish hockey player who wished to remain anonymous, who ridiculed performances in Russia. His words are quoted on the publication's website.

The athlete admitted that he decided to play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) because he was only interested in money. "If someone claims that he came because of the landscape or borscht, it's bullshit," he said.

The article notes that the average salary of a Finnish hockey player in the KHL is estimated at 500 thousand euros per season, which is almost 40 million rubles.

In April 2022, former Salavat Yulaev KHL coach Tomi Lyamsia listed the difficulties of working in Russia. According to him, serious requirements were imposed on team b in terms of sports, and he was forced to spend less time with his family.

In early May, the authorities of Finland and Sweden banned hockey players from the KHL to play for the national teams of the country. It is noted that the decision concerns athletes who will continue to play in the clubs of the Russian league next season.