MEDVEDEV: HC LEV IS ONLY BEGINNING

President of KHL Alexandr Medvedev comments on the inclusion of the Slovak HC Lev of Poprad to KHL season-2010/11.


"Well, the introduction of a club from Slovakia is an event for our league," said Medvedev. "We have worked a lot on this question and faced much resistance from different sides but nevertheless we managed to achieve the goal."

"I am sure after the Slovaks we will see clubs from other countries in the near future – if not in the Kontinental League itself than at least in the competitions among leading European clubs. So it is only beginning."

"At first we planned that HC Lev as a member of KHL is to be based in Czech Republic. And everything was ready to this but the Czech Hockey Federation did not allow Lev to participate in KHL."

"We could have started legal proceedings but we agreed with the Slovak Federation and I am thankful to them for their understanding."

"Those people saw what many others do not see – the way of development for hockey. Without integration European ice hockey is doomed to wretched existence."

... but nothing matches the thrill and challenge of having money on the line!