Republican Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) asks the NHL to investigate Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin after he appears in an advertisement promoting Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party ahead of elections in Russia this weekend. Wilson sends a letter to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and says the ad is “incredibly alarming,” urging the league to review Ovechkin’s involvement.
Both outlets report that Wilson frames the ad as politically supportive of Putin and his party. Fox News adds that Wilson describes the appearance as “shameful,” while The Hill emphasizes the request for an NHL investigation. Neither outlet reports any response from the NHL or any public clarification from Ovechkin at the time of writing.
The articles focus on Wilson’s call for league action, highlighting the perceived political implications of the advertisement. They do not provide details on whether the NHL has any formal process for examining players’ involvement in political campaigns.
