The 2019/20 season is officially underway! On Saturday, Admiral played the first pre-season game of the year, taking on VHL outfit Yermak in front of 1,270 fans.

Just back from vacation and fresh from last week’s medical checks, Admiral’s players were straight out onto the ice at the Fetisov Arena. This test was against the club’s VHL farm club, Yermak Angarsk. The game was described as an exhibition encounter but turned out to be a competitive affair: even in the first period there was time for the players to trade blows on the ice, with new Admiral signing Martin Bakos in the thick of the battle. Another debutant, goalie Juho Olkinuora also made a positive impression as he kept the scoreboard blank in the opening session.

However, the Finn had no answer in the second period when visiting forward Matvei Tymchenko scored twice to put Yermak in control of the game. Admiral’s only reply came from Denis Vikharev. The home team enjoyed the better of the play, firing in 31 shots on goal, but fell to defeat in its opening game. The teams meet again on Sunday for a second game.

Sergei Svetlov, head coach, Admiral

We made mistakes. There are some question marks over our defense. Twice, our defensemen left gaps in the center. But we can work on that.

The guys still aren’t fully on top of our tactics. We didn’t make enough transitions from defense to offense and vice versa. We’ve not had much time, we’re still rusty. Today’s opponent was a bit fresher; we’ve only just returned to training. We wanted to try things out, we wanted to look at things: that’s why we weren’t perfect today, we didn’t have time to look at everything in training. I was happy that we only practiced with our special teams for the first time this morning and we already have two units that look quite good.

We create a lot of chances today, but their goalie won them the game. That’s hockey. At this stage I don’t think we’re ready to show what we can do. The next game should be better and more interesting.

Markus Ljungh, forward, Admiral

We started slowly but when we got into the game, we were much quicker. It felt like if we had a bit more time, we could have saved the game. Their goalie did really well. We needed to put more traffic in front of him, take away his eyes. Hopefully tomorrow we can do that better.

Denis Vikharev, forward, Admiral

It’s frustrating to lose our first game. Maybe we’re not quite at peak form yet, but that’s no excuse. We should have gone out and won today. We’ll be better tomorrow. We need to find our rhythm and get a feel for our game. We had plenty of chances, but our finishing was poor. We lacked composure, we rushed at things. We need to work on everything.

Admiral Vladivostok 1 Yermak Angarsk 2 (0-0, 0-2, 1-0)

Goals: 0-1, Tymchenko (Shikun, Lozhkin; 20:17 PP); 0-2 Tymchenko (Rayenko, Vorobyov; 28:50 PP); 1-2 Vikharev (Bakos, Bobryashov; 56:48).

Goalies: Olkinuora (22/24) – Nikitin (30/31)

Admiral played its second warm-up game of the summer when it took on farm club Yermak Angarsk in Vladivostok. After suffering a 1-2 loss on Saturday, Sergei Svetlov’s team bounced back with a 4-0 victory.

Yesterday the teams began their 2019/20 campaign and the KHL outfit suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of its VHL affiliate. After that loss, Svetlov admitted that his team made errors on defense and lacked chemistry on the ice. However, it took just 24 hours for his players to start putting that right. The coaching staff set up some new lines and swapped goalies for the second game: Juho Olkinuora was replaced by Anton Krasotkin between the piping. Three imports, Martin Bakos, Markus Ljungh and Shawn Lalonde all featured again, although the club’s fifth foreign signing, Adam Almqvist, is yet to arrive in Russia. In total, there were five new players on the roster compared with the previous day.

However, it wasn’t the imports who made an immediate impact. Instead, Admiral rookie Ivan Lapshin made a perfect start in his first game for the club. The 20-year-old opened the scoring in the third minute. The host could not keep up that fast start but remained largely in control of the game.

A couple of minutes before the intermission Admiral extended its lead on the power play. Stanislav Kalashnikov’s shot dropped for Vasily Streltsov to score. In the 26^th minute another rookie found the net. This time it was 19-year-old defenseman Timur Akhiyarov, well placed to take a Kirill Kozhevnikov pass, who fired into the open corner of the net and effectively end the game as a contest.

To wrap it up, Alexander Mereskin broke through early in the third and almost ended up in the net along with the puck. The video review saw no infringement and the score moved to 4-0. There was one more goal incident, but a possible fifth marker was whistled off when the video review showed goalie interference.

Admiral Vladivostok 4 Yermak Angarsk 0 (2-0, 1-0, 1-0)

Goals: 1-0 Lapshin (Tkachuk, Akhiyarov, 2:47); 2-0 V Streltsov (Kalashnikov, 17:59 PP); 3-0 Akhiyarov (Kalashnikov, Kozhevnikov, 25:22); 4-0 Mereskin (Delnov, Klimchuk 42:20).

Goalies: Krasotkin – Nikitin

Sergei Svetlov, head coach, Admiral

I’m happy that we won today and even happier that we did not allow a goal. Anton Krasotkin deserves a lot of credit for that. We played without errors, even when we were shorthanded, and today the whole pattern of the game was different. We took the opposition apart, we could see where we needed to do more. We didn’t have a lot of time but we worked on a couple of things and we played a good game. All the guys worked hard and the kids gave a good account of themselves. But we’re still at the start of our preparations. We’re still a bit rusty, our speed of decision-making isn’t what it might be. All that is still to come.

Anton Krasotkin, goalie, Admiral

I couldn’t say today’s game was physically tough, but it was harder mentally. I hadn’t played for a long time, today was my first game, so I needed time to get my rhythm, to get a taste for the game again. We’ll keep working further.

Compiled with the help of the Admiral press office.

News of Vyacheslav Voynov’s move to Avangard dominated the week’s transfer tales, while Admiral was the first KHL team to play an exhibition game as preparations step up for the start of the 2019/20 season.

Voynov back in action

Vyacheslav Voynov– Stanley Cup winner, Gagarin Cup winner, Olympic Champion – is set to return to the KHL after missing the whole of last season. The defenseman completed a move from SKA to Avangard, where he’ll be hoping to help Bob Hartley’s team go one better than last season’s run to the Grand Final. His return to action in the KHL follows the decision last April to suspend him from the NHL for a further year following his arrest for domestic violence in Oct. 2014. The 29-year-old did not play last season as he focused on an appeal against his NHL ban.

Latest transfer news

Loko’s Edmonton connection

Lokomotiv’s decision to bring in Oilers hero Craig MacTavish as head coach looks to be the motivating force behind the arrival of forward Ty Rattie at the club. The 26-year-old right winger spent the last two seasons in Edmonton, and 2018/19 was his first full season in the NHL. That left him just shy of 100 games in the big league, but in the minors he’s been a major figure. In the WHL he won the title and was named playoff MVP; in the AHL he’s had two All-Star calls. And, of course, his two years with the Oilers brought him to the attention of his new head coach, who had a director’s role in Edmonton at that time.

