MAREK: CSKA CAN REPEAT CZECH TEAM’S SUCCESS

Ahead of the new KHL season’s kick-off sport press keeps on making interviews with the league’s stars. One of the best foreigners in history of the league, the World champions-2010, Jan Marek, who swapped Metallurg Magnitogorsk for CSKA this summer, shares his expectations from the new season with the readers today.


"I had other offers besides CSKA in summer, but I needed new experience and my move to CSKA is a perfect challenge for me", Marek said. "Having talked to the head coach Sergey Nemchinov I understood that his team is interested in my services, and I liked it so much that I though only about their offer".

"CSKA can boast glorious history of the clubs and their rich victorious traditions. And what is more important is that my family approved my choice, that is why my agent and I decided to accept the Army men’s offer and sign a contract with this club".

"When I was a boy I was aware that CSKA is a great club which gathered the best players in the world. I liked this team, which sealed so many victories, but I couldn’t even imagine that I would wear a sweater with CSKA emblem some day. I am very happy that I play in the club with rich history".

"I cannot judge whether I am leader or not, but I like that CSKA management considers me to become one of the team’s leaders. I get much playing practice, that I used to get in Magnitogorsk and Czech national team, and I am hopeful that my career in Moscow club will be successful".

"I got injured during pre-season preparations, but I think that I have fully recovered. In any case it didn’t bother me during the Mayor Cup games. In general I think that this injury didn’t harm my pre-season trainings, because I began preparations when I was on holidays, but I haven’t reached my peak form yet".

"I used to be Metallurg’s leader in my first years in the team, but several specialists believe that the previous season was not the best one for me, however I don’t agree with this statement. To my mind I played all three seasons in Magnitogorsk on very high level and I always earned points".

"I don’t know why somebody didn’t like my display last year. Metallurg really didn’t fulfill the main task and people blamed the team’s leaders, including me. It offended me, but I don’t share this point of view".

"There is nothing impossible and HC MVD and Czech team proved it last season. Russia had perfect team at the World Championship in Germany, while we had only three NHLers in the squad and we won the champions’ title, not Russia".

"CSKA is also able to fight for Gagarin Cup this season. I like my current friendly team, and it’s important that all players should believe in success. If it happens, CSKA could perform well".

"I don’t know which teams will become the season’s favourites, because I saw several teams just several times or didn’t see at all. Let’s wait until the start of the championship, watch the first games and return to this issue after that. And I think we shouldn’t pay much attention to our opponents, as we need to work hard during our trainings and achieve positive result".

"I didn’t expect that I would be appointed as the team’s vice-captain and I won’t hide that it made me happy. I will try to prove by my performance that I will cope with responsibility".

KOZLOV: HASEK CAN BECOME SPARTAK LEADER

One of leaders of the Russian national team and Salavat Yulaev Viktor Kozlov spoke to sport press ahead of kick-off of the new KHL season.


"It’s hard to say which ice rinks are better for me, because I feel comfortable both on small rinks in NHL and bibber ice in KHL", Kozlov said. "I suppose that physically it’s more difficult to play on bigger rinks. On the other hand there is less danger for goalkeepers on European ice, so they are likely to vote for European format".

"I don’t agree that Alexandr Ovechkin plays better on smaller ice, as he is not so effective at World Championships than in NHL. He is dangerous everywhere. After long NHL season players need some time for adaptation and they often lack time for it in Europe".

"Unfortunately I missed most part of training camp because of injury after my return from NHL last year. So I wouldn’t compare pre-season preparations this year with the previous season, but I feel that we improve our play thanks to intense trainings and newcomers".

"I am very happy that Evgeniy Nabokov returned to Russia from NHL. We began our careers together at first in the junior national team, then in Dynamo and KHL. When I found out about his move to SKA, I called him and congratulated with it".

"To my mind Lokomotiv acquired a strong player Pavol Demitra, one of the most skilled players in the world. I think he will establish in KHL very quickly".

"Most of all I was impressed by Dominik Hasek. Frankly speaking people have almost forgotten about him, and suddenly the “Dominator” joined Spartak. It was the main surprise in KHL this summer".

"Believe me that his talent lets him play until he turns 50. If he isn’t bothered by injuries, he will become Spartak leader".

CSKA WILL WELCOME DYNAMO AT MEGASPORT ARENA

HC CSKA president Vyacheslav Fetisov informed that KHL match between CSKA and Dynamo, which is scheduled for 3 January would take place at Megasport arena, but not at CSKA Ice Hockey Palace.


