CBA roundup
• The lockout has eaten up a total of 179 games -- 97 preseason games and most recently 82 regular-season games.
• On Tuesday, it was reported that the longer the lockout goes, the more likely the NHLPA is to go after the salary cap in negotiations, as in trying to get rid of it. If that happens, then all bets are off the table. The owners could respond by going after guaranteed contracts.
You don't think there would be just a slight uptick in that player's performance in the middle of a four- or six-year contract if there was the chance come, say, July 1, the owner signing his paycheque had the option of walking away from the deal and letting the player become an unrestricted free agent? (Toronto Sun)
• Of course, should the talk about nixing the salary cap and ending guaranteed contracts come up, we're looking at a long lockout.
Can a 24-month lockout be possible? You bet. What the game will look like and what will be left to fight over when that is said and done is unknown. But don't think it can't happen. (Winnipeg Free-Press)
• One reason why we could be looking at such a long and crushing lockout ahead of us is the two sides can't agree on how to attack the hockey-related revenue split. The owners simply want a reduction in the players' share while they have rejected the players' suggestion of more revenue sharing to help each other out.
By their own admission, the owners need each other to have a healthy league -- they are so stubborn about keeping the Phoenix Coyotes from moving, they have paid the team's bills for three years -- but they seem to have no interest in creating a system that would insure the NHL gets healthy and stays that way. (Globe & Mail)
• Are you still having a hard time believing that we're even going through this again? The answer is probably yes and no. Yes because they are just stupid to allow it to have gotten this bad, but no because this was so predictable. Just another case of the NHL testing patience of the fans, but this time they might not like the response as much. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• Could the lockout actually benefit a team like the Nashville Predators? Consider this seems to be a fight for the "little guys," then maybe it will still be worth it. At some point, though, there is probably a point of diminishing returns. (The Tennessean)
• One unforeseen casualty of a longer lockout that wipes out the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich.? It could delay Washington, DC's own designs on getting the Winter Classic. Ted Starkey says the vision of announcing the 2014 U.S. Olympic team in the shadows of the Capitol is getting blurrier by the day.
The Országos Bajnokság I is the highest level hockey league in Hungary. It consists of 5 teams for the 2011–2012 season. 4 of the teams play in the MOL Liga and 1 (Alba Volán Székesfehérvár) in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. After the formation of the MOL Liga, the OB I returned to having only Hungarian teams. The regular season coincides with the games played between the Hungarian teams in the MOL Liga, with the games between the Hungarian teams in the MOL Liga also counting towards the national championship. The best three teams advance to the play-offs of OB I, where Alba Volán Székesfehérvár joins them as the fourth team.
Teams
1 - DAB-Docler - Dunaujvaros
2 - Ferencvarosi TC - Budapest
3 - Miskolci JJSE - Miskolc
4 - Alba Volan Szekesfehervar - Szekesfehervar
5 - Ujpesti TE - Budapest
Capital City Derbies
- HC CSKA Moscow vs. HC Spartak Moscow
- HC Spartak Moscow vs. HC Dynamo Moscow
- HC Dynamo Moscow vs. HC CSKA Moscow
Every year, sports news outlets even calculate who the Moscow Champion is, based on games just between these three teams. As of the second season of the KHL (2009–10), all the Moscow teams are in one Division, making rivalry matches more common. Due to hockey being less popular than football and other sports in Moscow, teams based there usually suffer in attendance. Capital city derbies, however, are always attended far better than other games.
Moscow Oblast Derby
- Atlant Moscow Oblast vs. Vityaz Chekhov
Two Capitals Derby
A continuation of the general rivalry between St. Petersburg and Moscow, this rivalry encompasses SKA against any of the moscow teams, although not the teams in Moscow Oblast.
- SKA Saint Petersburg vs. HC Spartak Moscow
- SKA Saint Petersburg vs. HC Dynamo Moscow
- SKA Saint Petersburg vs. HC CSKA Moscow
Tatarstan Derby
- Ak Bars Kazan vs. Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
Not as seriously regarded by Ak Bars as by Neftekhimik, this rivalry nonetheless is significant in that Ak Bars has been known to poach players and coaches (Vladimir Krikunov was poached just before the 2011-12 KHL season following Zinetula Bilyaletdinov's hiring by the Russian National team. Ak Bars Kazan is regarded as the 'older brother' of Tatarstan hockey, and the rivalry reflect a sibling mentality.
