Russian hockey player Minnesota Wild Kirill Kaprizov was denied entry to the United States twice. The Athletic writes about this, citing sources in the National Hockey League (NHL).
According to the publication, Kaprizov recently left Russia for Dubai and tried to return to the United States. He was probably denied entry because he does not have a work visa. After that, the hockey player again tried to cross the ocean through the Caribbean Islands, but this attempt was also unsuccessful. Then Kaprizov returned to Russia, where he remains at the moment.
At the same time, recalls The Athletic, Kaprizov signed a five-year contract with the Minnesota Wild back in September 2021. Also, some players, including Russians, were allowed to play last season without visas as an exception.
Earlier, the SHOT Telegram channel wrote that Kaprizov was suspected of buying a military ticket and was put on the wanted list. According to investigators, in 2017 he purchased a military ID through former police officer Farit Samigullin, who was arrested in Ufa. For several years he helped Ufa football players and Salavat Yulaev hockey players to avoid military service. Kaprizov played for Salavat Yulaev in the 2016/2017 season.
The father of the hockey player Oleg Kaprizov said that his son does not have a military ID: “We do not have a military ID. Kirill is studying now, he is a student.”