KHL News and Interviews

Vyacheslav Fetisov's sensational comeback didn’t save CSKA from a home defeat against SKA St. Petersburg in a game that saw Maxim Sushinsky score his 300th goal. RussianHockeyFans offers you a translation of what Fetisov said after the game to the Russian TV channel “Sport”.

“I feel really good. It was a bit sentimental, starting with the hymn and going on. I’m a happy man today. I’d like to thank all the fans that attended the game, all the persons and the guys that I played with today. This was an unforgettable game for me. Thank you all!

The game was good, the guys showed a good character in the third period, we came a little short… I wish I could drop about 15 years, to be of more help to the team. The feeling of being in the dressing room with the guys, sharing the same bench - you can't reproduce it in regular life outside of hockey. I am thankful for having had this chance.
The most important thing we did today was draw attention of people to hockey. What we did today was positive for the image of Russian hockey and Russia itself. There are good people, there is interest for the game, and all this can only grow in the years to come.

I think that one game is enough. There are good players and a good coach and CSKA will be again the CSKA we all know”.

Yes, it's not a joke. CSKA Moscow is having problems as a lot of it's players are injured. Yesterday, after the game against Atlant CSKA's head coach Sergei Nemchinov said that he had offered CSKA president Vyacheslav Fetisov to help the team. They gave Fetisov one day to think it over and apparently he agreed.

This is what the team's press attache Natalia Masyakina had to say to RIA Novosti (in Russian):

Fetisov agreed to play for CSKA. Now we are working on the documents and if there are no problems he will be able to play on Friday against SKA. Nothing can be said about the length of his contract at this moment.

News is also confirmed on the official KHL site (in Russian).

CSKA has provided all required documents and Fetisov is able to play in the KHL. Fetisov has signed a one-year contract and is able to play on December 11 against SKA St. Petersburg.

The rebirth of the European Champions Cup was discussed at a conference with IIHF leaders and the seven biggest European hockey nations in Stockholm, Sweden. Russia has been represented by Russian Hockey Federation’s president Vladislav Tretiak.

One of the most important decisions that have been taken has been the termination of the agreement with the marketing company Ovation, which run Champions’ League’s inaugural season. The new partner will be the Infront company, which has been organizing World Championships for 20 years. Probably now we can really talk about CHL’s revival. In the two months that separate us from the Olympics in Vancouver Infront, IIHF and the national federations will have to develop the cup’s project and business model.

According to Sport-Express, the new formula will differ from the CHL’s first and last edition. The new project should abandon the home-away match series, all the games would be played in St. Petersburg – which already hosted the European Champions Cup some years ago – during one week. The new tournament will see a clash between the champions of the top European six leagues.

IIHF plans to increase the number of participants by two. Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland, Slovakia and Switzerland will send there the national champions, while the other two teams will be the top two seeded from the Continental Cup, the annual tournament which showcases champions from nations being not in the Europe’s top six. ECC’s future edition will feature two stages. In the group stage the eight participants will be split into two groups of four and they will play one match against the group opposition teams, and the top seeded team from the two groups will face each other in the European Champions Cup finals.

Viktor Tikhonov, loaned to Severstal Cherepovets of KHL by the Phoenix Coyotes of NHL, gave an interview to the official KHL site.

He talked about the reasons behind his decision to leave for Russia, his converstaions with Gretzky in Phoenix and the fact that he can spend only one year in Russia after which he will have to return to America.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

Dynamo Moscow players had to use Moscow underground to reach the Luzhniki arena in time for a game against Ak Bars Kazan.

Most of Dynamo players were driving to the game in a club's bus but due to a traffic jam they had to leave the bus and use metro. Only the players who used their cars got to the arena beforehand and skated in the pre-game warm-up. They players who used metro joined their partners in the locker room after the warm-up.

"All of our players are in the locker room right now, preparing for the game," said Dynamo coach Igor Zhilinskiy to Gazeta.ru minutes before the game.

The game start wasn't delayed.