Ural Derby
- Traktor Chelyabinsk vs. Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Siberian Derby
- HC Sibir Novosibirsk vs. Avangard Omsk
- HC Sibir Novosibirsk vs. Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Organizational rivalries
Army Derby
- HC CSKA Moscow vs. SKA Saint Petersburg
Both teams in Soviet times belonged to the Army organization - (C)SKA stands for (Central'niy) Sportivniy Klub Armii, (Central) Sports Club of the Army.
Dinamo Derby
Not as prominent as the Army rivalry, sometimes games between the Dynamo Sports Club teams are referred to as a rivalry. Fans also sometimes treat the inter-Dynamo games with special attention. However unlike the other two, the new incarnation of Dinamo Riga does not directly come from the organization but rather only took the identity of the meanwhile abolished Soviet era incarnation of Dinamo Riga.
- Dinamo Riga vs. HC Dinamo Minsk
- HC Dinamo Minsk vs. HC Dynamo Moscow
- HC Dynamo Moscow vs. Dinamo Riga
Dynamo Moscow and Dinamo Riga have met in all three years of the KHL playoffs (if the series against HC MVD is included), with Moscow winning two series so far, and Riga only one.
Steel Derby
Although not an organization, these two teams share the same theme.
- Metallurg Novokuznetsk vs. Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Also referred to as the "Metallurg Derby", these two teams are located relatively close to each other (by Siberian measures).
Divisional rivalries
Permanent divisions were first introduced to the KHL organizational structure in the second season, 2009-2010 (in the first season, the divisions were based on performance rather than geography, and were designed to be fluid. Starting in the second season, divisions became geographic in order to cut travel costs). As of yet, notable rivalries due only to divisions have not really developed, although sports reporters always pay higher attention to games between the top two teams.
Play-off rivalries
- SKA Saint Petersburg vs. Dinamo Riga
Developed after a hard-fought series between the two teams in the first round of playoffs in the 2009-10 KHL season. SKA was a stacked team, with the highest aspirations, while Dinamo Riga was considered an outsider. Nonetheless, Dinamo Riga was able to defeat SKA in only four games.
- Lokomotiv Yaroslavl vs. Ak Bars Kazan
Based on the first season's 2009 Gagarin Cup Finals, these two teams are also consistently among the best in the league, and represent a sort of East-West clash, as well as final rematch.
Cat Derby
- Barys Astana vs. Ak Bars Kazan
The name of the rivalry comes from the names of the team - both refer to snow leopards. Ak Bars has played Barys in the first playoff round of the first three KHL seasons, and defeated them every year without losing a game.
Big Green Derby
- Ak Bars Kazan vs. Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Also can be referred to as the Derby of Champions, these are the first two teams to have won the Gagarin Cup. Both teams have green uniforms, are from autonomous republics, and have NHL-caliber players, making the games always a much watched and commented on affair.
Other rivalries
- Avangard Omsk vs. Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Two of the best teams from the Russian Superleague era, these two teams are still considered "Grands" and their matches are highlighted by the news when they occur.
- Vityaz Chekhov vs. Avangard Omsk
A lot of tragedy and aggression surrounds this new and fresh KHL rivalry. In the first season of the KHL's existence, young Avangard superstar Alexei Cherepanov collapsed and died during a game against Vityaz. A year later, the a mass brawl between the two teams occurred during a game in January in Chekhov. The game had to be stopped and was not rescheduled (both teams received a 5-0 loss), as too many players from each term were penalized, and the KHL record for most penalty minutes in a game was set at 707.
