Kukla's Korner Hockey
Entries with the tag: khl
Video- Who Knew Alexander Radulov Had Such A Powerful Backhand?
by Paul on 02/01/12 at 03:33 PM ET
Comments (2)
Puck Daddy with the details…
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexander+Radulov, KHL,
The Return Of CSKA Moscow
by Paul on 11/25/11 at 09:50 AM ET
Comments (0)
from Andy Potts of IIHF.com,
The hockey team of Moscow’s Central Sports Club of the Army was once a much celebrated team, but the last of its 32 national championships dates back to 1989 at the end of the Soviet era.
Soviet-era giants CSKA Moscow are now set to be on the march once more – fuelled by a lucrative deal with Russian oil major Rosneft.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: CSKA+Moscow, KHL,
KHL Thanks the Capitals and Penguins
by Alanah McGinley on 10/13/11 at 03:01 PM ET
Comments (1)
Release from the KHL:
The following is Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) president Alexander Medvedev’s statement regarding tonight’s joint fundraising effort by the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins to benefit the families of those who perished in the tragic Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash on Wednesday, September 7th.
“I’d like to both commend and thank the players and management of the Capitals and Penguins for both remembering those we’ve lost, as well as supporting their families and loved ones. The teams’ tribute to the Yaroslavl hockey club is testament to the remarkable bonds shared by all members of the global hockey family. As we see tonight, great sports rivalries can be put aside when there is an opportunity to benefit those who are in need.”
During their first meeting of the 2011-2012 season on Thursday, October 13th, players from both teams will wear jerseys with commemorative Lokomotiv patches that will be autographed and auctioned off at NHL.com. All proceeds will benefit the families of the Lokomotiv team.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Hockey Related Stories | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: khl,
Lokomotiv Wives Fund
by Alanah McGinley on 09/28/11 at 01:24 PM ET
Comments (0)
Stacy Dallman—wife of Kevin Dallman, formerly with the Kings, Bruins and Blues, and currently playing in the KHL—has been working hard to help raise money for the wives and families of Lokomotiv players who were lost in the recent tragedy.
Stacy has organized a charitable initiative to raise money to help those families and asked if we could help spread the word. They have already raised some $11,000 and hope to raise much more by the end of the hockey season, with the help of hockey fans around the world.
“The tragedy has pulled together hockey wives from almost all leagues world-wide, and our goal is to collect as many donations as possible to give to the Lokomotiv Wives and families at the end of this hockey season,” says Stacy.
You can find about more about the Lokomotiv Wives Fund on Facebook. There are options to donate money, or simply share your well-wishes with the families affected.
Thanks for checking it out.
Filed in: Hockey Related Stories, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: khl, lokomotiv, stacy+dallman,
Speculation About the KHL Plane Crash
by Alanah McGinley on 09/12/11 at 02:23 PM ET
Comments (3)
From Russia Today:
The Yak-42 that crashed near Yaroslavl taking 44 lives last week was in proper mechanical condition and the latest repairs were done to all requirements, the transport prosecution has ruled. Pilot error is the most likely cause of the tragic crash.
The last scheduled service of the plane was in August, during which the right engine was replaced and all other defects were reportedly eliminated. All these repairs were certified and correspond to requirements informed the transport prosecution.
The company that provided technical maintenance of the Yakovlev Yak-42 aircraft was inspected by experts from the Russian transport prosecution.
For more reading, a writer at the Digital Journal provides speculation on other possible causes and notes that passenger Pavel Trakhanov was using his cell phone during takeoff (as noted in this other, Russia Today story). You can read the DJ article here, and it also links to some other info on cell phone use and its dangers during takeoffs/landings. However, no one official—that we know of—has alleged it is a factor in this particular disaster.
Filed in: Hockey Related Stories, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: khl, lokomotiv, yaroslavl,
Aleksandr Galimov, Survivor Of Plane Tragedy Passes Way
by Paul on 09/12/11 at 06:04 AM ET
Comments (8)
via RT.com,
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Aleksandr+Galimov, KHL, Lokomotiv,
No Words Needed -Public Memorial For Lokomotiv Tragedy
by Paul on 09/10/11 at 12:22 PM ET
Comments (2)
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Lokomotiv,
Datsyuk In Mourning
by Paul on 09/10/11 at 10:01 AM ET
Comments (0)
from Dmitry Chesnokov of PuckDaddy,
The NHL Media Tour this year involved special events for non-North American media. The League cordially invited us to attend; due to previous engagements we were unable to.
However, Sovetsky Sport’s New York reporters Alexander Klamkin and Alisa Volbidakht did, and forwarded the following interview they had with Pavel Datsyuk, who was unable, quite understandably, to talk about anything but the tragedy in Russia.
Here are some excerpts from their talk with the Detroit Red Wings star about the plane crash that took the lives of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl players and coaches:
Q. We were getting ready for this interview for a week now. Thanks to the NHL for organizing it. We wanted to talk about the upcoming season, about the Red Wings’ chances of winning the cup, about other teams… But none of it will happen because all of the thoughts are with Lokomotiv.