Szczechura moves on

Paul Szczechura is one of the KHL’s longest-serving imports – and the 33-year-old Ontario native is preparing for his eighth season here with a new club. During the week he confirmed a move from Traktor to Torpedo, ending a three-year stint in Chelyabinsk that brought 107 points. However, just 15 of them were scored last season, suggesting that it might be time for a change of scenery. Torpedo becomes Szczechura’s fifth KHL team (he’s also played for Lev Prague, Dinamo Minsk and Dinamo Riga) and hopefully Nizhny Novgorod will see the center return to form.

First action

The weekend saw the first exhibition games of the pre-season as Admiral got the campaign started in Vladivostok. The Sailors played back-to-back games against VHL farm club Yermak Angarsk as head coach Sergei Svetlov took an early look at how his roster is shaping up. The first game produced a surprise as Yermak sneaked a 2-1 verdict, but Sunday’s return game saw Admiral respond with a convincing 4-0 victory paced by goals from two rookies, Ivan Lapshin and Timur Akhiyarov.

Admiral gets revenge on Yermak

Gagarin goes underground

The Gagarin Cup has visited many places on its post-season tours – and a replica of the KHL’s biggest prize even took a trip to the International Space Station. But its latest adventure was something new. CSKA goalie Ilya Sorokin, whose grandparents worked in the Raspadskaya mine in the Siberian city of Mezhdurechensk, decided to pay tribute to his family’s industry by bringing the trophy 400 meters below the ground in Russia’s biggest coalmine.

Photo: 15.07.19. Gagarin Cup winner Ilya Sorokin holds his trophy in Mezhdurechensk

Bondra to the KHL?

Peter Bondra was a giant of Slovak hockey. Now his son, David, could be on his way to the KHL. The 26-year-old, who was born in the USA during Peter’s time with the Caps, has made his mark in Slovakia, playing at the last two World Championships. Now he has a try-out with Kunlun Red Star and could, potentially, be suiting up in the league this season.

Traditionally considered one of the top talent producers in Russia, Traktor had at its disposal also some of the best imports that ever hit the KHL’s ice. Three of the featured players helped Traktor reaching the Gagarin Cup finals in 2013.

Michael Garnett

G, Canada, 167 games, 92,1% saves percentage, 2,24 goals-against average

One of the longest-serving imports in the League's history, Michael Garnett signed in Russia before the KHL was established, joining Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in the 2007 offseason. He will then move to the Moscow Region, where he will spend two years with HC MVD – reaching the Gagarin Cup finals for the first time in 2010 – and a further year with Dynamo. However, he played his best hockey in Chelyabinsk. Garnett was a big part in the 2013 team that made it to the Gagarin Cup. But once again, the Canadian goalie had to accept his defeat in spite of a stellar performance. Somewhat ironically, he lost to his former team Dynamo Moscow, but a GAA of 1.86 and his 93.3% save ratio are a real testament of his incredible play. In total, he played 167 regular-season games for Traktor, only trailing behind Vasily Demchenko. The native of Saskatoon played two further seasons in the League with Slovan and Medvescak before joining the English side Nottingham Panthers in 2017. Garnett hasn’t yet committed with a club for the upcoming 2019-20 campaign.

Deron Quint

D, USA, 264 games, 115 (50+65) points

Just like Garnett, Deron Quint was also a big part in the 2013 postseason. And oddly enough, Quint was also first recruited in the KHL by Neftekhimik in 2009. After a season in Tatarstan, Quinn moved to Chelyabinsk, and in his first year there he led all the defensemen in the League with 21 goals – that season he scored as many goals as Alexei Morozov or Mattias Weinhandl, even one goal more than Alex Radulov and two more than Jaromir Jagr! The American defenseman never scored at such a pace, yet his role on the ice never diminished. After helping Traktor reaching the Gagarin Cup finals, Quint spent one year in Moscow, wearing both CSKA and Spartak’s jerseys. He will be back to Chelyabinsk for two further seasons, being elected the team’s captain in the 2015-16 campaign. However, that year wasn’t successful for Quint, who only scored twelve points and left the KHL as a result. The veteran blueliner – who played in two KHL All-Star games – hang them up in 2017 after a year in the DEL with EHC München.

Nick Bailen

D, USA/Belarus, 118 games, 54 (18+36) points

With 54 points, Nick Bailen is the second top-scoring defenseman in Traktor’s KHL history behind Quint but played only 118 games. Many other blueliners played more than him but failed to exhibit such high production. The native of Fredonia, New York, started playing in the KHL for Dinamo Minsk, where his play was so appreciated that he gained citizenship and started representing Belarus on the international stage in 2016. After three seasons in the Belarusian capital, Bailen moved to Chelyabinsk, where his production didn’t slow down, especially in the first season. In the 2018-19 campaign, Traktor struggled to get the puck in the net, and it showed on the players’ stats. Bailen will finish the season with only 24 points. He will try to rebound back in 2019-20 when he returns for a third season in Chelyabinsk.

Petri Kontiola

F, Finland, 150 games, 105 (42+63) points

The Finnish forward first landed in the Chelyabinsk Region in 2009, but that time he signed with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, where he spent two seasons and showed himself as one of the top KHL scorers. Petri Kontiola moved to Chelyabinsk in 2011, where he was successful right away. In his second year, he was part of the team that got to the Gagarin Cup finals – he led Traktor with 10 goals and 19 points as the team was just one game to the final triumph. He will play another season in Chelyabinsk, being also a regular for Team Finland on the international stage, before trying to get an NHL spot in the 2014 offseason. He then went on playing five seasons with Lokomotiv, with alternating fortunes, before signing with Jokerit for the 2019-20 campaign.

Paul Szczechura

F, Canada, 156 games, 98 (44+54) points

One of the top scorers among foreign players in the latest few seasons, Paul Szczechura first got to the KHL signing with HC Lev in 2012, but only played three games for the Czech franchise. He soon moved to Riga, where he played two seasons. Paul continued his career in the League with a two-year stint in Minsk, before signing with Traktor for the 2016-17 season. The native of Brantford, Ontario, had the reputation of a reliable two-way player who can find his way to the net – as he showed in both Riga and Minsk, where he surpassed twice the 35-point mark. But Szczechura showed his best hockey in Chelyabinsk, where he had two straight 40+ points seasons and earning a call to the 2018 KHL All-Star Game in Nur-Sultan. However, the Canadian’s production had hit an all-time low in 2018-19, when he scored only 15 points and Traktor failed to reach the playoffs. Next year, he will line up for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

In just three seasons, the KHL’s Chinese team has seen its players win medals at Olympics and World Championships. Red Star hasn’t always been the easiest place for imports to settle, but there have been some who made a mark. And the club has benefitted from a geographically diverse bunch, with a strong Finnish influence and plenty of talent from North America helping to establish the game in the 2022 Winter Olympic host city.