"As usual, we left our base for the game 3 hours before the starting whistle. Normally it would take us 40-45 minutes to get to the arena. But this time we had to leave the bus one hour before the game and use metro due to heavy traffic jams. I accompanied the players in metro and looked after the Finns, Swedes and Czechs so that they wouldn't get lost, " said Zhilinskiy in an interview to Sport channel after the first period.

Dynamo defeated Ak Bars 4:2, two goals were scored by Linus Omark, who prefered the KHL to the NHL past summer. Former Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler amassed 2 assits.

"Should we always get to the games by metro from now on? We should think it over. Today was the first time the Swedes saw the metro. And they liked it," said Dynamo head coach Andrei Khomutov in an interview to Sport channel after the game.

It is not the first time when players in Moscow have to use metro to get to the game in time. In 2006 Spartak Moscow football players used underground too.

In the interview posted on KHL official site, SKA St. Petersburg's Sergei Zubov talks about the differences between the NHL and the KHL, gives his opinion on personal awards and compares veterans' and youngsters' contribution to a team's success.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the interview.

Viktor Tikhonov, who was loaned to Severstal of the KHL by the Phoenix Coyotes, scored two goals in his debut game.

Tikhonov spent on ice 17:56, had 7 shots on goal and a +2 rating. His Severstal faced HC MVD and won 5:3.

"I missed Russia and our hockey very much," said Tikhonov after the game. "Two goals in a debut is a great start, as for me. I'll try to keep up the pace. Of course I wanted to score but I didn't have to try hard because it's easy to score with such partners as mine. It didn't take me long to adjust to the game as the team's roster is almost the same as it was when I left for the North America. My grandfather (famous coach Viktor Vasilievich Tikhonov) was at the game today so I dedicate these goals to him! I will find out if they took the puck for me and then I'll give it to my grandfather."

After being a healthy scratch in the last few games with Dynamo Moscow, former Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators and CSKA Moscow player Oleg Saprykin has been traded to SKA St. Petersburg for hot prospect Igor Makarov.

Makarov was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the 2006 NHL Draft as 33rd overall pick. The quick winger participied to the Hawks' training camp a couple of seasons ago, but decided to get back to Russia after he failed securing a roster spot within the main team and apparently refusing to play in the AHL.

This year Makarov's role has diminished a bit because of SKA's depth and thus he scored only three goals in twenty-five matches. Saprykin's season has been disappointing as well, with only four markers in twenty-one regular seasons clashes.

Nikita Filatov had an interview with eurosport.ru website in which he talked about his return, his opinion about his path towards the NHL and about his future.
RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the most interesting questions and answers.

Former NHL defenceman Sergei Zubov, currently playing for SKA St. Petersburgh of the KHL, answered to fans' questions on Russian site sportbox.ru.

He talked about his moving from Dallas to St. Petersburg, differences between NHL and KHL, what would his dream team look like and his chances to play on the Olympics in Vancouver.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the most interesting questions and answers.

KHL announced an opening of the All-Star Game website, also available in English, where fans can select the starting lineups.

The Press Release:

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) today launched www.khlallstar.ru, the official Web site for the 2010 KHL All-Star Game. This new site, available in English by clicking on “English” above the main KHL All-Star Game logo on the front page, features all relevant news and information for the League’s second All-Star Game, scheduled for Saturday, January 30, 2010, in Minsk, Belarus.

Visitors to the site will find a wide variety of content, including news and ticket details, schedule information on the planned hockey festival that will be held in conjunction with the KHL All-Star Game, a countdown clock to face-off time and a photo gallery of last year’s game. More information will be added regularly in the coming weeks, as well.

Simultaneously with the launch of KHL All-Star Game Web site, the KHL kicked off fan voting to determine the starting lineups, including two goalkeepers, for each team that will participate in what is sure to be a thrilling confrontation on the ice of the new Minsk Arena.

Former NHL player Sergei Fedorov, now playing in the KHL, has scored his 1500th career-point. He became the first Russian player ever to reach that mark, leaving behind such players as Igor Larionov, Alexander Mogilniy, Alexei Kovalev, Alexei Yashin and others.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of Fedorov's interview to a Russian newspaper Sport-Express.