DATSYUK: “That is all correct. I am in a very bad state. I call my friends in Ekaterinburg, talk to them. Every time they tell me all the details of the Yaroslavl tragedy. They give new information… It all stacks up. It puts on a lot of pressure.
“This morning right before our meeting I watched a requiem on YouTube that was organized in Minsk in remembrance of the hockey players who died. It touched me so deep how people reacted to this tragedy, with the kind of respect they remembered [those] people. It touched my soul.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Lokomotiv, Pavel+Datsyuk,
Lokomotiv Won’t Play Again This Season
by Paul on 09/10/11 at 09:25 AM ET
Comments (4)
via RT.com,
As Yaroslavl has been paying final tributes to its fallen hockey team, the club’s promoters have held a briefing after which it was officially announced that Lokomotiv will not participate in the upcoming KHL season.
On Saturday, the Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin, Yaroslavl Region Governor Sergey Vakhrukov and the club’s president Yury Yakovlev met in Yaroslavl to discuss the future of Lokomotiv.
“The main priority now is to take care of the relatives and to pay last tribute to the late players and staff. The other aim is to re-build a competitive team,” Yakovlev stressed, adding, “This will take some time as well as requiring human resources. But we are determined to resume participation in the KHL in 2012.”
Earlier it was reported more than 30 KHL players had already expressed a wish to join the new Lokomotiv.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Lokomotiv,
Statement From Bethann Salei
by Paul on 09/09/11 at 04:48 PM ET
Comments (2)
via Anaheim Ducks PR department,
A statement from Bethann Salei, wife of Ruslan Salei:
“On behalf of the Salei family, I want to express my sincere thanks to the entire hockey community, including all of Ruslan’s friends and fans, for the overwhelming love and support. While this is an extremely difficult time for us, the outpouring of affection our family has received has been comforting. As much as Ruslan enjoyed playing hockey, he loved the camaraderie he had with his teammates, the team staffs, and the fans that much more.
Ruslan was the love of my life, and I’m extremely grateful to have our three beautiful children. He treasured his family life with us, and we miss him dearly.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Hockey Related Stories, Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Ruslan+Salei,
Evgeni Malkin Issues Video Statement
by brianmetzer on 09/09/11 at 03:20 PM ET
Comments (1)
Many in the hockey world are still reeling from the events of Wednesday morning that saw a plane crash take the lives of all but one member of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL team that was en route to the first game of its season in Minsk. Watching the pain and suffering of all involved as been tough for all of us, but no one has felt it worse that the many Russian born NHL players that have intimate ties to many of the teams in the KHL and specifically Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey, Brian Metzer | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: evgeni+malkin, KHL, Lokomotiv+Yaroslavl, nhl, penguins,
Talking About Death
by Paul on 09/08/11 at 10:04 PM ET
Comments (2)
from of Nicholas J. Cotsonika Yahoo,
You want to change the subject, but you can’t. Not yet.
It’s Thursday afternoon at the Prudential Center, home of the New Jersey Devils. The NHL is holding its annual player media tour. There are stars all over the place – Alex Ovechkin in his gear over here, Sidney Crosby in a suit over there – in town for interviews and photo shoots and promo tapings to hype the upcoming season.
And in a sunny atrium stands Pavel Datsyuk, the Detroit Red Wings’ dazzling magician, talking about death.
A plane crashed Wednesday in Datsyuk’s home country. It was carrying the Kontinental Hockey League team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. It was carrying Brad McCrimmon, who had been an assistant coach for the Wings. It was carrying Ruslan Salei, who had been a defenseman for the Wings. It was carrying several others Datsyuk had played with or against in Russia or the NHL.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Lokomotiv,
Plans for Rebuilding Locomotiv in Yaroslavl
by Alanah McGinley on 09/08/11 at 01:31 PM ET
Comments (0)
From Dmitry Chesnokov at Puck Daddy:
This morning, the KHL’s Vice President Ilya Kochevrin spoke exclusively with Puck Daddy regarding the plans for the future of the League and for Lokomotiv.
“Our priority right now is also to keep hockey in Yaroslavl. We can tell you that more than 30 current active players who have played for Lokomotiv in their careers have announced that they want to come to Yaroslavl to play,” he said, “and the League is setting up an option where those players selected by the new head coach of Lokomotiv and will come to play there, their salary will be paid by their current KHL clubs, those where they are under a contract right now. At least for this season.”
You read that right: The KHL’s other franchises will fund the roster for Lokomotiv under the current option for the League.
“This will be done to alleviate the financial burden that Lokomotiv has right now because the team still has to pay out the entire contract of each player, coach and personnel who died yesterday. They just don’t have this sort of a budget,” Kochevrin continued.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Ilya+Kochevrin, khl, locomotiv,
Video- City Of Yaroslavl In Shock, Mourning Begins
by Paul on 09/08/11 at 05:10 AM ET
Comments (2)
via RT.com,
Filed in: | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Lokomotiv,
A Dark Day
by Paul on 09/07/11 at 05:22 PM ET
Comments (2)
from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,
Mike Babcock couldn’t wait to walk in his front door and hug his three kids late Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m going to hang up on you,” Babcock told NHL.com as he rushed from his car into his house.
