Ex-player of Minsk Dinamo Who Argued with Lukashenka: Critics Blow Smoke

Canadian Kevin Lalande said why he was kicked out from the main Belarusian ice hockey club.

This goalkeeper accepted Belarusian citizenship in 2012. He defended the club for five seasons.

But last spring Lalande commented Pressball on performance of the Belarusian national ice hockey team at the World Championship. In particular, the goalkeeper said:

- It's easy to argue sitting in front of the TV set and not knowing what is happening behind the scenes. And critics blow smoke...

The trick is that the main critic is Aliaksandr Lukashenka who called it "a shame" (the team took the next-to-last position in its group). It turns out that Lalande, probably without planning turned against the ruler. Although the Canadian, most likely, ment ordinary fans.

- They would have put on skates and trained with us. Yes, everyone has the right to his own opinion. But sometimes I read a complete nonsense. Sometimes it was funny. People absolutely do not understand anything in hockey, but they portray oneself as experts.

A week after this interview Dinamo terminated the contract with Lalande. The press service of the club said that this decision was related to the budget optimization for the next season.

And now the goalkeeper told the Sports Panorama how and why Minsk residents refused his services.

- It was an ordinary day. Nothing foretold such a development," Lalande said. - I woke up in the morning, had a call, and they told me: "Kevin, we're very sorry."

At first I did not understand what happened. Then a more detailed conversation took place, I was wished good luck, and this was the end of my story in Dinamo.

- Do you think that the unsuccessful performance of the Belarusian team at the World Cup affected the decision of the leadership?

- Definitely no. I think the whole thing was about my loose tongue.

After the world forum, I very sharply took criticism from fans and various specialists in my address. The last interviews were a bit rude. Emotions overruled the reason. I would like to apologize for all that was said.

However, it is worth noting that Kevin Lalande in the 2016/17 season took only 6 games for Dinamo, completely losing the competition in the "frame" with Ben Scrivens. So, the dismissal had, of course, sports motives. But Lalande's "loose tongue" seems to have finally decided his fate.