Magnus Hellberg

G, Sweden. 51 games, 92.6 save percentage, 2.39 GAA

Magnus Hellberg’s 2017/18 campaign was a huge one. The Swedish goalie opted to leave North America, where he had been struggling to establish himself in the NHL and take up the challenge of backstopping Kunlun Red Star. It wasn’t a great season for the Chinese franchise, with coaching changes and inconsistent form limiting Hellberg to just 16 wins in 51 games. However, in the face of adversity, he showed up strong to deliver numbers that remain the best in franchise history (excluding the brief spell played by on loan Artyom Zagidulin in the previous campaign). That form earned an international call-up: the Uppsala native was part of Sweden’s Olympic roster, although he didn’t get into action in Korea. He was also invited to the World Championship team and earned a gold medal for his efforts in Copenhagen. By then his talents had already attracted the attention of SKA, and Hellberg was gone after just one season in China. The 28-year-old will continue in Petersburg in the coming season.

Chad Rau

F, USA. 60 games, 40 (20+20) points

Chad Rau was one of the first players to take the plunge and see what Red Star could offer. Signing up for the team’s debut season, the Illinois native took little time to make an impact. Three points in his first four games set the tone and he went on to compile 40 (20+20) points in regular season. That’s still a club record. Meanwhile, the playoffs brought a game-winning goal against Metallurg in game four, the only post season victory that Kunlun has achieved so far. Just for good measure, he was also the first Kunlun player to be invited to an All-Star game. Rau, 32, left the club after that first season, going on to represent Neftekhimik, Avangard and Slovan without coming close to matching his tally in Beijing.

Joonas Jarvinen

D, Finland. 134 games, 23 (6+17) points

The big Finn is the all-time appearance leader for KRS, ahead of Zach Yuen, Brandon Yip and Alexei Ponikarovsky. A warrior of a defenseman in his homeland, with Liiga medals to prove it, Jarvinen first came to the KHL to play for another expansion franchise, Sochi, in 2014/15. His hard work in front of his own net went down well, but a return of just one assist all season – limited, even for a natural ‘stay-at-home’ player – meant his departure after a single season caused barely a ripple. Enter the Dragons, and another expansion franchise found a home for Joonas Jarvinen on its blue line. Here, the scoring picked up – 11 (4+7) points in his first season, helping the team to the playoffs and earning a place on the World Championship roster. Then came a full season in 2017/18 before a return to Finland and a brief spell at Tappara in the fall of 2018. However, the defensive crisis in China had Red Star on the phone again and Jarvinen was soon back for another stint in the Dragons’ lair. The 30-year-old has yet to confirm where he will play next season.

Tuukka Mantyla

D, Finland. 57 games, 24 (10+14) points

Tuukka Mantyla was another player who answered the Kunlun call when the club was established. And the gritty defenseman quickly wrote his name in the history books when he potted the game winner in Red Star’s first KHL game, a 2-1 success at Amur. A few days later he was at it again on home ice, getting the decider in a 6-3 win against Admiral. That scoring continued throughout the campaign – including two goals in Kunlun’s first ever playoff outing in Magnitogorsk. China was the last stop on the Tampere native’s KHL tour: previously he had spells with Neftekhimik, Metallurg Novokuznetsk, Amur and Medvescak. Since then, he’s played a season with Malmo Redhawks before returning to his hometown club, Tappara, where he is set to continue next season.

Wojtek Wolski

F, Canada. 58 games, 41 (12+29) points

Wojtek Wolski came to China with a view to rehabilitating after a horrific injury left him with a broken neck while playing for Metallurg Magnitogorsk. His first stint with Kunlun brought 28 points in 32 games – and a swift return to Magnitka. However, a change in the coaching staff in the Urals made the Polish-born forward available once again, and he was happy to go back to China. Last season, though, he was hampered by the injury curse that rocked the team and managed just 26 games for 13 points. Even so, he did enough to earn an extended contract through to 2021 and will be joining up with fellow Olympic bronze medalist Gilbert Brule once more. That partnership is significant: in a three-month spell together at Red Star, Wolski provided six assists on Brule goals while scoring four of his own off Brule’s helpers. Recreating that kind of firepower might be Kunlun’s ticket back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

List of transactions since July 1.

Transfer tracker. May 2019

July 25, 2019

July 22, 2019

Signings

Avangard

F Evgeny Grachev - one-way, two-year contract

July 19, 2019

Signings

Dinamo Riga

July 16, 2019

Signings

Dinamo Minsk

G Ivan Kulbakov - try-out contract

Neftekhimik

D Andrei Sergeyev - two-way, one-year contract

F Evgeny Korotkov - try-out contract

Torpedo

July 15, 2019

Signings

Avangard

D Vyacheslav Voynov– one-way, one-year contract

Dinamo Riga

G Maxim Tretyak– two-way, one-year contract

F Colton Gillies– one-way, one-year contract

F Andris Dzerins– one-way, one-year contract

F Gints Meya– one-way, one-year contract

F Mikelis Redlihs– one-way, one-year contract

F Carter Ashton– one-way, one-year contract

F Vitalijs Pavlovs – two-way, one-year contract

Kunlun Red Star

D Zach Yuen– one-way, one-year contract

Salavat Yulaev

F Vyacheslav Solodukhin– one-way, two-year contract

SKA

D Yaroslav Dyblenko– one-way, three-year contract

July 12, 2019

Signings

Lokomotiv

F Ivan Kozlov– two-way, three-year contract

F Ty Rattie– one-way, one-year contract

Metallurg

D Artyom Minulin– two-way, two-year contract

Sochi

F Mikhail Anisin– try-out contract

Vityaz

G Ilya Ezhov– one-way, one-year contract

July 11, 2019

Signings

Neftekhimik

D Vitaly Atyushov– try-out contract

F Dmitry Kazionov– try-out contract

July 9, 2019

Signings

Avangard

D Alexey Bondarev – one-way, one-year contract

F Sven Andrighetto– one-way, two-year contract

July 8, 2019

Signings

Admiral

D Adam Almquist – one-way, one-year contract

Traktor

F Yaroslav Kosov– try-out contract

July 5, 2019

Signings

Amur

D Dmitry Shulenin– one-way, one-year contract

July 4, 2019

Signings

Kunlun Red Star

F Adam Cracknell - one-way, one-year contract

F Garet Hunt - one-way, two-year contract

July 3, 2019

Signings

Barys

Kunlun Red Star

F Tyler Wong - one-way, two-year contract

July 2, 2019

Signings

Dinamo Minsk

G Jhonas Enroth– one-way, one-year contract

July 1, 2019

Signings

Avangard

G Alexander Sudnitsin– one-way, one-year contract

F Maxim Mizyurin– two-way, one-year contract

CSKA

D Bogdan Kiselevich– one-way, three-year contract

Dynamo Moscow

F Daniil Avdyukhin– try-out contract

Neftekhimik

F Zach Mitchell – one-way, one-year contract

Severstal

F Adam Liska– two-way, one-year contract

Dinamo Riga began its pre-season preparations against Neftyanik Almetyevsk in Liepaja. The team’s traded goals in regulation, then produced a real endurance test with a shoot-out that needed 19 attempts from each side to finally produce a winner. In the end, Neftyanik got the verdict after a record-breaking 38 penalty shots.