Hockey during New Year holidays is a special fest for all fans, Fetisov underlined in an interview to sport press. Derby between two popular Moscow clubs will attract full stands of supporters. I believe that CSKA will get modern arena very soon.

Megasport is situated very close to CSKA sport palace and I am sure that we won’t feel as guests there.

JAGR WILL STAY IN OMSK

Czech forward Jaromir Jagr has extended his contract with HC Avangard.


Yesterday Avangard general manager Anatoliy Bardin announced extension of Jagr’s contract with the club at special press conference.

"We will unveil all details of the contract ahead of kick-off of new season", he said. "We agreed with Jagr that we would make joint announcement".

"I would say only that terms of the new contract have been reviewed to reduction side, but it’s common practice for us".

"There couldn’t be other decision, because Avangard’s loss in play-off first round was a real catastrophe for us".

Moreover Avangard will part with Canadian forward Eric Perrin, goalkeeper Evgeniy Tsaregorodtsev and forward Jakub Klepis.

YURZINOV: DYNAMO AND HC MVD HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON

The legendary hockey coach Vladimir Yurzinov shared his opinion on possible integration of HC Dynamo and HC MVD.


"I do not know details of possible integration of these clubs", Yurzinov told sport press. "To my mind these teams have absolutely different roads".

"Appearance of HC MVD became epoch-making event in history of Russian hockey. Achievements of this young club turned not only to a gift for all sensation-lovers, but into a lesson for other participants of the championship how to achieve success thanks to hard work and striving for victory".

"The Moscow region club became a new guiding line and author of new tendency in development of Russian hockey. We need to understand that many clubs of our league should take HC MVD as a model. So it’s necessary to think about it, but not about how to liquidate the team and create something new instead of it".

"As for Dynamo, their management should think about their future, because it is clear that they cannot move in the same direction anymore. They need to reconsider strategy of their development. Dynamo has not made any progress in recent years, that means they need to change something in the club. I think it’s better to pay their attention to players who grew professionally in their club".

"That is why I think these clubs have nothing in common with each other. HC MVD should develop new traditions of Russian hockey, while Dynamo need to concentrate on returning old traditions".

SHALAEV: WE ARE READY TO HELP UKRAINIAN TEAM

The KHL vice-president Vladimir Shalaev spoke about plans of the league’s enlargement.


Yesterday the meeting of representatives of KHL, Russian Hockey Federation and 26 clubs was held in Moscow. After it the league vice-president Vladimir Shalaev spoke about perspective of the league’s enlargement next season.

"With minor reservations infrastructure of Hradec Kralove meets the league’s requirements", he said. "But like it often happens in Europe money question is more important, while their financial guarantees didn’t convince us".

"At the same time Yugra from Khanty-Mansiysk convinces us more and more. Businessmen from Kyiv responded with a perfect offer and we liked their plans of creation of big hockey club in Ukraine. If they work hard, Budivelnik will turn to a real candidate to joining KHL".

"Kyiv representatives have absolutely clear business-strategy and transparent financial basis. Our close neighbours are ready to invest money to big hockey".

"Budivelnik has huge desire and serious support for creation of the club, which will be able to join KHL. In our turn, we are ready to help them develop their infrastructure".

ACCIDENT IN EKATERINBURG

On sunday on the 17th minute of the KHL eightfinal match Avtomobilist vs. Salavat Yulaev the local fan climbed over the subs’ bench of the Ufa team and strongly hit the goalkeeper of the guests Vitaliy Kolesnik on the head. That could have turned a tragedy.


According to correspondent present at the match everything started with dispute between one of the supporters of the first row next to the subs’ bench and the reserve keeper of Salavat Vitaliy Kolesnik.

After that an enraged spectator got over to the bench and had a hockey stick in his hands with which he struck the goaltender on the head.

Kolesnik was brought off the arena with a transsection and heavy brain concussion and the match was cancelled for twenty minutes.

"It is difficult for me to comment on this game," said the head coach of Salavat Yulaev Vyacheslav Bykov.

"You know, when at the Vancouver-2010 a Georgian luger died I was shocked. And I experience the similar feelings at the moment. We have avoided a tragedy by miracle."

And here it is what Kolesnik himself answered on the matter after he spent an hour testifying to an investigator who is to launch a criminal case.

