MOSCOW, May 14, Oleg Bogatov. Incident with Russian reception National Hockey League (NHL) Colorado Avalanche forward Valery Nichushkin's use of prohibited drugs should be a lesson for many people; such practice can lead to loss of life, said two-time Olympic champion Alexander Kozhevnikov.
Earlier it became known that the Russian was suspended from games for at least six months, the forward will undergo the third stage of the National Hockey League (NHL) player assistance program. During this period, the Russian will not be paid a salary. According to media reports, Nichushkin failed testing for prohibited substances. On Monday, Colorado lost to the Dallas Stars in Game 5 of the second round of the NHL playoffs.
«»It's a pity that Valera's soul couldn't stand it and he started taking (illicit drugs) again. I know that they are more or less loyal to all this nasty stuff. God grant that they don't write off his records and think that he abandoned pucks due to drugs. And psychologically, normal people may get the impression that these are doping things. Let’s hope that Valery’s character will allow him to cope with everything. He is both a good player and a good man,” Kozhevnikov said.
“The first time he couldn’t cope, but we’re all people, we all have our weaknesses. So the case with Nichushkin is an example for our people that it’s better not to get hooked on this crap. You can then lose your life and be left naked: You’ll dedicate your life to hockey, and then you’ll spend it all on this crap,” the agency’s interlocutor emphasized.
On January 15, the league, together with the NHL Players Association (NHLPA), announced that the 28-year-old Russian will be unavailable to the club indefinitely while he receives assistance. This program exists to provide psychological support and rehabilitation to players experiencing problems with alcohol, drugs, gambling or mental health. At the end of February, Nichushkin received permission to participate in training with Colorado, and at the beginning of March he played his first match after the break.
In the current NHL playoffs, the Russian forward played eight games, scored nine goals and made one assist. Nichushkin shares first place in goals in the current Stanley Cup.