This curtain-raiser against Neftyanik is something of a tradition for Dinamo. This year, though, the Latvians were left with a weakened roster as their players return from their summer vacations. Goalie Kristers Gudlevskis was unavailable, giving Maxim Tretyak the start on his return to the club. Similarly, new imports Carter Ashton, David Ullstrom and Kristofer Berglund were absent, as were established stars Mikelis Redlihs and Lauris Darzins.

The first period brought no goals but a string of penalties against the visitor. However, Dinamo could not take those chances and was punished in the second period when it was reduced to three men. Almost immediately, Mikhail Patrikeyev’s shot from the blue line was deflected past Tretyak by Anton Ugolnikov. The Dinamo response did not take long: finally the power play delivered and new signing Jacob Berglund fired home a wrister from a tight angle to tie the game.

There was no further scoring – but the shoot-out turned into something special. The teams shared 38 attempts; Dinamo youngster Patriks Zabusovs made five attempts of his own, scoring once, only to finish on the losing side when Maxim Salakhov settled the outcome. It was the longest shoot-out ever involving a KHL team; the previous record, 36 shots, also involved Dinamo Riga in a 3-2 win over Lokomotiv in 2016/17.

STATS

Dinamo Riga 1 Neftyanik Almetyevsk 2 SO (0-0, 1-1, 0-0, 0-0, 0-1)

Goals: 0-1 Ugolnikov (Patrikeyev, 29:09 PP); 1-1 J Berglund (Lipsbergs, Balinskis, 32:08 PP); 1-2 Salakhov (65:00, game-winning shot).

Goalies: Tretyak – Andronov (Korobov)

Photo: Official site of Dinamo Riga

The Department of Refereeing clarified some amendments to the rulebook for the coming campaign.

Rule 59 – face-off infringements

Following an initial infringement of the face-off procedure, the referee will warn the team guilty of the infraction. The infringement will be shown by an arm bent at the shoulder with the palm of the hand shown to the infringing team.

Explanation: in the coming season, players will no longer be changed following a first infringement at a face-off. Following a warning, the player can return to the draw but faces the risk of a minor penalty if there is a repeat of the offense.

Rule 78 – Offside

When determining an offside call, the skates of any player can be in one of three positions: before the blue line, beyond the blue line and on the blue line. Any skate that is in the air above the blue line is regarded as on the blue line.

Rule 81 – Onside

1. A skater is onside if one skate is behind the blue line, even if the other is on or beyond the blue line.

2. If a skater controls the puck but his skates cross the blue line before the puck, he is onside providing he took full control of the puck when at least one skate was in the neutral zone or was touching the blue line at the moment he received the puck, and that he remained in full control of the puck until it had fully crossed the blue line.

Rule 94 – Scoring a goal

4. A goal is awarded if the puck is accidentally deflected into the goal net. This applies to deflections off the helmet or any part of a player’s body following a shot from any player on the ice.

13. If the goalie is in his crease and the puck goes into the goal net as a result of a shot or a deflection off the stick or body of an attacking player who takes up a position in the goal area before the puck, and whose position does not impede the goalie’s ability to play his position or stop the shot, the goal will be allowed.

Rule 96 – Goals with the skate

1. A goal is not allowed if the attacking player directs the puck into the goal net by kicking the puck. ‘Kicking’ refers to any evident movement of the foot or skate towards the puck.

6. If an attacking skater turns his skate in any manner with the intention of having the puck deflect off it, and the puck enters the goal net as a result of that deflection, the goal will be allowed as long as there was no identifiable kicking motion.

Rule 120 – Broken stick/ playing with – replacing

4. Any player on the ice who drops, moves, slides or throws a stick in the air will not be penalized if his actions do not interfere with an opponent (see also Rule 165)

Rule 179 – Awarded goals

7. A goal should be awarded if the goalie deliberately moves the goal net from its usual position during a one-on-one situation.

Rule 220 – Holding the puck in the goal crease / goaltender

Definition: After making a save, a goalie is allowed to freeze the puck in his goal crease as long as he is being pressured by an opponent. The opponent is deemed to be pressuring the goalie when an attacking player is moving towards the goaltender in the defending team’s half of the ice. If the goalie is not being pressured and has time to make a play safely to a team-mate, he is obliged to do so.

1. Unless he is being pressured by an opponent, a goaltender who holds the puck for more than three seconds will be assessed a minor penalty.

2. A goaltender who is not under pressure and deliberately drops the puck into his pads, body or equipment in order to gain a stoppage in play will be assessed a minor penalty.

Rule 221 – Holding the puck outside the goal crease / goaltender

Definition: the goaltender is not allowed to fall on the puck to force a stoppage of play in certain situations after leaving the goal crease.

1. If the goalie remains in contact with the goal crease (area 1 in the above diagram) then he is permitted to play the puck, catch the puck or freeze the puck even when it is outside the goal crease, as long as he is under pressure from an opponent. If the shot originated in the opposing team’s half and the goaltender’s actions resulted in a stoppage in play without assessing him a minor penalty for delaying the game, the team that infringed the rules will not be allowed to change its players. If the goaltender is assessed a delaying the game minor, his team will be allowed to change its players before the game restarts.

Game situation 1: a goaltender catches the puck while standing in his goal crease. He then decides to continue the game and leaves his crease, placing the puck on the ice as he goes. Realizing that it is not possible to safely continue the play, the goaltender then freezes the puck and causes a stoppage in play. In this instance, a delaying the game penalty must be assessed.

2. If a goaltender leaves his crease to stop a shot within area 2 of the above diagram, and then catches or freezes the puck, or causes a stoppage in play by any other allowable means, he will not be penalized if he is under pressure from at least one opponent. Catching or freezing the puck in area 3 of the above diagram is also permitted, providing the terms of Rule 221, paragraph 1 are met.

3. If a goaltender leaves his crease in an attempt to reach a loose puck before an opponent and freezes the puck instead of playing it, a minor penalty will be assessed for delaying the game. This applies in area 2, regardless of whether he is under pressure from an opponent or not.

4. A goaltender in area 3 (the so-called trapezoid zone) can play the puck or catch the puck, but he must immediately throw it on the ice. He is not allowed to hold the puck in his hand or glove for longer than is necessary to drop it to the ice. The position of the puck is the determining factor.

5. If a goaltender in area 3 holds the puck in his hand or glove, or freezes it against the ice, the goal net or the boards, he will be assessed a minor penalty for delaying the game. The position of the puck is the determining factor.

6. If a goaltender in area 4 (beyond the icing line and outside the trapezoid zone) plays the puck in any way he must be assessed a minor penalty for delaying the game, regardless of whether or not he was pressured by an opponent. The position of the puck is the determining factor.

7. When the puck is shot from the opposition’s half and the actions of the goaltender lead to a stoppage in play without him being assessed a delaying the game penalty, the team that infringed the rules may not change its players until play has restarted. If the goaltender is assessed a penalty, both teams may change their players before the restart.