"I am sorry but my head aches very much so I can answer only a few questions," said the onslaught victim.

"Some supporters were very aggressive from the very beginning. Some players and I tried to calm them down but to no effect."

"Then suddenly my eyes caught sideways that a man approached the bench and took a hockey stick. I managed to dodge the first blow but the second hit me right on the head. What came next I do not remember clearly."

"The doctors put in several stitches and bandaged my head. I put on a baseball cap and returned to the team."

"I am not sure that the hooligan was of sound mind. The doctor of Salavat noticed that his pupils were unnaturally broad."

"Nothing of the kind has ever happened to me before, neither in NHL nor in Russia. By the way according to the doctor I was extremely lucky – had this man struck a bit sideways I would become an invalid."

KASPARAITIS WAITING FOR SKA VS. SALAVAT FINAL

Last weekend it became clear that season is over for SKA defenceman Darius Kasparaitis, as player didn’t manage to gain his best form and won’t play this spring despite desperate efforts to return to ice.


"This decision has been made collectively", Kasparaitis explained. "Pain didn’t disappear, and moreover I missed one year and I am not fully fit for the games now".

"Barry Smith and I discussed the situation and decided that I mustn’t return to ice after long break, especially when the team is well prepared and is in brilliant form".

THE PLAY-OFFS PAIRS ARE NOW KNOWN

The biggest surprise in the last day is that Avtomobilist was able to win SKA therefore taking the last Play-off spot in the eastern conference, since Sibir wasn't able to deal with Vityaz.

So there are the play-off pairs:

West:
SKA - Dinamo Riga
HC MVD - CSKA
Atlant - Lokomotiv
Dynamo Moscow - Spartak

East:
Salavat Yulaev - Avtomobilist
Metallurg Magnitogorsk - Traktor
Ak Bars - Baris
Neftekhimik - Avangard


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3 NEW TROPHIES WERE INTRODUCED TO THE LEAGUE

+ Regular season winner trophy, called the Continental Cup (same function as the Presidents' Trophy in the NHL)

+ Conference West final winner trophy (same function as the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl in the NHL)

+ Conference East final winner trophy (same function as the Prince of Wales Trophy in the NHL)


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KHL 03 Mar 2010 ROUNDUP

Dynamo Riga became the last club in KHL Western Conference to snatch the spot in Gagarin Cup play-offs.


Following surprising failure of Torpedo in home match with Sibir (1:4), confident 5:3 victory over Avangard secured Dynamo Riga with a spot in playoff series. Moreover Riga side displaced CSKA from the seventh place after Moscow club sensationally lost the home clash with Metallurg Novokuznetsk.

Meanwhile the race for the spot in playoffs is still in action in Eastern Conference, as Sibir and Avtomobilist still keep chances to advance to the next stage of competition.

Salavat Yulaev guaranteed the first seed sport in the conference, while Metallurg Magnitogorst is the second and Barys is the sixth.

Spartak – Ak Bars 1:3 (1:0, 0:0, 0:3)

Best players: Badyukov (A); Emelin (A); Kochnev (S)

Avanhard – Dynamo Riga 3:5 (2:2, 0:0, 1:3)

Best players: Hossa (D); Averin (A); Sprukts (D)

Salavat Yulaev – Dynamo Moscow 3:0 (2:0, 1:0, 0:0)

Best players: Kolesnik (S); Radulov (S); Toresen (S)

SKA – Traktor 7:5 (4:1, 0:3, 3:1)

Best players: Rybin (S); Skachkov (T); Trubachev (S)

Lokomotiv – Lada 5:2 (1:0, 2:1, 2:1)

Best players: Gayduchenko (Lok); Vasicek (Lok); Drugov (Lada)

Torpedo – Sibir 1:4 (0:1, 0:2, 1:1)

Best players: Mirnov (S); Klyuchnikov (S); Tarasenko (S)

Severstal – Metallurg Magnitogorsk 1:2 (1:0, 0:2, 0:0)

Best players: Koshechkin (M); Marek (M); Tikhonov (S)

CSKA – Metallurg Magnitogorsk 1:3 (0:0, 0:2, 1:1)

Best players: Bobrovsky (M); Tatarinov (M); Parshin (C)

HC MVD – Neftekhimik 3:2 (1:0, 0:1, 2:1)

Best players: Kokarev (M); Pestushko (N); Garnett (M)

Barys – Dynamo Minsk 5:3 (1:2, 2:0, 2:1)

Best players: Rymarev (B); A.Spiridonov (B); Dallman (B)

Vityaz – Amur 2:1 (1:0, 0:1, 1:0)

Best players: Simon (V); Koznev (V); Borisov (A)

Atlant – Avtomobilist 3:2 SO (0:1, 2:0, 0:1, 0:0, 1:0)

Best players: Zubarev (At); Epachintsev (At); Magogin (Av)


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SEASON OVER FOR ZINOVYEV

Russian national team and Salavat Yulaev forward Sergey Zinovyev will pass through medical surgery .