Only hours earlier, the coach of the Detroit Red Wings received a harsh reminder of how precious time with family—his wife Maureen and kids Allie, Michael and Taylor—actually is.
Babcock’s friend and former assistant coach Brad McCrimmon, along with one of his former players, Ruslan Salei, were among the at least 43 passengers that died in a plane crash near the city of Yaroslavl in Central Russia on Wednesday. The majority of the passengers on board were members of the Kontinental Hockey League team Lokomotiv.
Bob McKenzie of TSN gives his thoughts on this tragic day, watch the video at TSN.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Brad+McCrimmon, KHL, Lokomotiv,
The NHL And Teams Offer Condolences To Those Killed In The Air Tragedy
by Paul on 09/07/11 at 03:22 PM ET
Comments (1)
NEW YORK (September 7, 2011)—Gary Bettman, Commissioner of the National Hockey League, today released the following statement on the tragedy involving the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey club:
“Though it occurred thousands of miles away from our home arenas, this tragedy represents a catastrophic loss to the hockey world—including the NHL family, which lost so many fathers, sons, teammates and friends who at one time excelled in our League. Our deepest condolences go to the families and loved ones of all who perished.”
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Lokomotiv,
Words Are Just Hard To Come By
by Paul on 09/07/11 at 03:03 PM ET
Comments (0)
from RT.com,
Russia and the world’s top ice hockey officials and players were united in their reactions to the plane crash in Central Russia, which claimed the lives of almost the whole squad of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, one of the KHL Western Conference leaders.
“This is an irretrievable loss,” said the head of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, Vladislav Tretyak. “I still can’t believe what has happened. Our hockey has lost remarkable players and couches. This is a horrible tragedy in the history of the Russian sport. I express my condolences to the families and friends of the dead, as well as to all hockey fans.”
“It’s hard to speak minutes after such an awful tragedy,” said legendary Soviet player and CSKA president Vyacheslav Fetisov. “We must support the team and its supporters. We need to think over how to re-establish the club in Yaroslavl. Perhaps we could make a new round of the draft. The NHL has seen such examples when new teams were created.”
continued and watch basically a recap of today’s tragedy…
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Lokomotiv,
Video- The Latest On The KHL Air Tragedy
by Paul on 09/07/11 at 10:15 AM ET
Comments (24)
via RT.com,
added 11:27am, from IIHF.com,
“This is a terrible tragedy for the global ice hockey community with some many nationalities involved,” said IIHF President René Fasel, who immediately called the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and KHL officials to offer condolences. “Our thoughts and prayers are with family and friends of the victims.”
“Despite the substantial air travel of professional hockey teams, our sport has been spared from tragic traffic accidents,” Fasel added. “But only until now. This is the darkest day in the history of our sport. This is not only a Russian tragedy, the Lokomotiv roster included players and coaches from ten nations.”
Updated 1:18pm ET:
Gary Bettman, Commissioner of the National Hockey League, today released the following statement on the tragedy involving the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey club:
“Though it occurred thousands of miles away from our home arenas, this tragedy represents a catastrophic loss to the hockey world—including the NHL family, which lost so many fathers, sons, teammates and friends who at one time excelled in our League. Our deepest condolences go to the families and loved ones of all who perished.”
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL,
Breaking- KHL Air Tragedy
by Paul on 09/07/11 at 08:12 AM ET
Comments (32)
via Dmitry Chesnokov tweets,
A terrible tragedy in Russia. A charter plane carrying KHL’s Lokomotiv crashed. Only one person survived!
According to @plysenkov the plane crashed at takeoff. There were 37 people on board. Condolences to the #KHL and Lokomotiv.
The number of those perished is still being confirmed. Lokomotiv was on board. Its roster includes Vasyunov, Demitra, Salei, Skrastins…
added 9:14am, Locomotiv Roster.
added 9:18am, via RT.com,
Thirty-four people have died in a Yakovlev Yak-42 passenger plane crash near the city of Yaroslavl in Central Russia. The majority of victims were members of the local ice hockey team Lokomotiv.
The plane went down and caught fire shortly after taking to the air. The crash site is merely 500 meters from the runway.
The Yak-42 was on its way to the Belarusian capital Minsk and had 37 people on board, aviation authorities reported. The aircraft’s maximum capacity is 120 passengers and crew.
Several of the victims were foreign players for the club.