On Thursday, Admiral took on Amur in the first Far East match-up of the season. Even though this was an exhibition game, it was a competitive affair with the local rivals separated by a second-period goal from Vasily Streltsov.

For Admiral, this was already the third pre-season game; Amur had not ventured onto the ice since February, when its regular championship season ended right here in Vladivostok. With 2,850 spectators looking for a sneak preview of what to expect when the season gets going in September, the stage was set.

However, much like that meeting late last season, today’s game was not a high scoring affair. The only goal of the game arrived late in the second period when Streltsov found a one-timer to finish off a swift counterattack while his team was short-handed. That’s already the second goal of pre-season for the forward.

Amur was unable to use all of its new signings in this game. For example, both of the Zohorna brothers, Hynek and Tomas, were unavailable. Admiral, meanwhile, is gradually building up to full strength: defenseman Shawn Lalonde and forwards Martin Bakos and Markus Ljungh were the new signings on display as the team looks to build a new scoring line.

Canadian defenseman Lalonde demonstrated that he’s not just there to thwart the opposition’s offense. He’s already ready to step up and fight for his team-mates at any moment. Although this was billed as an exhibition game, a derby is still a derby: in one of several incidents, Lalonde traded blows with Amur newbie Valery Vasilyev.

The two teams are set to meet again in Vladivostok on Saturday in a return game.

Statistics

Admiral Vladivostok 1 Amur Khabarovsk 0 (0-0, 1-0, 0-0)

Goal: 1-0 V. Streltsov (Delnov, SH, 35:18)

Goalies: Olkinoura (22/22) – Langhamer (26/27)

CSKA is a club steeping in the traditions of Russian and Soviet hockey, and its history of developing local talent is second to none. But even here, well-chosen imports have made a big difference. Among the best we have a flamboyant Frenchman, three Gagarin Cup winners and a fondly-remembered Slovenian forward.

Lars Johansson

G, Sweden. 52 games, save percentage 94.5, GAA 1.17

With Ilya Sorokin at the club, it’s not easy for another goalie to make an impact. Yet Lars Johansson has demonstrated that he’s more than just an understudy. The Swede, 32, sees plenty of game time alongside his Russian international colleague and has posted some of the best numbers in the KHL. Indeed, his stats over his two seasons with the Army Men are better than anyone else in the history of the league, if we exclude goalies with barely a handful of appearances. Throw in a Gagarin Cup triumph, and it’s easy to see why this Avasta native has been a big hit since leaving the AHL to come to Moscow in 2017. Johansson is set to continue with CSKA in the coming season.

Mat Robinson

D, Canada. 132 games, 50 (18+32) points

When Dynamo Moscow hit financial troubles two summers ago, CSKA got an unexpected bonus. Mat Robinson became available for a trade and was happy to move across the Russian capital, bringing his productive play to the Army Men’s blue line. Since then, he’s gone on to establish himself as the top scoring defensive import at CSKA while picking up an Olympic bronze medal and a Gagarin Cup to add to his Norwegian championship win with Sparta Sarpsborg back in 2011. Robinson, now 33, arrived in the KHL to play for Dinamo Riga in 2013. That season saw him win the KHL’s ‘Gentleman’ award and his 27 points in 54 regular season games earned him a move to Dynamo. Three seasons in Blue-and-White brought a first All-Star call before the cross-town move to CSKA and career highlights for club and country.

Jan Mursak

F, Slovenia. 187 games, 117 (42+75) points

Jan Mursak was already established as a key part of Slovenia’s national team – and a Calder Cup champion in the AHL – by the time he arrived in the KHL for the 2013/14 season. He began that campaign with Amur, went to the Sochi Olympics with Slovenia and finished up at CSKA for his first, brief, look at the playoffs. However, his first full season with the Army Men was much more on point. His 43-point haul in regular season would have garnered far more attention had he not been playing on the same roster as the prolific Alexander Radulov (71 points) and Stephane Da Costa (62). Nonetheless, it was Mursak’s best return in his KHL career as CSKA powered to the regular season title, and the form continued in the playoffs with a further 10 points in 16 games. The Slovene, comfortable on the wing or in the center, stayed for two more seasons and remains the second highest-scoring import in the club’s KHL history. Now 31, he is playing with Bern in the Swiss NLA, where he won a championship medal last season.

Linden Vey

F, Canada. 74 games, 53 (15+38) points

Linden Vey has only had one season at CSKA so far – but what a season! Arriving after a year with Barys, the former Vancouver Canuck rattled up 53 points to help the Army Men lift the Gagarin Cup for the first time. Quick to settle in Moscow, Vey wasted little time in making an impact: his CSKA debut brought a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win at Traktor; game two saw him pot the only goal in a 1-3 loss in Yekaterinburg. From then on, the points flowed freely. A regular presence on CSKA’s top line, Vey often provided the ammunition for Mikhail Grigorenko while chipping in with a few valuable markers of his own. The 28-year-old is set to continue in Moscow next season and, if he continues to score at a similar rate, could be the club’s top scoring KHL import by the end of it.

Stephane Da Costa

F, France. 133 games, 124 (61+63) points

When Stephane Da Costa lined up with Alexander Radulov in the 2014/15 season, the magic started happening fast. Between them, they produced 133 points in the regular season, terrorizing defenses at will and helping to clinch the regular season title. It wasn’t quite enough to triumph in the playoffs – a Conference final loss to SKA denied CSKA on that occasion – but it set a new standard for the Army Men’s offense. It also set Da Costa, one of the top stars of French hockey, on his way to becoming CSKA’s top scoring import. Two further campaigns in Moscow followed, but injuries reduced his impact and he managed just 48 appearances in those two regular seasons. The points continued to flow, however, with 34 in those injury hit spells plus a further 20 in the playoffs. After leaving CSKA, Da Costa went to Switzerland but returned to the KHL last season with Avtomobilist. In Yekaterinburg he proved that his form and fitness were undimmed and next season the 30-year-old Parisian will play for Lokomotiv.

EN.KHL.RU publishes the full pre-season schedule.