Zinovyev picked an injury during the Olympic hockey tournament match against Czech Republic. Forward has already returned to Ufa from Vancouver and immediately made for Europe.

Preliminary diagnosis states that player suffered tear of knee ligament. The season is likely to be over for him and he won’t be able to help his club in Gagarin Cup fight.

Meanwhile Salavat Yulaev defenceman Oleg Tverdovsky has shaken off his injury. He is 100% ready for participation in the last games of the regular championship.


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HC LOKOMOTIV APPOINTS VOROBYEV

Pyotr Vorobyev has been appointed new head coach of HC Lokomotiv on Saturday.

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl have sacked Kari Heikkila and appointed Lada former head coach Pyotr Vorobyev. His returned to Yaroslavl nine years later became a surprise for many hockey experts and fans.

"I spoke to Yaroslavl club’s management several days ago", said Vorobyev. "I guessed that they would invite me to Lokomotiv, because the team is not very successful this season. I discussed possibility of my comeback to Yaroslavl only with my wife".

"On Tuesday I will hold the first training with youth team and in a couple of days we will begin preparations for the regular season and playoffs with full squad".

"Our main target for the rest part of the season is to achieve result, but it’s necessary to understand that results not always depends on the coach. At first we need to take maximum points in rest three matches".

ZHAMNOV TO RETURN TO THE ICE

The Olympic champion-1992 and current general manager of Vityaz Alexey Zhamnov is set to return to professional hockey.


The 39-year-old Alexey Zhamnov plans to hold his first training session with Vityaz tomorrow.

"I am highly disappointed with the fact that we had been displayed as initiators of the ice fight with Avangard", Zhamnov underlined in an interview to sport press. "It’s wrong and I want to make people have positive point of view about Vityaz".

"To begin with, I will hold several trainings with the main team to understand my current form. After that most probably I will sign the contract with the club until the end of the season and start my career in KHL".

"If Zhamnov plays in the KHL championship, he will become the second star veteran this season, who returned to ice after long break".

RAMO: CHANGE OF PLACES IS VERY USEFUL FOR GOALIES

Avangard Finnish goalkeeper Karri Ramo has been voted the first-choice goalie of the Jagr’s Team at the coming All-Star Match..


Smiling Finnin goalkeeper became one of the main break-through of the second season of the Kontinental Hockey League. Ahead of the season many hockey experts didn’t believe in Ramo, however his performance impressed everyone. So when hockey fans were choosing the starting lineup of the Jagr’s Team at the All Stars Match, Ramo was beyond comparison.

"Thanks to supporters’ votes I will go to the All Stars Game weekend", Ramo told sport press. "I will play at the new arena in Minsk, which is said to resemble home arena of Minnesota".

"And I can also congratulate Finnish players of Dynamo with their move to the new hockey palace. When we played against them away in September, we had to play at old arena, which was similar to the Finnish skating rink where I used to train and play hockey when I was in junior team".

"It’s useful to search for something new at my age and I always need emotional boost from change of places. When you come to another city, walk along its streets and see interesting places and then come to the ice without any signs of tiredness. This relaxation is very important for goalkeepers".

"Level of Russian hockey is very high, almost of NHL level. Atmosphere in Omsk resembled me Canada. The city is far from big cities and one of the most popular entertaining is Avangard home matches. The full stands and supporters, who perfectly understand hockey".

"All opponents create almost equal kind of problems to goalkeepers, but the grands from the Eastern Conference are more difficult. I was very impressed by Ufa’s Salavat Yulaev and it’s good that my partners warned me before our head-to-head clash that I would be ready for super aggressiveness. That match is likely the most difficult for me in Russia".

"I was eager to play hockey and be number one goalkeeper in a strong team, and Avangard managers promised me it during our negotiations".