The three survivors are in a serious condition and have been taken to hospital.
added 9:27am, An ongoing blog/story from SovSport (translated).
added 11:18am, A new KK post on this tragedy.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL,
KHL—NHL Agreement to “Avoid Hostility”
by Alanah McGinley on 07/07/11 at 02:16 PM ET
Comments (1)
Over at The Malik Report, George has details of the agreement available. And here is the KHL’s press release on the broad strokes of the newly-signed memorandum:
The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and National Hockey League (NHL) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that regulates player transitions between the two bodies, respects the professional contracts of players from both leagues and forces both sides to complete a range of procedures to avoid hostility in the transitioning of players from one league to the other.
The MoU’s conclusion marks an important step forward in the relationship between the two most respected hockey leagues in the world. The nine points of the agreement will be effective for the next 12 months and can be reevaluated at the end of that period. Terms of the agreement include the exchanging of lists of contracted and free agent players, each league providing the other their standard contract templates and agreeing to appoint official representatives to conduct negotiations in person in Toronto or New York to resolve any player contract disputes.
Filed in: NHL Talk, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: alexander+medvedev, bill+daly, khl, mou, nhl,
Afternoon Line
by Alanah McGinley on 06/24/11 at 03:29 PM ET
Comments (1)
The KHL released a statement yesterday about their interest in expanding to Italy. Today, some words from the man behind it, Alexander Medvedev:
“Here ice hockey is tradition too and the sport - a mixture of speed, guile and imagination – resembles the Italian character. The expansion of the League is irreversible, the result of a geopolitical project, and it will bring in fans from all over Europe. In Saint Petersburg for example, where there is also the football club Zenith managed by Luciano Spalletti, a public survey revealed that 98% of female fans preferred a hockey player’s image over a footballer’s. That could happen in Italy too. I am very happy that the Federation is here today and I hope that this initiative can help the movement grow up from its roots. So, see you again in April, when we’ll launch the project.”
Hard to know if he’s marketing a hockey team or a new boy band. Regardless, we’ve heard from a few Italian hockey fans who say they’re pretty excited about the KHL’s expansion.
You can read more here.
*thanks to a KK reader for the tip
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: alexander+medvedev, khl,
KHL Hoping for Italian Expansion
by Alanah McGinley on 06/23/11 at 04:37 PM ET
Comments (9)
via KHL press release:
On June 22nd, a press conference featuring Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) President Alexander Medvedev, Hockey Club Milano Rossoblu President Ico Migliore and Italian national ice hockey federation (FISG) President Giancarlo Bolognini took place in Milan.
During the press conference a general outline of the partnership between the KHL and the hockey club from Milan – a city whose teams have won the Italian national championship 27 times – was presented. Ico Migliore and Giancarlo Bolognini then shared their thoughts on development of Italian hockey due to HC Milano Rossoblu possibly joining the KHL in the future.
Additionally, Alexander Medvedev introduced different aspects of the League’s activities to the local media representatives in attendance, as well as shared the criteria necessary for new teams to join the KHL and presented an overview of the League’s vision for expansion.
“Here ice hockey is tradition too and the sport - a mixture of speed, guile and imagination – resembles the Italian character. The expansion of the League is irreversible, the result of a geopolitical project, and it will bring in fans from all over Europe,” said Medvedev. “I am very happy that the Federation is here today and I hope that this initiative can help the movement grow up from its roots. So, see you again in April, when we’ll launch the project.”
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: italy, khl,
Radulov Interested In Returning To Nashville
by Paul on 05/12/11 at 08:50 AM ET
Comments (11)
from David Boclair of the Nashville City Paper,
Alexander Radulov wants to play for the Nashville Predators next season.
That is the latest word — maybe — according to General Manager David Poile, based on a conversation Wednesday morning between Radulov andPaul Fenton, the Predators’ assistant general manager.
Radulov has played the last three seasons in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League and has served as a flashpoint in strained relations between the NHL and Russia’s hockey federation because he signed his KHL deal while still under contract with Nashville.
“[He says] he can get out of his contract,” Poile said. “I don’t know what he wants to do. … We [told] him … we can trade his rights, but he said, ‘No, no. I want to play in Nashville.’
“So that’s where we’re at.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexander+Radulov, KHL,
Canadian Players Look To The KHL
by Paul on 02/05/11 at 09:45 AM ET
Comments (0)
from Katelyn Peer of CBC,
Playing in the Kontinental Hockey League isn’t exactly every Canadian kid’s dream when they are growing up.
But more and more Canadian hockey players find themselves making the long trip to the former Soviet Union, continuing their living by playing the sport they love.
And guess what? Some, even when they have the opportunity to come back to the National Hockey League, make the decision to stay.
In Astana, Kazakhstan, the local KHL team, Barys Astana has three Canadians.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL,
Yashin Talks Nabokov, KHL
by Paul on 02/04/11 at 02:25 PM ET
Comments (0)
from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
“What actually happened is that the Islanders called me before they took him on waivers,” said Yashin, who left the Islanders on good terms with owner Charles Wang and GM Garth Snow. “I spoke with Garth and I expressed my opinion about how good Evgeni is as a person and as a goalie. What happened after, why he chose not to come to Islanders, I can’t really say anything because it wasn’t my decision.”
