Yesterday, several media outlets disclosed the existence of a Russian think tank report, commissioned by Vladimir Putin in June 2016, which outlined a campaign to undermine voters’ faith in the American electoral system.  Unreported were sections of the report which focused on other national institutions.  Page 214 of the document prepared by the Moscow-based Russian Institute for Strategic Studies is titled, “Здесь останавливается шайба,” or “The Puck Stops Here.”

The underlying premise behind using the National Hockey League, and the Washington Capitals in particular, as an element of the Kremlin’s campaign to create unrest in the United States is described in the following excerpt.

Americans believe in hope. They yearn for it.  They search for it everywhere.  They twice elected Barack Obama as their president thinking that the first African-American in the oval office would result in a new era of post-racial harmony.  As we have seen, Americans will quickly change their attitude if confronted with a different reality.  It was this change in temperament which made  Donald Trump’s success in the Republican race for the presidential nomination possible.

This should be our model for undermining Americans’ hope in every aspect of their lives.  Take sports for example.  An indication of  their confidence in a better future is embodied in their mantra, “Wait ’til next year.”  Do we need look any farther than the fans of the Chicago Cubs?  A hundred eight years without a championship.  And still they fill the stadium and cheer their players.  One can only imagine what a World Series title would do to bolster the American dream that anything is possible.  Unfortunately, intervention targeted at Major League Baseball would require starting from scratch as Russia currently produces no players likely to be courted by the owners or managers.

An easier target is the National Hockey League (NHL).  We have been watching closely and it appears the Washington Capitals could be easily manipulated.  During the 2015-16 season they had the best regular season record in the league.  But as they have done so many times before, faltered during the playoffs.  The media was filled with stories trying to explain the Capitals’ collapse.  Our goal should be to assure this happens year after year.

 Maybe it is coincidence, but this certainly explains how one of the three Russians on the Capitals’ roster, Alex Ovechkin, can lead his team to the 2016-17 regular season title and once again be named league MVP.  Yet as he did last year, become a relative non-factor in the first round of the playoffs.  As you know, I have avoided promoting conspiracy theories in  this blog, but the accompanying photo of Ovechkin and Trump meeting on the outfield of an empty National’s stadium raises questions.  Meeting at the Verizon Center would have drawn too much attention.

Though unconfirmed, an unnamed source claims the FBI requested a FISA court warrant to surveil Ovechkin. They intercepted transmissions from a meeting attended by Ovechkin and the two other Russians on the Capitals’ roster–Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov (code name “choking dogs”)–following Sunday’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.*  Russian handlers warned the players that blowing a 3-1 lead and possibly losing in the first round of the playoffs was too obvious.

Evidence suggests they may be right.  Capitals coach Barry Trotz reduced Ovechkin’s time on the ice in both games three and four of the Toronto series.  To deflect suspicion Ovechkin scored early goals in both games.  Whether the Capitals’ survive this Russian attempt to foment discord in the nation’s capital is yet to be seen.  Last night’s winning goal by American-born Timothy Leif “T.J.” Oshie, assisted by Niklas Backstrom of NATO ally Sweden suggests there’s still hope and proves that the North Atlantic alliance is not obsolete.  However, if you think there was finger pointing after Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016, it will be nothing compared to the second-guessing following a Capitals’ early exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

*NOTE: Secretary of Education Betsy de Vos recently thanked the Toronto front office for promoting the correct spelling of the plural for “leaf.”   

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP