Mitch Love declines to discuss domestic violence allegations

In January 2026, the hockey club Shanghai Dragons, which plays in the KHL and is temporarily based in St. Petersburg, announced the appointment of Mitch Love as its new head coach.

On January 22, at his first press conference, Love, responding to a reporter«s question, did not comment in detail on domestic violence allegations that led to his suspension from the NHL in autumn 2025.

«My focus now is on the Shanghai Dragons. The last eight to nine months have been morally difficult for me, but now I»m happy to be here and work with the team,« he said.

General Director of the club Sergei Belykh stated that the decision to invite Love was made based on gathered facts. «We collected information from players and people who worked with him. Everyone spoke about Mitch not only as a professional but also as a person. We believe him and consider this topic closed,» Belykh noted.

Before moving to the Dragons, Love worked as an assistant coach for the Washington Capitals. In autumn 2025, an anonymous report was made against the coach about allegedly committed domestic violence, after which the NHL suspended him following an internal investigation. Criminal charges were not filed, and Washington captain Alexander Ovechkin publicly expressed support for the specialist.