Yashin is an unrestricted free agent after the season. Would he consider a return to the NHL?
“Every year is a different situation, a new situation, you never know what’s going to happen,” said Yashin. “My contract is expiring. I will look around at what the best situation is for me next year.”
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexei+Yashin, KHL,
Video- Oh Yoy Yoy
by Paul on 01/25/11 at 09:52 AM ET
Comments (2)
Goaltender Steve Valiquette with a KHL blooper. Greg Wyshynski of PuckDaddy with more on the goal.
Also, does anyone attend these games? The arena looks almost empty of fans.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Steve+Valiquette,
Two-Goal Start for Sutter, Productive Youth (and No Injuries!) All Good Signs for Carolina
by Jon Jordan on 10/08/10 at 09:35 AM ET
Comments (0)
He’s not the youngest player on the roster, nor would he be considered a shocking contributor after last season’s 21-goal, 40-point showing but Brandon Sutter is most certainly a key piece to any Carolina Hurricanes success this year and his two-goal performance in Thursday’s season-opening, 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild in Helsinki, Finland is an excellent early sign for a club hoping for a lot to go their way in 2010-11.
For the Hurricanes, banking on both young guns and sustained health and rejuvenation for several veterans who were hobbled last year, a player like Sutter, at 21, serving as an alternate captain and coming off of a breakthrough season a year ago, will play a major role in determining their fortune. So far, so good for Sutter, who played just six seconds less yesterday than Carolina captain Eric Staal and so far, so good for the ‘Canes, who dressed six players 25-and-under in the game and got production from Sutter (two goals), Zac Dalpe (assist) and Jamie McBain (assist), as well as sparkling reviews for 18-year-old forward Jeff Skinner from that group.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Atlanta Thrashers, Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexander+Burmistrov, Alex+Ovechkin, Andrew+Ladd, Anton+Babchuk, Ben+Eager, Brandon+Sutter, Brent+Sopel, Cam+Ward, Chad+LaRose, Dustin+Byfuglien, Eric+Staal, Erik+Cole, Evander+Kane, Guy+Boucher, Jamie+McBain, Jeff+Skinner, Joni+Pitkanen, Jussi+Jokinen, KHL, Michael+Neuvirth, Mike+Green, NHL+Premiere, Niclas+Bergfors, Semyon+Varlamov, Steve+Yzerman, Tim+Gleason, Tuomo+Ruutu, Zac+Dalpe, Zach+Bogosian,
Evaluating KHL Exhibition Games
by Paul on 10/07/10 at 12:53 PM ET
Comments (3)
from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has read the stories and heard the concerns from Paul Maurice, Eric Staal and others associated with the Carolina Hurricanes about how SKA St. Petersburg approached the exhibition game Monday night in Russia.
Staal and Maurice said they felt the SKA players were making pointed attempts to take out Staal’s knees in the first period and early in the second. As a result, Maurice pulled his captain from the game with 13:26 to play in the second period. At the same time he also pulled No. 1 goalie Cam Ward.
Daly said in a press conference prior to the 2010 NHL Compuware Premiere game between Minnesota and Carolina on Thursday that the League still has to evaluate the potential for future games against Kontinental Hockey League teams before agreeing to send teams to Russia again.
“I don’t think it’ll affect our relationship with the KHL generally, but it is something we’re going to have to take a look at on a going forward basis,” Daly said. “The approach to the game taken by the two teams was obviously a little different. The Carolina Hurricanes treated it as an exhibition game to prepare for their regular season. I think the St. Petersburg team approached it a little differently. That can create some issues and we have to look at that going forward.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Carolina Hurricanes, NHL Talk | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL,
The State of Hockey in Russia
by Phil Davies on 10/05/10 at 12:10 PM ET
Comments (1)
The Russian National Team has taken great strides towards regaining past international hockey glory in the last few years. Spurred on by back-to-back World Championship victories with two straight wins over Team Canada in 2008 and 2009 (including a win on Canada’s home ice in 2008), Russia had seemed to finally regain their duo-superpower status with their longtime Canadian rivals. That is until the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, where the Russians were soundly thumped 7-3 by the home side in their quarterfinal matchup. Perhaps, Team Russia goalie; Ilya Bryzgalov, summed up the debacle best by stating that Team Canada played like “gorillas coming out of a cage.”
On the heels of their defeat in Vancouver, many of Russia’s Olympic core squad vowed to gain a measure of revenge at the 2010 World Championships in Germany three months later. Although Russia defeated a relatively undermanned Canadian squad, their efforts, once again, ended in failure with an upset loss to the Czech Republic in the championship final.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin, Alexander+Radulov, Alexander+Semin, Andrei+Markov, Denis+Grebeshkov, Evgeni+Malkin, Evgeni+Nabokov, Ilya+Bryzgalov, Ilya+Kovalchuk, KHL, Maxim+Afinogenov, Nashville+Predators, Pavel+Datsyuk, Slava+Bykov, Slava+Kozlov, Vladislav+Tretiak,
Kozlov Heads To Russia
by Paul on 09/29/10 at 07:28 AM ET
Comments (0)
via Alessandro Seren Rosso of Russian Hockey Fans,
Vyacheslav Kozlo was officially signed today to a 1 year contract by CSKA Moscow.
The former component of the famous Russian Five joined the Red Army a couple of days ago and will depart with the team for their upcoming away trip. Kozlov will wear the #72 jersey.
Vyacheslav Kozlov was Stanley Cup Champion in 1997 and 1998 with the Detroit Red Wings. Kozlov played a total of 1182 NHL games, with 853 points.
It was reported that also Spartak Moscow offered Kozlov a contract, but Slava preferred the Red Army, with whom he played in 1991-92 and 1994-95.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Vyacheslav+Kozlov,
Morning Line
by Paul on 09/28/10 at 07:58 AM ET
Comments (1)
“I think any city like this, an industrial city, would present something. We have lakes here, where you can go, and do sightseeing, or to the mountains and walk around.
“We have been to the factory. It’s incredible, probably the biggest factory in Europe. They do a lot of steel, so it was an interesting trip, too. It’s a simple city, but everything we need we have here. And it’s very comfortable.”
-Sergei Fedorov on playing in Magnitogorsk, via Russia Today.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Sergei+Fedorov,
Chris Bourque Was Tired Of Waiting
by Paul on 09/24/10 at 10:05 AM ET
Comments (3)
from Alexander Zaitsev of Russian Hockey Fans,
The former Washington Capitals forward Chris Bourque, who moved this summer to the KHL’s Atlant Mytischi, gave an interview to SportsDaily.ru.
RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.
The story of your signing with Atlant was pretty long. Were you hesitating?
Bourque: “I just wanted to see how it’d turn out with the Capitals. When the situation wasn’t clear I had to told Atlant that they’d have to wait.”
But then finally the Capitals offered you a contract. Why did you decide to move to Russia?
Bourque: “Things were going the way that I’d not get a spot with the Capitals. I have won everything in the AHL - like the Calder Cup and the playoffs MVP. Besides I was soon to reach the age limit, which would mean I’d have to part ways with the AHL. And since I wasn’t completely sure that I’d make the first team, I decided to move to Russia. I got sick of constantly waiting for my chance and then being used to plug holes in the roster.”
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Chris+Bourque, KHL,
Turnaround in Tampa Starts at the Top
by Jon Jordan on 09/20/10 at 07:10 PM ET
Comments (0)
Before a single tweak to the roster, the Tampa Bay Lightning were already poised for improvement in 2010-11. With the tumultuous era of previous ownership already behind them when the sale of the team to Jeff Vinik was completed late last season, gone in an instant were any and all off-ice concerns and the circus went back to being an annual visitor to the St. Pete Times Forum rather than a permanent resident. With the appointment of Steve Yzerman as general manager, credibility returned to the franchise and new head coach Guy Boucher was widely regarded as the hottest commodity on the off-season coaching market.
Without a solitary player move, hockey life in Tampa was good again.
But far be it from Yzerman to rest on the comfort that fans surely feel by him simply not being one of those other guys. The addition of former Flyers forward Simon Gagne headlines a list of shrewd off-season maneuvers for the rookie GM and the revamped roster could very well translate to the sort of on-ice success that will make Lightning followers quickly forgot about three non-playoff seasons gone by.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alex+Tanguay, Andrej+Meszaros, Antero+Niittymaki, Antti+Niemi, Blair+Jones, Brad+Richards, Brett+Clark, Brett+Connolly, Carter+Ashton, Cedrick+Desjardins, Chris+Durno, Dana+Tyrell, Dan+Ellis, Dominic+Moore, Dustin+Tokarski, Eric+Perrin, Guy+Boucher, James+Wright, Jaroslav+Janus, Jeff+Vinik, Johan+Harju, Kevin+Quick, KHL, Kurtis+Foster, Lady+Byng+Trophy, Marc+Pouliot, Mark+Barberio, Mark+Parrish, Martin+St.+Louis, Mattias+Ohlund, Matt+Lashoff, Matt+Walker, Mike+Smith, Mitch+Fadden, Nate+Thompson, NHL+Awards, NHL+previews, Niklas+Persson, Paul+Szczechura, Pavel+Kubina, Radko+Gudas, Randy+Jones, Richard+Panik, Riku+Helenius, Rocket+Richard+Trophy, Ryan+Craig, Ryan+Malone, Sean+Bergenheim, Sidney+Crosby, Simon+Gagne, Stephane+Veilleux, Steve+Downie, Steve+Yzerman, Teddy+Purcell, training+camp, Traverse+City+prospects+tournament, Ty+Wishart, Victor+Hedman, Vincent+Lecavalier, Vladimir+Mihalik, Zenon+Konopka,
KHL No Rival To The NHL
by Paul on 09/08/10 at 07:18 AM ET
Comments (2)
from Andy Potts of The Moscow News,
The third season of KHL hockey starts on Wednesday – but the Russian tournament’s dreams of rivaling the NHL still seem distant.
