Fetisov called the idea of the KHL and NHL national teams playing a well-thought-out step by Putin.

Vyacheslav Fetisov, a State Duma deputy and two-time Olympic champion, called the idea of holding a match between the national teams of the Continental and National Hockey Leagues a thoughtful step by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In conversation with aif.ru On March 19, Fetisov noted that Putin's pass to US President Donald Trump was very valuable in itself.

"This is a pass that Trump simply could not not accept. This is a well-thought-out step by our president. It's not about hockey anymore, but about people, about their communication. Such hockey diplomacy in relation to the two countries has been present for a long time," the deputy explained.

He recalled that for 35 years, Russian and American, Canadian, and European hockey players played in the same NHL teams and won together. He expressed confidence that a huge army of fans has been preserved in America.

"The world is so fragile that concrete things need to be done based on historical facts and relationships," the parliamentarian concluded.

Fetisov suggested that the match could take place in early autumn.

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Also on March 19, the Russian leader's initiative was supported by Gleb Chistyakov, agent of the Russian striker of the Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin. So, according to Ovechkin, it would be great to play the Dynamo— Washington match, writes NSN.

On the same day, Oleg Matytsin, head of the State Duma Committee on Sports, said that the KHL-NHL match would help reset relations between Russia and the United States, writes RT. Alexander Medvedev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SKA, also hopes for an early meeting of NHL and KHL players, the website notes. kp.ru .

On March 18, it became known that during a telephone conversation, Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin's proposal to organize hockey matches in the United States and Russia between players playing in the NHL and KHL. Following the conversation, which lasted more than two hours, the presidents agreed to create Russian and American expert groups to work, as well as "stay in touch on all issues raised," notes 360.ru .