Protesters denounce Ovechkin's support for Putin as Capitals visit Senators in Ottawa

Members of the Canadian Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) organized a protest outside the Canadian Tire Centre (CTC) in Ottawa on Tuesday in objection to Alex Ovechkin's first game on Canadian soil this season.

The captain of the Washington Capitals has long been criticized for his staunch support of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"It's absolutely not acceptable," Mike Ryndzak, a member of the UCC said of Ovechkin's participation in the game against the Ottawa Senators.

"It's a war. Destruction and devastation is going on as we speak and for them it's business as usual," he said.

A small group of protestors joined him outside the arena before the game started, with more planning to protest inside.

"I see [so much] support from the ordinary Canadian people. It means a lot to me," Ryndzak added, waving a Ukrainian flag. Others held up signs reading "Ban Ovechkin."

Speaking to reporters at CTC on Tuesday morning, Ovechkin seemed unbothered by the accusations or the UCC's objection to his presence in Canada.

"I just heard about [the protest] this morning and I don't know what to say," he said. "Lots of protests going on around the world."

In September, he defended his decision to appear in a campaign ad for the ruling United Russia party, saying: "I'm Russian, and I support my country."

That same day, NATO member Latvia, which borders Russia, announced Ovechkin's inclusion on a list of "personae non gratae" and prohibited his entry into that republic. The UCC has been calling on Canada to do the same.

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In a statement posted on its website last month, the organization pointed to Section 318 of Canada's Criminal Code which states that "every person