CCM Hockey announced Monday it will stop using Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin and other Russian NHL players in its global marketing initiatives amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"We are very sad to witness, like the rest of the world, what is happening in Ukraine," CCM chief executive Marrouane Nabih wrote in an email to TSN's Rick Westhead. "Although Mr. Ovechkin is not responsible for the Russian government's actions, we took the decision to not use him (or any Russian player) on any global CCM communication at this point."

CCM pays Ovechkin over $500,000 per year plus a percentage of its sales within Russia, a source told Westhead. Though the company will no longer use Ovechkin or other R…