KHL News and Interviews

Mar292010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Johan Harju and Linus Omark leave Dynamo Moscow

Johan Harju and Linus Omark leave Dynamo Moscow (Photo © khl.ru) Swedish players Johan Harju and Linus Omark decided to leave KHL and Dynamo Moscow. Both players had an out clause in their contract after the first season and they decided to use it. "I was happy about the KHL, but one season is enough", Johan Harju told Aftonbladet. "Not everything went according to my plans. There was the possibility to walk away from the contract with Dynamo after the first season and I decided to do so. I can't say anything about my future right now, we'll see." Harju finished the season with four goals and 18 points in 55 regular season games, while he scored one goal in two playoff clashes. Omark scored more in the regular season, 20 goals and 36 points, but was pointless in the post season.

Mar262010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Jaromir Jagr: “I would like to stay in Omsk”

KHL News and Interviews

Jaromir Jagr: "I would like to stay in Omsk" (Photo © sports.ru) During an interview with Sovietskiy Sport Jaromir Jagr declared that he would like to spend another season with Avangard Omsk. Jaromir Jagr: "I really love Omsk and its inhabitants, their character. Maybe it's strange to hear this from a Czech, and they won't believe me. But I like everything here. I would like to stay in Russia, but I want to get something serious next year. My career will be over soon and thus I can't waste my chances. I wanted to win something with Avangard, but we couldn't. This is my fault too. I never blame others. I've always hoped that if I would be playing well, then also other players would perform better. I'm not looking for other teams now. I would like to stay in Avangard, but it's not up to me ...

Mar152010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Video: Salavat’s goalie Vitaly Kolesnik assaulted by a fan during a game

KHL News and Interviews

Video: Salavat's goalie Vitaly Kolesnik assaulted by a fan during a game (Photo © hcsalavat.ru) During the first period of the KHL playoff game between Avtomobilist Ekaterinburg and Salavat Yulaev Ufa, a drunk fan broke in the guests' bench and swung a stick on Vitaly Kolesnik's head. The goalie left the arena bleeding and has been sent to Ekaterinburg's hospital, where a concussion has been diagnosed. Igor Zakharkin declared to Sport-Express that "this was the most terrible match in my life. At first we didn't understand, then we seen that a fan climbed over the glasses and with a stick hit Vitaly Kolesnik's head. Only a miracle saved him. I don't want to think if that person would hit him in the temple. This was a shock for everyone in the arena." All quotes translated by RussianHockeyF...

Feb82010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

KHL » Viktor Tikhonov: “I’ll be back in Phoenix next year”

KHL News and Interviews

Viktor Tikhonov: "I'll be back in Phoenix next year" (Photo © AP/Paul Connors) Viktor Tikhonov declared that he's not going to return back in Severstal next year. After scoring two goals to in the regular season contest between Severstal Cherepovets and Metallurg Novokuznetsk, he has been interviewed by a reporter of the local website sport-nk.ru. RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the most interesting parts of the interview: Where do you plan to spend the next season? Viktor Tikhonov: "I have to come back to Phoenix, I have a three years deal with them. Most likely I'm going to play there." Is there a big difference between the NHL and the KHL? Viktor Tikhonov: "A little bit in the game's speed. And the different rinks size too." You should follow us on Twitter

Jan312010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

KHL » Team Jagr triumph in the KHL All-Star Game

KHL News and Interviews

Team Jagr triumph in the KHL All-Star Game (Photo © khlallstar.ru) Team Jagr won the KHL All-Star game in Minsk with a 11-8 score, repeating last year's victory in the Red Square. The match was played in front of more than 15,000 spectators, including Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. Sergei Zubov, Andrei Mezin and Alexei Yashin have been named Team Yashin's players of the game, while for Team Jagr the honors went to Karri Ramo, Marcel Hossa and Ville Peltonen. Team Yashin - Team Jagr - 8:11 (1:4, 5:3, 2:4) 1:0 - Zaripov (Babchuk), 02:05 1:1 - Hossa (Strbak), 07:32 1:2 - Thoresen (Kukkonen, Peltonen), 11:59 1:3 - Hudler (Jagr, Weinhandl), 13:32 1:4 - Weinhandl (Jagr, Hudler), 14:52 2:4 - Yashin, 21:00 2:5 - Hudler (Weinhandl), 26:14 2:6 - Strbak (Jagr), 31:15 3:6 - Fedorov (Radulov), 31:59 ...

