News archive

22 Dec 2011, 22:23 | Svartvadet retires

Modo's Per Svartvadet announced his retirement today. He hasn't played this season due to an inflammatory bowel disease and as the treatment hasn't helped him he has now realised that he can't return to play at elite level.

22 Dec 2011, 00:22 | Fee for cold water in locker room

Unusual episode in Italian Serie C League: Aosta Gladiators team was fined with 300 euro after the game against Dobbiaco because showers in referees' and teams' locker rooms were cold.

21 Dec 2011, 23:31 | Andrei Kirdyashov is new Sary Arka coach

Russian Andrei Kirdyashov, 45, was appointed as new Sary Arka Karaganda head coach. He coached Neftyanik Leninogorsk, Yuznhy Ural Orsk and last season Krylya Sovetov in VHL

21 Dec 2011, 14:30 | Janne Niinimaa at Rapperswil until end of season

Rapperswil Jona decided to extend contract of Finnish defender Janne Niinimaa, originally signed for one month, until end of season.

21 Dec 2011, 14:18 | Russia beats USA in WJC preparation

Russia won 6-3 against USA at the Enmax Centrium in Red Deer, Alberta in a friendly game to prepare upcoming WJC in Edmonton. Barrie Colts' Ivan Telegin with three assists and CSKA Moscow Nikita Kucherov - two goals - were the stars.
'While we're disappointed with the loss, this is just a step in our evaluation process' said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. 'We will continue to work to prepare for the tournament'

21 Dec 2011, 14:11 | Sydney Crosby named Youth Olympic Games Ambassador

The International Olympic Committee announced that Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby was named Youth Olympic Games Ambassador for the first edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck from 13 to 22 January 2012. Other athletes named are Korean skater Kim An, skiers Lindsey Vonn (U.S.) and Benjamin Raich (Austria)and freestylers Kevin Rolland(France).

'It's important that young athletes have the proper guidance and support in their early years,' Crosby said. 'I have always tried to lead by example and be a positive role model for people. I hope my involvement in the first Winter Youth Olympic Games can help inspire the athletes and motivate them to be the best they can be in everything they do, not only during competition.'

20 Dec 2011, 20:15 | Moldova can enter a team in next MHL

During a meeting between Director of Development MHL Sergei Yakovlev and the Moldovan Minister of Youth and Sports Ion Ciobanu was discussed the possibility of the entry of a Moldovan team into MHL.

'It is gratifying that in Moldova the attention for the sport is growing - said Yakovlev. 'The MHL is an Open International League. If a club has the necessary infrastructure, an arena, qualified coaches and administrative staff and financial resources to participate in the championship, we'll be happy to see a new club in the MHL family. All the procedures of entry into the league are transparent and simple, so we can expect to see a Moldovan team in the coming season'

20 Dec 2011, 19:46 | Belarus Open League will change format

Belarus Federation Executive Committee approved new format for next Belarus Open League. Eleven teams will played four round robins, then will be divided in two groups: the first six secure a place in the playoffs and will play two more rounds to determine higher position for a final knock-out round. The first two teams of second group also will gain right to play playoffs.
There is an option for the entrance of a team from Lithuania, probably Baltika Vilnius, currently competing in MHL-B. The approved format is valid just for next season

20 Dec 2011, 15:53 | Zankovets new assistant coach at Avangard

Former Belarus National team coach Eduard Zankovets, 42, was appointed as new Raimo Summanen´s assistant coach at Avangard Omsk

20 Dec 2011, 15:26 | Bofors IK changes name

Bofors IK, a top team in Sweden's second tier HockeyAllsvenskan yesterday decided to change it's name BIK Karlskoga.

20 Dec 2011, 09:04 | Canada beats Finland in WJC preparation

In the first game before the upcoming World Juniors Canada defeated Finland 3-1 in Calgary. Teemu Pulkinen opened the scoring for Finland but Canada turned the game around with two goals in the second period

20 Dec 2011, 05:05 | 2012 European Trophy with 32 teams

The next European Trophy will pass from current 24 teams to a new formula with 32 participants. New teams to get in are Swiss CP Bern, HC Fribourg-Gottéron, le EV Zug and ZSC Lions, German ERC Ingolstadt and Hamburg Freezers, Swedeish Brynäs IF and Finnish JYP Jyväskylä.

20 Dec 2011, 04:16 | New arena in Krasnoyarsk

Tuesday VHL game between Sokol Krasnoyarsk and Rubin Tyumen will be played in new Sever Arena, built in Krasnoyarsk inside a multipurpose sports complex costed 1 billion and 464 million rubles.
The new arena, with a capacity of 2600 spectators, replaced old small Fakel Ice Palace

Director of Sokol Denis Lugovik commented: 'As hockey club we are waiting this moment for a long time. Now we can't wait to enter on the new ice. Our club has finally its own house, its base, where we can better prepare for the league'

20 Dec 2011, 01:29 | Rene Bourque suspended two games

The NHL suspended Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque for two games for his hit on Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook on Sunday.

19 Dec 2011, 22:02 | Russian Junior team avoided a plane crash

The flight Moscow-Zurich, which took Russian U-18 team avoided a plane crash. Due to the hurricane in the Central Europe pilots decided to land the plane in Munich, but before a landing plane got into a turbulence zone and began going down fastly. The pilots manage to land the plane without any damage. The team went to Zurich by bus. In Switzerland they lost first game and won the second in the overtime. At 20 and 21 December Russia U-18 team will play against Czech Republic.

"It was a nervous situation on the plane, when we heard a strong engine sound, we stand up until the landing. To Czech Republic we also went by plane," Russian forward Bogdan Yakimov said.