Legend:EX– Exhibition Game, REN– Renaissance Cup (in China), SOC– Sochi Hockey Open (in Sochi, Russia), MOU– Mountfield Cup (in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic), NNC– Nizhny Novgorod’s Area Governor Cup (in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia), KRP- Kazakhstan Republic President’s Cup (in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan), HAM– Hämeenlinna Cup (in Hämeenlinna, Finland), CHE– Chelyabinsk’s Area Governor Cup (in Chelyabinsk, Russia), KUS– Zbynek Kusy Memorial (in Pardubice, Czech Republic), HOC– Hockeyades (in Le Sentier, Switzerland), LEH– Lehner Cup (in Sursee, Switzerland), SAL– Salei Cup (in Orsha, Belarus), RIG– Tournament in Riga (in Riga, Latvia), PUC– Puchkov Tournament (in Saint Petersburg, Russia), MOS– Mayor of Moscow’s Cup (in Moscow, Russia), ROM– Romazan Memorial (in Magnitogorsk, Russia)

July 20

EX Admiral 1:2 Yermak (VHL)

July 21

EX Admiral 4:0 Yermak (VHL)

July 24

EX Dinamo Riga 1:2 SO Neftyanik (VHL)

July 25

EX Admiral 1:0 Amur

July 26

EX Dinamo Riga – Saryarka (VHL)

July 27

EX Admiral – Amur, Verva Litvinov – Spartak

July 28

EX Metallurg – Vityaz (in Garmisch-Partenkirchen), SKA – Tambov (VHL), SKA – Khimik (VHL)

July 31

EX Vityaz – Metallurg (in Bressanone), Neftekhimik – Salavat Yulaev (in Finland)

August 2

EX Neftyanik (VHL) – Ak Bars, Jokerit – Neftekhimik (in Tikkurila)

REN Kunlun Red Star – Arizona University

August 3

EX Traktor – MAC Ujbuda (in Slovenia), Torpedo – Dynamo Moscow

SOC Lokomotiv – Avangard, Sochi – Dinamo Riga

REN Kunlun Red Star – KRS-ORG (VHL)

August 4

SOC Avangard – Russia II, Sochi – SKA

MOU Mountfield – Spartak

REN Kunlun Red Star – Tsen Tou (VHL)

August 5

SOC Lokomotiv – Russia II, SKA – Dinamo Riga

MOU Spartak – Dinamo Pardubice

August 6

EX HPK – Sibir (in Valkeakoski), CSKA – Admiral

SOC Lokomotiv – Dinamo Riga, Sochi – Russia II

REN Kunlun Red Star – Yermak (VHL)

August 7

EX Jokerit – Sibir (in Valkeakoski), CSKA – Admiral

SOC Lokomotiv – SKA, Sochi – Avangard

MOU Spartak – Slovan

NNC Khumo (VHL) – Dinamo Minsk, Torpedo – Dynamo Moscow

KRP Neftekhimik – Avtomobilist, Barys – Ak Bars

REN Final

August 8

SOC Russia II – Dinamo Riga, SKA – Avangard

NNC Dinamo Minsk – Dynamo Moscow, Torpedo – Khumo (VHL)

KRP Ak Bars – Salavat Yulaev, Barys – Neftekhimik

August 9

EX Jukurit – Vityaz (in Finland)

HAM Pelicans – Sibir

KRP Ak Bars – Neftekhimik, Salavat Yulaev – Avtomobilist

August 10

HAM Frankfurt Lowen – Sibir

CHE Severstal – Metallurg, Traktor – Kunlun Red Star

NNC Dynamo Moscow – Khumo (VHL), Torpedo – Dinamo Minsk

KRP Neftekhimik – Salavat Yulaev, Avtomobilist – Barys

August 11

CHE Metallurg – Kunlun Red Star, Traktor – Severstal

NNC Bronze medal game and Final

KRP Avtomobilist – Ak Bars, Salavat Yulaev – Barys

August 12

KUS Mountfield – Amur (in Hradec Kralove)

August 13

EX Vityaz – Pelicans (in Imatra), Sibir – Energie (in Karlovy Vary)

CHE Kunlun Red Star – Severstal, Traktor – Metallurg

KUS Admiral – Znojmo

August 14

EX Jokerit – SKA (in Tikkurila)

HOC CSKA – Lausanne

KUS Kosice – Admiral, Dinamo Pardubice – Amur

August 15

EX SaiPa – Vityaz, Avangard – Dynamo Moscow, Sibir – Pirati (in Khomutov)

HOC CSKA – Genève Servett

August 16

EX SKA – Vityaz (in Espoo)

HOC CSKA – Fribourg Gotteron

KUS Last game day

LEH Barys – Ambri-Piotta

August 17

EX Salavat Yulaev – Traktor, Sochi – Sparta (in Khomutov), Neftekhimik – Ak Bars

SAL Dinamo Minsk game

LEH Zug – Barys

August 18

EX Salavat Yulaev – Traktor, Spartak – Dynamo Moscow

SAL Dinamo Minsk game

August 19

EX Admiral – Verva Litvinov (in Litvinov)

August 20

EX Sochi – Energie (in Karlovy Vary), Davos – Barys

RIG Ak Bars – Dinamo Minsk, Dinamo Riga – Avtomobilist

August 21

PUC Jokerit – Severstal, SKA – Torpedo

RIG Dinamo Minsk – Avtomobilist, Dinamo Riga – Lokomotiv

August 22

EX Liberec – Amur, Admiral – Zvolen, Lugano – Barys

MOS Dynamo Moscow – Vityaz, Spartak – CSKA

ROM Traktor – Kunlun Red Star, Metallurg - Sibir

RIG Lokomotiv – Ak Bars

PUC Avangard – Severstal, Sochi - Torpedo

August 23

EX Neftekhimik – Neftyanik (VHL)

PUC Avangard – Jokerit, SKA – Sochi

ROM Traktor – Sibir, Metallurg – Kunlun Red Star

RIG Ak Bars – Avtomobilist

August 24

MOS CSKA – Vityaz, Spartak – Dynamo Moscow

RIG Dinamo Riga – Dinamo Minsk, Lokomotiv – Avtomobilist

PUC Severstal – Torpedo

August 25

MOS Spartak – Vityaz, CSKA – Dynamo Moscow

PUC Avangard – Torpedo, Sochi – Severstal, SKA – Jokerit

ROM Kunlun Red Star – Sibir, Metallurg – Traktor

RIG Dinamo Minsk – Lokomotiv, Dinamo Riga – Ak Bars

August 26

EX Salavat Yulaev – Neftekhimik

PUC Sochi – Jokerit, SKA – Avangard

August 27

EX Motor – Amur (in Czech Republic), Salavat Yulaev – Avtomobilist

August 28

EX Spartak – Admiral, Salavat Yulaev – Neftekhimik

August 29

EX Vityaz – Dynamo Moscow, Linz – Amur (in Czech Republic), Lokomotiv - Severstal

The Bashkir team is often a contender, and certainly enjoyed much help from its imports. Two of the featured players helped Salavat Yulaev winning the Gagarin Cup back in 2011.

Juha Metsola

G, Finland, 48 games, 93,4 saves pct., 2,02 goals-against average

So far, Juha Metsola played only one year in Ufa, but what year it was. Not only did he post incredible numbers, but he also backstopped the team to six-game conference finals against Avangard Omsk. If he was incredible in the regular season, he was even better in the playoffs. If Salavat Yulaev managed to get to the grand finals, he would undoubtedly have been the MVP. At the end of the season, Metsola was awarded Best Goalie honors and included in the League’s first all-star team. He also gained his second call to the KHL All-Star Game. Moving to Ufa after three years in Khabarovsk, the Finn netminder has signed a deal through the 2021-22 season with the Bashkir franchise.