Jan292010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Linus Omark attempts a new penalty shot, but fails

KHL News and Interviews

Linus Omark attempts a new penalty shot, but fails (Photo © khl.ru) Linus Omark, who plays for Dynamo Moscow of the KHL, attempted another fancy shoot-out in the January 20th regular season match against Dynamo Minsk, months later his amazing goal against Team Switzerland that made him famous around one year ago. This season Omark scored so far 19 goals and 31 points in 50 regular season games with Dynamo. Here is the video of Omark's attempt:

Jan282010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

All-Star Game rosters released

KHL News and Interviews

All-Star Game rosters released (Photo © khlallstar.ru) The complete KHL All-Star Game rosters have been released today. The event will be held in Minsk, Belarus, on January 30th. This is how the rosters look like: Team Yashin (Russian stars) Goalkeepers: Georgy Gelashvili (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl); Andrei Mezin (Dynamo Minsk) Defenders: Sergei Zubov (SKA St. Petersburg); Ilya Nikulin (Ak Bars Kazan); Dmitriy Kalinin (Salavat Yulaev Ufa); Anton Babchuk (Avangard Omsk); Konstantin Korneev (CSKA Moscow); Vitaly Atyushov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk) Forwards: Alexei Yashin (SKA St. Petersburg); Alexander Radulov (Salavat Yulaev Ufa); Alexei Morozov (Ak Bars Kazan); Danis Zaripov (Ak Bars Kazan); Sergei Fedorov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk); Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant Mytischi); Alexei Tereschenko (Ak Bars Ka...

Jan282010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Nikita Filatov knocked down by Darcy Verot

KHL News and Interviews

Nikita Filatov knocked down by Darcy Verot (Photo © boeboda.ru) NHL Blue Jackets forward Nikita Filatov, playing on a loan basis for CSKA of the KHL, was knocked down by Darcy Verot of Vityaz Chekhov in Monday's game between Vityaz and CSKA. After the famous bench-clearing fight Vityaz, a team having an enormous for the KHL amount of tough guys, didn't fight at all. There were rumors that players were told not to fight in order to calm down fans. The KHL even warned Vityaz to exclude the team from the league in case of another cancelled game. The peace didn't last long as on Monday Darcy Verot knocked down youngster Nikita Filatov with a cheap shot to the head and got a game misconduct. Here is the video of Verot's cheap shot on Filatov:

Jan222010 by Gary Laws1 Comment

Fedorov, Babchuk, Kalinin, Simon added to All-Star Game roster

KHL News and Interviews

Fedorov, Babchuk, Kalinin, Simon added to All-Star Game roster (Photo © khlallstar.ru) Sergei Fedorov, Anton Babchuk, Dmitri Kalinin, Chris Simon and others were added to the All-Star game roster today as KHL journalists decided the teams' second lines. The All-Star Game will be played in Minsk, Belarus, on January 30th and it will be a challenge between Team Yashin (Russian Stars) and Team Jagr (International Stars). The second lines look like that: Team Yashin (Russian stars) Goalkeepers: Andrei Mezin (Dynamo Minsk) Defenders: Dmitriy Kalinin (Salavat Yulaev Ufa); Anton Babchuk (Avangard Omsk) Forwards: Danis Zaripov (Ak Bars Kazan); Sergei Fedorov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk); Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant Mytischi) Team Jagr (International Stars) Goaltender: Michael Garnett (HC MVD) Defenders: ...

Jan202010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Alexei Zhamnov: “I decided to return”

KHL News and Interviews

Alexei Zhamnov: "I decided to return" (Photo © newsru.com) Former NHL and Team Russia center Alexei Zhamnov decided to lace them up again after more than three years of absence. The 39 years old from Moscow, Russia, spent the last seasons as KHL's Vityaz Chekhov General Manager. This is what he declared to Sport-Express: Zhamnov: "It's extremely unpleasant that they consider us guilty for the fight during the game against Avangard. It's not correct, and I want people to talk well about Vityaz. Therefore I decided to return on ice, but for now I will only train with the team so to understand my physical conditions. After this, probably, I will sign a contract with the club until the end of this season." Alexei Zhamnov played a total of 807 NHL games, with 249 goals, 470 assists and 719 p...