In 2008 when the first season introduced three teams from outside Russia – and a raft of new imports from Europe’s top clubs – hopes were high that the competition would become a genuine rival to the game’s biggest tournament.
But a mixture of politics and economics has stalled plans to ice franchises in other countries, meaning the league is still restricted to the former USSR.
And the returning stars from the NHL are overwhelmingly members of the old guard, heading to a salary-cap free tournament in search of a final big payday.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL,
Talking KHL At The World Hockey Summit
by Paul on 08/24/10 at 05:34 AM ET
Comments (0)
from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,
They gathered, for the first night, at the Hockey Hall of Fame and used that tried-and-true format – the Hot Stove discussion – to launch the world hockey summit. Everybody who was everybody in the world of hockey showed up, or was on their way, including a couple of intriguing guests from Russia – Alexander Medvedev, president of the Continental Hockey League (KHL), and Slava Fetisov, the league’s chairman.
Medvedev’s league is about to enter its third season and despite many growing pains along the way, and the frustration of not being able to repatriate the crème de la crème of Russian players, is becoming a more viable option with every passing season.
Filed in: NHL Talk, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL,
Morning Line
by Paul on 08/21/10 at 09:53 AM ET
Comments (0)
“Of course, to play in the NHL is a dream. You can go to any youth sports school and ask those who train there—everyone will say that they dream of the NHL. There cannot even be a talk about comparing the two leagues. The KHL right now is moving in the right direction, raising up a little, but there is no point to compare the leagues. Let them call me names, call me a traitor, but this is true.
-Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, Ovechkin did an interview (many topics) with sports.ru and you can read the translated interview by Dmitry Chesnokov of PuckDaddy.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin, KHL,
Morning Line
by Paul on 08/15/10 at 07:10 AM ET
Comments (0)
“He’s a lot of fun. He’s a big kid. It’s hilarious to think that this superstar is almost like your little brother. He’s a goofy guy that jokes around all the time.
“Obviously, everyone is watching him. Everybody looks up to him, not only the fans, but the players, everyone. He’s the king of this place.”
-Brendan Bell, now playing for Avangard Omsk on Jaromir Jagr. More on Bell from Wayne Scanlan of the Ottawa Citizen.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Brendan+Bell, Jaromir+Jagr, KHL,
Afternoon Line, Part 2
by Paul on 08/06/10 at 04:27 PM ET
Comments (11)
“Let me ask you, would you want to play for the Edmonton Oilers, for example?” [laughter] “Let me tell you that when you have a choice and you have something to choose from, you always want to play for a good team, compete for medals and such. I will speak for myself, but the situation was such that I had no choice of a good team to play for and to play at the high level. To me it was very important to play for a good team, to try to win.”
-Evgeni Nabokov on why he decided to play for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL. More from Dmitry Chesnokov of PuckDaddy.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Evgeni+Nabokov, KHL,
Wayne Fleming Discusses Cherepanov’s Death
by Paul on 07/24/10 at 09:42 PM ET
Comments (0)
from Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times,
Imagine watching one of your players dying. New Lightning assistant coach Wayne Fleming always will have that memory.
As coach of Avangard Omsk in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, Fleming saw one of his most gifted players, forward Aleksei Cherepanov, collapse into the arms of teammate Jaromir Jagr on the bench near the end of an Oct. 13, 2008, game against Vityav Chekov.
Team doctors tried on the bench and in the dressing room to revive Cherepanov, 19, who died that night at a local hospital of an apparent heart attack….
Is there anything you take from what happened?
From a team perspective, it was like taking a crystal vase and dropping it on the concrete floor and trying to pick up the shattered pieces. It was devastating. But it was the individual, too, that passed away. The thing that really hurts is not only do we lose a great player, we’re missing just a fantastic young man. He had a great smile on his face. He was the golden boy of the KHL.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Aleksei+Cherepanov, KHL, Wayne+Fleming,
What Do You Think Of Ovechkin Working For A KHL Club?
by Paul on 07/16/10 at 03:56 PM ET
Comments (1)
from Dmitry Chesnokov of PuckDaddy,
Believe it or not, but from July 1 Alex Ovechkin is employed by UHC Dynamo and even gets paid for his services.
Mikhail Tyurkin, UHC Dynamo’s President, told Sovetsky Sport, “Alex has already called me. He is now my official advisor. He is now employed by UHC Dynamo.