Miroslav Blatak

D, Czech Republic, 247 games, 90 (33+57) points

One of the heroes of the 2011 Gagarin Cup triumph, Miroslav Blatak signed in Ufa even before the KHL was established, winning the Russian Superleague title in his first year in Bashkiria. Blatak will go on having a fantastic career in the KHL, hitting his peak in the 2010-11 golden season, where he scored 29 (10+19) points in the regular season and helping in closing down the gates in the playoffs. Blatak was incredibly reliable for the Ufa team and still holds the team’s second performance in plus/minus with a total plus-71 – trailing only Alex Radulov. After six years in Ufa, Blatak played another three seasons in the KHL, with Avangard and Severstal, before a final year at home in the Czech Republic. In his highlights-filled career, he also won a full set of medals at the IIHF World Championships.

Patrick Thoresen

F, Norway, 110 games, 123 (57+70) points

One of the best players ever in the KHL’s history, Patrick Thoresen is one of the few forwards who regularly traveled at a point-per-game pace in his career in the League. The Viking moved to the KHL in 2009, signing in Ufa after a year in Switzerland. He was unstoppable in both seasons, and the opposition teams were just terrified when he and Radulov hit the ice with the puck on their blades. In particular, their contribution was through the roof in the 2011 playoffs, when Salavat Yulaev won the Gagarin Cup. Both Radulov and Thoresen finished the postseason with 18 (3+15) points. In his both seasons in Ufa, Thoresen was called to the KHL All-Star Game. After taking the League by storm in Bashkiria, the Norwegian international signed in St. Petersburg, when he won another Gagarin Cup in 2015. Next year, Thoresen will line up for his native Storhamar in the Norwegian league.

Teemu Hartikainen

F, Finland, 321 games, 231 (95+136) points

One of the longest-serving imports currently playing in the League, Teemu Hartikainen signed in Ufa back in 2013, after three seasons in North America. He became a key player right away, scoring at a high place and showing loyalty to the team. Moreover, in 2019 he beat Alex Radulov's record and became the all-time top goal scorer of the franchise with 95. He was also awarded first all-star team honors after 2018-19 successful campaign. No other player in the League scored more than him in the 2019 playoffs. Oddly enough, he rarely represented Finland in the international scene – only at the 2015 IIHF World Championship and at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. Last February, Hartikainen inked a new one-year deal with Ufa valid through the 2019-20 season.

Linus Omark

F, Sweden, 226 games, 217 (58+159) points

A consummate playmaker and an enormous offensive talent, Linus Omark first signed in the KHL with Dynamo Moscow back in 2009. After posting great numbers in Moscow, the Swede moved to North America. He was back in the KHL in 2014, when he signed a one-year deal with Salavat Yulaev Ufa. In the Bashkir capital, Omark showed great technique, poise, and level of play. He is just four assists shy from Alex Radulov for the title of the best passer in Ufa’s KHL history – chances are good that he will be the number one next year. A few players in the League can boast his eye for the pass – as proof, no other player comes even close to him for assists in the latest two playoffs. He accumulated 27 helpers, while the second-placed player – Hartikainen – has only 20. Next year, Linus will be back for another year in Ufa, where he will continue his hunt for his first Gagarin Cup title. The three-time KHL All-Star had also conquered an IIHF World Championship gold medal in 2017. He scored a whopping seven assists in four games at the 2018 Olympic Games, but Sweden failed to win medals.

The Latvian club thrashed Saryarka, a VHL team from Kazakhstan, 6-1 in Liepaja with new signing Kristoffer Berglund getting two goals and an assist.

This was already Dinamo’s second game of the summer, following a shoot-out loss to another VHL team, Neftyanik, on Wednesday. That game featured a record-breaking shoot-out, with the teams needing 38 attempts before settling the outcome.

On Friday, though, Dinamo looked much stronger. The roster was closer to full strength, with goalie Kristers Gudlevskis back on duty alongside captain Lauris Darzins and imports Carter Ashton, David Ullstrom and Kristoffer Berglund. Each of the imports made a contribution to the win. Ashton opened the scoring in the game, Ullstrom had an assist on the second goal and Berglund led the scoring with three points. Darzins, too, was on the mark with a goal and two assists.

Dinamo Riga 6 Saryarka Karaganda 1 (3-0, 2-1, 1-0)

Goals: 1-0 Ashton (Berglund, 3:07); 2-0 MacMillan (Ullstrom, 9:03); 3-0 Gegeris (Meija, 13:31); 4-0 Berglund (Darzins, Redlihs, 26:24); 4-1 Borisevich (Nurgliyev, 36:16); 5-1 Darzins (39:54, PP); 6-1 Berglund (Sotnieks, Darzins, 43:28)

Goalies: Gudlevskis - Reizvikh

Saturday brought two exhibition games involving KHL teams. In Vladivostok, the second instalment of the Far East derby saw Amur get rapid revenge with a 6-0 win over Admiral. Later in the day, Oleg Znarok took charge of his first game behind the bench with Spartak and oversaw a 2-1 victory at Czech team Verva Litvinov.

Znarok’s winning start

Spartak’s first pre-season opponent has plenty of KHL connections. Familiar names on the Litvinov roster included Jakub Petruzalek and Lukas Kaspar, while Spartak forward Robin Hanzl was up against his brother Martin.

But that was just the undercard: the headline act, without question, was the return of Oleg Znarok to a coaching role. The Olympic champion and multiple Gagarin Cup winner did not appear with any club last season but signed up with Spartak in the summer. He wasn’t able to use all of his new signings here: Patrik Hersley, Denis Kokarev and Yakov Rylov were all unavailable. Instead, he saw his new team’s first goal go to young forward Zakhar Shabolovsky, who grabbed a short-handed marker towards the end of the first period.

However, it wasn’t until the third period that the Red-and-Whites secured the win, with Gleb Shashkov snapping a 1-1 tie in the 52^ndminute after a nice combination. Spartak’s next game is also in the Czech Republic. On Aug. 4 it goes to Hradec-Kralove to play HC Mountfield.

Statistics

Verva Litvinov 1 Spartak Moscow 2 (0-1, 1-0, 0-1)

Goals: 0-1 Shabolovsky (SH, 14:36); 1-1 Doudera (Musak 28:10); 1-2 Shashkov (Tsyplakov, Leshchenko, 51:24)

Goalies: Janus - Hudacek

Amur bounces back

These teams met on Thursday and the outcome was decided by a solitary goal from Admiral’s Vasily Streltsov. Two days later, it was a very different story as Amur won emphatically. The visitor was still without scoring leader Tomas Zohorna and his brother Hynek and made one significant change as goalie Evgeny Alikin took over from Marek Langhamer. Admiral, meanwhile, opted to rest forwards Martin Bakos and Denis Vikharev after their bright start in pre-season.

Despite the final scoreline, surely none of the 2,450 spectators at the Fetisov Arena would dispute the claim that the first 30 minutes of the game were evenly matched. Amur got the opening goal on the power play late in the first period, but the action was competitive at both ends of the ice. But as the game entered its second half, everything changed. Amur scored twice in 80 seconds to take a firm grip on proceedings, then piled on the goals in the third with a flurry of three markers in 135 seconds to complete a comprehensive win. Igor Rudenkov was the star of the game, scoring one goal, converting a penalty shot for a second and collecting an assist.