"It’s painful to be the third-choice goalkeeper in your team at my age. I wouldn’t say that I was weaker than American goalies in Tampa, but coaches trusted me less because my nationality or European playing style".

"I didn’t want to sign new contract with the Lightning, and everything else was not so important. Moreover other Finnish players told me a lot of interesting tings about Russian league and Omsk club".

EPACHINTSEV: NO CLAIMS TO DYNAMO

Vadim Epachintsev became one of the most sensational exchanges of the season when he swapped Dynamo Moscow for Atlant.


"No doubt I am happy to move to Atlant", said Epachintsev to sport press. "I have already played in the Moscow region club and I know that it is very popular among hockey supporters".

"I moved from CSKA to Dynamo with my friend Oleg Saprykin and we hoped that we would be in group of leaders in the team, get more time on powerplay. Thanks to Sergey Kotov we felt that he trusted us, but unfortunately the club’s results were not satisfying at the beginning of the season and he had to leave".

"When Khomutov headed Dynamo, Oleg and I had little time on powerplay, but I have no claims to the head coach".

KULYASH MOVED TO AVANGARD OMSK

HC CSKA exchanged defenseman Denis Kulyash to Avangard to acquire Filipp Metlyuk and Evgeniy Kurbatov.


"Sergey Nemchinov said that he needs younger player, while I am considered a veteran at 26", said Kulyash. "But I have no grudges to CSKA. I will remember that I became a real hockey player in this team and found many friends there. It’s a pity that I didn’t manage to win medals with CSKA, but I will try to do it with Avangard".

"I am ashamed with years spent in CSKA. I think I did everything possible to help the team play as good as possible. I believe that club management doesn’t have any claims to my work".

Sergey Nemchinov also commented on Kulyash’s move to CSKA yesterday.

"It’s not a secret that Kulyash is attacking defenseman, while we need defenseman, who is concentrated on defence", said CSKA head coach. "We think that Filipp Metlyuk fully corresponds to our requirements".

"He is an experienced player, who won the Russian medals twice with Lada. That is why we exchanged Kulyash to Avangard".

"Metlyuk will debut in CSKA in the next match in St. Petersburg".

HUDLER: KHL IS VERY DIFFICULT LEAGUE

Leader of HC Dynamo Jiri Hudler answered sport press questions after the match against Spartak on Saturday.


Jiri Hudler, who sensationally slipped out of the national team’s Olympic roster, didn’t shine on Saturday evening when Spartak grabbed a shootout victory over Dynamo 4-3.

"KHL is very difficult league and we can’t play without mistakes all the time", said Hudler. "It’s necessary to understand that I am not a machine which scores goals and which must do it in all games".

"I came here to play hockey, but not with the thought to score 30 goals in one season".

"Spartak is not the easiest opponent, but I think that we begin to create a real team. Players got used to each other and understood Khomutov’s requirements. I think his coaching system begins to work".

NAZAROV COMMENTED ON THE ICE BATTLE

HC Traktor head coach Andrey Nazarov commented on the scandalous fight on ice between Vityaz and Avangard players.


"To be honest I a not interested in statistics of penalties now", Nazarov said. "Traktor’s results are very poor, and first of all I am occupied with thoughts how to improve the situation ahead of playoffs".

"To my mind the key factor was difference between Russian and North American hockey psychologies. For example, in Russia violation of red line during pre-match warming-up is not considered as a crime, while it is a real challenge fore Canadians. They don’t keep themselves in control when such things happen".

"One more important moment is that NHL players exclude situations when star of the team and the whole league is challenged by the opposite team’s fighter. That is why when Verot attacked Jagr, the fight was inevitable".

KALYUZHNY: WE ARE MORE SELF-CONFIDENT NOW

Dynamo Moscow man Alexey Kalyuzhny scored the winning goal to lead his club to victory over CSKA.


"This victory became the eighth consecutive one for Dynamo", said the club’s vice-captain Alexey Kalyuzhny. "Of course this fact makes us more self-confident, because we lacked it at the beginning of the season".

"Now we play more calmly and even despite we were behind in this game, we managed to snatch victory".

"Both teams played very cautiously during two periods, since nobody wanted to be the first to concede goals".

"We played against CSKA with difficulty this season and suffered two losses, but I can’t say that we were too angry, we just wanted to win".

"I don’t think that my partners Komarov and Umark wanted to disable Parshin. Denis is one of CSKA leaders, and it’s natural when players challenge leaders more than others".