July 1 was the official date Ovechkin became a team employee. “Alex will work on promoting our club. And he will also work with children from our hockey school. He will hold a few master-classes. I think that famous people like Ovechkin should bring value not only to NHL teams, but to Russia as well, especially to the club that brought him up,” Tyurkin said.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alex+Ovechkin, KHL,
Demitra To The KHL
by Paul on 07/15/10 at 02:50 PM ET
Comments (1)
via Pierre LeBrun tweet,
Pavol Demitra has signed a one-year contract with Yaroslavl of the KHL, agent Matt Keator confirms to ESPN.com
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Pavol+Demitra,
Appears Nabokov Headed To KHL
by Paul on 07/07/10 at 11:43 AM ET
Comments (3)
via Jay Gold tweet,
CONFIRMED: SKA St. Petersburg (#KHL) - (G) Evgeni Nabokov - 4 years - $6 M. per season
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Evgeni+Nabokov, KHL,
Anyone Else Think It Is All About The Money?
by Paul on 06/10/10 at 07:48 AM ET
Comments (5)
from Russia Today,
There is a high possibility that New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk will return to Russian hockey in the summer, the player’s agent told Sport-Express newspaper.
Yury Nikolaev has confirmed the info that Kovalchuk, who has not signed a new contract with his club in the NHL, is now in talks with KHL side SKA Saint Petersburg….
“The $40 million figure has been pulled out of a hat and is clearly overstated. But the information about the length of a contract is correct,” Nikolaev stressed, adding that such exaggerated reports “help them in the negotiations.”
“Ilya has a desire to play in Russia until the Sochi Olympics [in 2014],” he added.
Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Ilya+Kovalchuk, KHL,
Hasek Signs With Spartak Moscow
by Paul on 06/07/10 at 06:48 AM ET
Comments (0)
from Russia Today,
One of the greatest netminders in the history of hockey, Dominik Hasek, will now play in the KHL, defending the goals of Spartak Moscow.
The 45-year-old player and the club signed a one-year deal on Monday.
“I am very pleased to join Spartak. It’s a great club where a lot of great stars played. It’s a challenge for me and I’m very interested,” RIA-Novosti news agency cited Hasek.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Dominik+Hasek, KHL,
Report- Spartak Moscow Will Pay Hasek $3 Million
by Paul on 06/04/10 at 06:02 AM ET
Comments (1)
from Peter Adler at The Cult of Hockey,
Yakovenko said the goaltending legend has agreed to a one-year deal, but he would not release any other details, including financial conditions of the contract. According to other sources, Hasek is to make about $3 million U.S., which would be about 20 times as much as he made last season with Pardubice.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Dominik+Hasek, KHL,
Jagr Staying In The KHL
by Paul on 05/04/10 at 10:08 AM ET
Comments (0)
from Peter Adler at The Cult of Hockey,
Just before departing for Prague to join Team Czech for the world championships, Jaromir Jagr signed a one-year contract with Avangard Omsk. This extends his stay in the Siberian city to three consecutive seasons. Jagr said Monday he didn’t consider any other teams and negotiated with Omsk only.
“If it didn’t work out there, I’d have to start looking at other options. But I just didn’t want to be engaged in multiple negotiations that would force me eventually to decide which direction to take.”
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jaromir+Jagr, KHL,
Morning Line
by Paul on 04/03/10 at 07:22 AM ET
Comments (0)
Believe it or not, the NHL needs to make sure the KHL continues to move forward, especially now that it is trying to fund junior teams as well. But, the Russians must be more reasonable in their demands.
-Elliotte Friedman of CBC/HNIC. Read on th find out why Elliotte feels that way.
Filed in: NHL Talk, Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL,
Changes Needed In The Russian Hockey Program
by Paul on 03/28/10 at 03:02 PM ET
Comments (0)
So says Sergei Zubov who talked with Elliotte Friedman during the Inside Hockey segment on the HNIC pre-game show.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Olympics, Sergei+Zubov,
Hudler May Have An Out Clause
by Paul on 03/19/10 at 08:38 AM ET
Comments (1)
from George Malik of Snapshots,
Red Wings GM Ken Holland suggested to the Free Press’s Helene St. James that it’s entirely possible that Jiri Hudler may have an out-clause in his contract with Dynamo Moscow, and could choose to utilize it to return to Detroit after this season. As far as I know, Wings coach Mike Babcock has indeed kept in contact with Hudler, and his teammates have at least called from time to time to check in on him.
Dynamo’s still recovering from a stunning first-round ouster at the hands of Spartak, a fellow Moscow club, but Sport-Express’s Andrei Kuznetsov reports that, at this point, it’s former Red Wings defenseman Danny Markov and Swedish imports Linus Omark and Johan Harju are taking the vast majority of the flak for the team’s disappointing performance.
read on as George breaks down the KHL and has other Wings related news…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jiri+Hudler, KHL,
Russian Guy Grabs A Hockey Stick, Hits Goalie In The Head
by Paul on 03/15/10 at 10:35 AM ET
Comments (5)
RussianHockeyFans has a full explanation.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Vitaly+Kolesnik,
Most Recent Blog Posts
Henrik Sedin A Game-Time Decision
Howard And Cleary Both Out Through The Weekend
Caps’ Backstrom Hopes To Be Ready For The Playoffs
2013 Winter Classic Announcement
The Rangers Could Own The City
Kiprusoff Wins Game #300 With Saves Like This
Crosby’s Injury Has No Easy Diagnosis