In this Globe and Mail opinion, Marcus and legendary NHL goaltender Dominik Hašek examine Alexander Ovechkin’s decision to lend his fame to Vladimir Putin’s political system and argue that celebrity athletes should be accountable for how their public influence is used. The piece focuses on Ovechkin’s appearance in a 2026 campaign video for Putin’s United Russia party, placing it in the context of his earlier creation of “PutinTeam” and the Kremlin’s broader use of prominent cultural and sporting figures to legitimize its policies.
Marcus and Dominik point to Canada’s existing sanctions against Russian cultural figures who have promoted Kremlin propaganda and Russia’s war against Ukraine, arguing that fame and sporting achievement should not insulate public figures from scrutiny over their political choices. Their central message is that patriotism should not be confused with loyalty to an authoritarian regime—and that even hockey cannot be placed above fundamental human rights.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-ovechkin-putin-russia-politics-nhl