Canadian forward Maxime Comtois of Moscow’s Dynamo has shared his impressions of playing in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), saying that his time in Russia has allowed him to rediscover the joy of hockey.
Finding Joy in Moscow
“The country has a bad reputation right now, but Moscow is still a beautiful city,” Comtois said. In 2024, he signed a one-year contract to assess his options, but ultimately found it difficult to leave the Russian capital. “I think Dynamo is the best place for me next season,” he concluded.
During the past KHL regular season, Comtois played 62 games, scoring 21 goals and recording 29 assists. In the playoffs, he appeared in 15 games, netting 7 goals and adding 6 assists.
Calling Out a KHL Problem
In May, Comtois spoke about communication issues with KHL referees, saying officials avoid interacting with foreign players.
“Even if they know English, they ignore you. If you try to speak with them, they send you back to the bench. They don’t want to explain anything,”
He described this as a significant problem for the league.
Positive Impressions of Russia
Earlier, Comtois said his overall impression of Russia has been extremely positive. He feels at home in Moscow and was not discouraged by the political situation when making his transfer. He also noted that his decision to play in Russia did not provoke any negative reaction among his compatriots.
Foreign Players Praise the KHL
In August, American coach John Torchetti recalled his time leading Moscow’s CSKA during the 2013/2014 season.
“I love Russia and want to come back,”
He believes fans enjoyed the team’s play under his leadership.
Before that, American forward Andrew Poturalski, a newcomer to KHL club Avangard, admitted that Russia had amazed him.
“I’m deeply impressed. I had heard many good things before coming, but everything I see exceeds my expectations,”
Poturalski added that he cannot compare Omsk to any city he has visited before, as everything in Russia is entirely new for him.