Khimik Derby (Defunct, also known as Yellow-Blue derby)
- Khimik Voskresensk vs. Atlant Moscow Oblast
Before relocating to Mytishchi, Atlant used to be known as Khimik and play in Voskresensk. After relocation, Voskresensk fielded a new team called Khimik in the Russian minor leagues. In the first season of the KHL, Khimik Voskresensk was invited to join the Russian Major League after it won the league and original invitee Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg could not fulfill its financial obligations. Not active since Khimik dropped out of the league after the first season due to financial issues (although it theoretically still holds KHL membership and could rejoin if finances allow). Most fans consider Khimik Voskresensk the true heir of Voskresensk hockey, and this rivalry was regarded as both a Moscow Oblast Derby, and an Organizational Derby.
Former Teams
1 - HC MVD Balashikha - based in Moscow Oblast, 2010 was their second and last season in the KHL.
2 - HC Lev Poprad - Played just 1 season in 2010-11. Based in Poprad, Slovakia.
3 - Lada Togliatti - Played just 2 seasons, dropping down to the VHL in 2010.
Potential KHL Expansions
1 - Hockey Milano Rossoblu - Milan, Italy - 2012-13 Postponed.
2 - Helvetics - Huttwil, Switzerland - 2014-15
3 - KHL Medvescak - Zagreb, Croatia - Unknown
4 - HK Poprad - Poprad, Slovakia - 2012-13 (wanted to join)
5 - Torpedo Leipzig - Leipzig, Germany - Unknown
6 - HC Vladivostok - Vladivostok, Russia - Unknown (Building an Arena)
7 - HC Sochi - Sochi, Russia - 2013
8 - Rubin Tyumin - Tyumin, Russia - Unknown (Needs new Arena)
9 - Yunost Minsk - Minsk, Belarus - Unknown
10 - HC Berkut - Kiev, Ukraine - Unknown (Needs new Arena)
Chernyshev
1 - HC Barys Astana - based in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Astana Leopards were formed in 1999 and began play in the 2001–2002 season. The team played in the Kazakhstani Championship until 2007 before moving to the Russian Supreme League. After spending the 2007–2008 season in the Supreme League, Barys Astana applied to join and were accepted into the Kontinental Hockey League.
2 - HC Amur Khabarovsk Located in the Russian Far East, the team takes its name from the Amur River, and plays its home games at the Platinum Arena.
3 - HC Metallurg Novokuznetsk are a team from Siberia based in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia.
4 - HC Sibir Novosibirsk - In 1947, the enthusiastic and popular ice hockey writer, Ivan Ivanovich Tsiba, brought the first "Canadian" stick to Novosibirsk. During a break at the city’s bandy finals, he showed their players and spectators what ice hockey was. The following season, Novosibirsk Dynamo ceased bandy operations and became an ice hockey club.
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5 - Avangard Omsk Oblast - From Siberia, Avangard, which translates to Vanguard in English, was established in 1950. The logo features a stylised hawk. The club has changed names several times, including such titles as Spartak, Aeroflot, Kauchuk, Khimik, and Shinnik. Avangard Omsk won the Russian Superleague in 2004, which qualified them for the inaugural IIHF European Champions Cup. They were the inaugural winners of that competition, beating Karpat Oulu from Finland. Russian oil company Gazprom-Neft partly finances the team, but the team is not owned by Roman Abramovich, the majority of its budget comes from province tax money. Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Sibir Novosibirsk, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Ak Bars Kazan and, to a lesser extent, Vityaz Chekhov are considered to be Avangard's fiercest rivals in the KHL.
6 - Salavat Yulaev Ufa - based in Ufa in the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia. They were formed in 1957.
Kharlamov Division
1 - Traktor Chelyabinsk - Based in Russia, they were formed in 1947 and they play at the Traktor Sport Palace
2 - Ak Bars Kazan - based in Kazan, Tatarstan. The team's name, Ak Bars, is derived from the official symbol of Tatarstan, translated as Snow Leopard, a traditional symbol which has its origins with the Barsil, one of the Tatar tribes
3 - HC Yugra - Straight from its foundation in 2006, Yugra has dressed competitive teams and had lot of success. After their first club season, Yugra was granted professional status and moved from the Vtorya Liga into the Pervaya Liga. Their stay in the third level also lasted just one season, as Yugra won the championship for 2007-08. Another promotion followed, to the Russia's second-tier Russian Major League, where they won the league's championship in both seasons played. They replaced HC Lada Togliatti in 2010.
