The Dark Side of Hockey: Russian Mafia’s Grip on Sports
The influence of the Russian Mafia on Eastern European ice hockey players has long been a source of terror, particularly due to chilling incidents involving kidnapping and extortion. One of the most infamous stories centers around former player Oleg Tverdovsky, whose harrowing experience with the Russian Mafia became a nightmare that no athlete should endure.
Tverdovsky’s Ordeal with the Russian Mafia
Tverdovsky had just signed a lucrative contract when his former coach unexpectedly showed up at his door, demanding that he share a portion of his newfound wealth. The player recalls being terrified, knowing that the Russian Mafia had its sights on him. Despite the fear, he chose to refuse the demand.
However, the situation quickly took a dark turn. On January 30, 1996, four masked gunmen kidnapped his mother in Donetsk. The ransom demand came swiftly—a chilling message from his father: “The Mafia wants $200,000 in exchange for your mother’s safety.”
Too frightened to inform his team or league officials, Tverdovsky silently faced the grim reality of his mother’s life being in danger. Days later, the kidnappers instructed him to bring the ransom to Moscow. Fortunately, a police raid saved his mother just in time, and the kidnappers were arrested as part of a separate investigation. Tverdovsky quickly relocated his parents to a safe house in California to protect them from further harm.
Mafia’s Influence on NHL Stars
According to the FBI, major NHL clubs were unaware that their recruitment of Eastern European stars had unintentionally brought the Russian Mafia into the world of professional hockey. These gangs, notorious for kidnappings, extortion, and murder, saw a lucrative opportunity in the wealth generated by NHL contracts.
In the NHL, Eastern European players make up over 10% of the roster, and many of these athletes have faced threats, beatings, and extortion—often through the kidnapping of their family members. Some of the most notable victims of mafia intimidation include stars like Alexander Mogilny (Vancouver Canucks), Alexei Zhitnik (Buffalo Sabres), Vladimir Malakhov (Montreal Canadiens), and Sergei Fedorov (Detroit Red Wings).
FBI’s Findings: Players Forced to Buy Protection
A 1996 FBI investigation revealed that half of the Eastern European players in the NHL had been forced to purchase “Krysha,” a form of protection provided by the mafia. However, the FBI found itself powerless to intervene, as most players were too afraid to speak out. They feared that any exposure of their dealings with the Russian Mafia could lead to fatal consequences for themselves or their families.
A Silent Threat to Eastern European Players
The influence of the Russian Mafia remains a hidden and terrifying reality for many Eastern European hockey players. Despite their fame and wealth, these athletes are often caught in a dangerous web of extortion and threats, and the fear of retaliation keeps many silent. The involvement of criminal organizations like the Russian Mafia in sports continues to cast a dark shadow over the game of hockey.
