MOSCOW, Sep 22, Andrey Senchenko. The National Hockey League (NHL) has arrangements to hold exhibition matches in the Czech Republic and does not expect obstacles for the participation of Russian hockey players in them, a source familiar with the situation said. Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Martin Smolek said that the agency had warned the NHL about a possible ban on entry into the country for Russian citizens for exhibition matches. «The NHL has discussed all legal issues with the Czech Republic and does not expect obstacles. If they arise, the league will not hold scheduled matches in the Czech Republic, and the clubs will play at home. The clubs are all set,» the source said. The NHL season starts meetings in the framework of the Global Series in Prague on October 7 and 8, the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators will play among themselves. Russian forwards Alexander Barabanov and Yevgeny Svechnikov play for the Sharks, forward Yakov Trenin plays for the Predators.