4 - Metallurg Magnitogorsk - based in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast. They also competed in the Champions Hockey League (CHL), losing the 2008-09 Season championship round to ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League A. In 2008 they play and lost the Victoria Cup to the New York Rangers.
5 - HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk based in Nizhnekamsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan. Founded in 1968 they are called the Petrochemists.
6 - Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg basedYekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia. They replaced Khimik Voskresensk in the KHL in 2009.
Tarasov Division
1 - Severstal Cherepovets are based in Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast, Russia. Founded in 1956, the club was originally known as Stroitel Cherepovets. The name was changed to Metallurg Cherepovets in 1959 and to its present name, Severstal, after the steel company that owns the club, in 1994.
2 - HC Dinamo Minsk - The origins of the club begin in 1976, where the original Dinamo played 5 seasons in the Soviet Top Ice Hockey League, finishing as high as 10th in 1989/90. Dinamo was renamed as Tivali Minsk in 1993 and were crowned champions of the Belarusian Championship 4 times in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 2000. Tivali disbanded in 2000 paving the way for Dinamo to be re-founded in 2003, taking the name of the historic club, and won the championship and Belarus Cup twice. On March 26, 2008, the KHL confirmed the Belarusian club's inclusion in the Bobrov Division.
3 - HC CSKA Moscow - Central Sports Club of the Army. It is referred to in the West as "Central Red Army" or the "Red Army Team" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army, popularly known as the Red Army. HC CSKA Moscow won more Soviet championships and European cups than any other team in history.
4 - HC Spartak Moscow - Part of the Spartak Moscow sports club, they were established in 1946.
They have won the Soviet Championship 4 times, and have also had European-level success in the Spengler Cup, which they have won 5 times. Unfortunately for its fans, the financial state of the team was becoming worse and worse since the beginning of 2006. After the season, a Russian businessman and huge Spartak fan, Vadim Melkov, volunteered to find suitable sponsorship for his favorite team. After negotiations, the Government of Moscow agreed to cover all of team debts. Some preliminary agreements about team sale were achieved as well. However, Melkov died during the S7 Airlines plane crash of July 9, 2006. All the deal proposals were cancelled. After a month of struggling to improve the financial situation, it was decided by Spartak management to disband the team for a year.
5 - Atlant Moscow Oblast - founded on December 20, 1953, under the name of Khimik (1953–2008) in Voskresensk. 3 Bronze Medal results between 1965 and 1984 were capitulated in 1989 when the team achieved silver under prestigious head coach Vladimir Vasiliyev, a major accomplishment for a team from a small town. More impressive is how much successful homegrown talent has come out of the Khimik system, withs names including future Stanley Cup winners such as Igor Larionov and Valeri Kamensky. In the spring of 1998, the status of the team changed. Taking place on their 45th anniversary, during the 2005–06 season, the team relocated within the Moscow Oblast, from Voskresensk to Mytishchi. Following this, the team changed its name to Atlant, prior to its inclusion in the KHL. Their new team logo features a Central Asian Shepherd Dog.
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6 - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, used to play their homes games at Konovalenko Sports Palace, named after Viktor Konovalenko - one of the most famous Soviet goaltenders who played for Torpedo. They now play at Trade Union Sport Palace.
7 - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl - The name of the team is derived from its owner, Russian Railways, the national railroad operator. On September 7, 2011, a plane carrying the team to a KHL game in Minsk crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all of the team's roster (plus four players from the Loko MHL Junior squad) and coaching staff except for two who were not on the flight, forward Maxim Zyuzyakin and goaltending coach Jorma Valtonen. The tragedy forced Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to cancel their participation in the 2011-12 season. The club instead joined the VHL, the second top ice hockey league in Russia after the KHL, in December 2011 for the remainder of the season and automatically qualified for the VHL playoffs. Also, they were allowed to use more than 6 non-Russian players in the KHL squad.
