KHL Medvescak Wins Biasca Preseason Tournament

The Biasca Preseason Tournament took place this Friday and Saturday from Biasca, Switzerland.  Saryarka Karagrand (VHL runner-ups), NLA team Ambri-Piotta, HK Metallurg NK and Medveščak Zagreb were the four participants.

On Friday, Medveščak defeated Saryarka 5-1. Jonathan Cheechoo, a major signing for the new club, scored within the first two minutes of the game.  New defenseman and former Chicago Blackhawk Steve Montador added his first goal in a Bears uniform just a few minute later.  Former NHLer Hugh Jessiman also notched a goal, as well as former Medveščak EBEL player Mark Popovic and young Slovenian player Gal Koren scored as well.  Ledbedev would score the only goal for Saryarka at the end of the 2nd period.  

Metallurg NK would have a more difficult time with Ambri-Piotta.  The Swiss club would take an early first period lead, but would eventually lose to the revamped KHL club 3-2.  Finnish forward Marko Antilla would get the game winner and new goalkeeper Nico Hovinen, also from Finland, would keep Ambri-Piotta scoreless for the final 40 minutes.  White and C. Zurkirchen would get the two goals for Ambri-Piotta.  Though against an inferior opponent on paper, this was an important win for Metallurg as they lost their top 11 scorers in the offseason and had to struggle from behind for the win.

The Biasca Tournament put up KHL clubs Medveščak and Metallurg NK against each other for the championship on Saturday.  The teams would keep it tied at 2-2 through the first 20 minutes of the match.   Andrew Murray and Mark Popovic would score for Medveščak in the first and McLean and Semen would score for Metallurg.  From there, the expansion club from Zagreb would take over and score three straight goals.  Boyd Kane, Matt Murley and EBEL carryover Dario Kostovic would score the final three for final 5-2. Cheechoo would finish with two assists for three points in the tournament.  So far this offseason, Medveščak has two wins and one loss against future KHL opponents, with no games yet played on their smaller North American-sized home ice. For a team considered to be full of "grinders", they are averaging 4.42 goals per game over the first seven preseason matches.

Saryarka defeated Amber-Piotta in overtime by a score of 2-1 to grab the consolation game.

Medveščak will complete their preseason warm-up on 30 August against former EBEL foe Graz 99.

Tim Bourcier is credentialed press for KHL Medveščak and writer for Eurohockey.com and The Hockey Writers.  Follow him on Twitter @bourciertm and read his blog Bears Hockey Blog. 

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