Oddly enough, despite the one-sided scoreline, Admiral outshot Amur; at least in terms of attempts at goal (63-52). However, the Khabarovsk team was better at working goalie Juho Olkinuora and had the edge in efforts on target (35-27). And, of course, in terms of converting chances, there was only one team in it as Alikin secured a shut-out.

Statistics

Admiral Vladivostok 0 Amur Khabarovsk 6 (0-1, 0-2, 0-3)

Goals: 0-1 Vasiliev (Golubov, Gorshkov PP, 16:39); 0-2 Lazarev (Vl. Ushenin, 30:29); 0-3 Rudenkov (Rasskazov SH, 31:49); 0-4 Rudenkov (43:30, penalty shot); 0-5 Zhelezkov (Kuznetsov, Koryagin, 44:46); 0-6 Rasskazov (Gorshkov, Rudenkov 45:45).

Goalies: Olkinuora – Alikin.

Three more clubs started their pre-season programs on Sunday.

Two games against VHL clubs

In St. Petersburg, the Army Men began their pre-season campaign with two games against VHL opposition – both played on the same day! New head coach Alexei Kudashov went into both games with three lines and used two goalies in each game.

The pattern of play was similar both times: the outsider opened the scoring, SKA tied it up, then the opposition regained the lead. Against Khimik, the KHL team managed to snatch victory with two seconds left on the clock. Against Tambov, meanwhile, there was no way back.

SKA’s next engagement will be the Sochi Hockey Open, played on the Black Sea coast from Aug. 3-8.

Statistics

SKA St. Petersburg 3 Khimik Voskresensk 2 (1-2, 0-0, 2-0)

Goals: 0-1 Yunkov (Grishin PP, 8:28); 1-1 Yakupov (Byvaltsev, 9:49); 1-2 Karlin (Zyuzyakin PP, 15:04); 2-2 Plotnikov (Lehtera, Tkachyov 49:09); 3-2 Tkachyov (Bengtsson, Lehtera PP 59:58)

Goalies: Hellberg, Melnichuk – Skovronsky, Sinegubkin

SKA St. Petersburg 1 Tambov 2 (0-1, 1-0, 0-1)

Goals: 0-1 Gimbatov (12:31); 1-1 Barabanov (25:12); 1-2 Baskov (Popov PP, 42:55)

Goalies (SKA): Nalimov, Kochetkov

Magnitka starts with a win

Metallurg and Vityaz are practically neighbors at their summer camps. Magnitka is based in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany, while Vityaz is a couple of hours drive away in the Italy mountain town of Bressanone. So setting up a couple of exhibition games was the obvious thing to do. First, Vityaz came to visit Josef Jandac’s team and played out a lively game. Metallurg took an early lead, but the bulk of the action came in the final frame when Mikhail Kravets twice saw his team score through its new Finnish signings without managing to reel in Magnitka’s advantage.

Statistics

Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3 Vityaz Moscow Region 2 (1-0, 0-0, 2-2)

Goals: 1-0 Bereglazov (Antipin 6:57); 2-0 Kulemin (Dorofeyev 43:10); 2-1 Natinen (Aaltonen, 44:07); 3-1 Dorofeyev (Loktionov 45:32); 3-2 Lajunen (59:12)

Goalies: Koshechkin – Ezhov.

Photo courtesy of SKA’s official site.

EN.KHL.RU publishes the full pre-season schedule.

Legend:EX– Exhibition Game, REN– Renaissance Cup (in China), SOC– Sochi Hockey Open (in Sochi, Russia), MOU– Mountfield Cup (in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic), NNC– Nizhny Novgorod’s Area Governor Cup (in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia), KRP- Kazakhstan Republic President’s Cup (in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan), HAM– Hämeenlinna Cup (in Hämeenlinna, Finland), CHE– Chelyabinsk’s Area Governor Cup (in Chelyabinsk, Russia), KUS– Zbynek Kusy Memorial (in Pardubice, Czech Republic), HOC– Hockeyades (in Le Sentier, Switzerland), LEH– Lehner Cup (in Sursee, Switzerland), SAL– Salei Cup (in Orsha, Belarus), RIG– Tournament in Riga (in Riga, Latvia), PUC– Puchkov Tournament (in Saint Petersburg, Russia), MOS– Mayor of Moscow’s Cup (in Moscow, Russia), ROM– Romazan Memorial (in Magnitogorsk, Russia)

July 20

EX Admiral 1:2 Yermak (VHL)

July 21

EX Admiral 4:0 Yermak (VHL)

July 24

EX Dinamo Riga 1:2 SO Neftyanik (VHL)

July 25

EX Admiral 1:0 Amur

July 26

EX Dinamo Riga 6:1 Saryarka (VHL)

July 27

EX Admiral 0:6 Amur, Verva Litvinov 1:2 Spartak

July 28

EX Metallurg 3:2 Vityaz (in Garmisch-Partenkirchen), SKA 1:2 Tambov (VHL), SKA 3:2 Khimik (VHL)

July 31

EX Vityaz – Metallurg (in Bressanone), Neftekhimik – Salavat Yulaev (in Finland)

August 2

EX Neftyanik (VHL) – Ak Bars, Jokerit – Neftekhimik (in Tikkurila)

REN Kunlun Red Star – Arizona University

August 3

EX Traktor – MAC Ujbuda (in Slovenia), Torpedo – Dynamo Moscow

SOC Lokomotiv – Avangard, Sochi – Dinamo Riga

REN Kunlun Red Star – KRS-ORG (VHL)

August 4

SOC Avangard – Russia II, Sochi – SKA

MOU Mountfield – Spartak

REN Kunlun Red Star – Tsen Tou (VHL)

August 5

SOC Lokomotiv – Russia II, SKA – Dinamo Riga

MOU Spartak – Dinamo Pardubice

August 6

EX HPK – Sibir (in Valkeakoski), CSKA – Admiral

SOC Lokomotiv – Dinamo Riga, Sochi – Russia II

REN Kunlun Red Star – Yermak (VHL)

August 7

EX Jokerit – Sibir (in Valkeakoski), CSKA – Admiral

SOC Lokomotiv – SKA, Sochi – Avangard

MOU Spartak – Slovan

NNC Khumo (VHL) – Dinamo Minsk, Torpedo – Dynamo Moscow

KRP Neftekhimik – Avtomobilist, Barys – Ak Bars

REN Final

August 8

SOC Russia II – Dinamo Riga, SKA – Avangard

NNC Dinamo Minsk – Dynamo Moscow, Torpedo – Khumo (VHL)

KRP Ak Bars – Salavat Yulaev, Barys – Neftekhimik

August 9

EX Jukurit – Vityaz (in Finland)

HAM Pelicans – Sibir

KRP Ak Bars – Neftekhimik, Salavat Yulaev – Avtomobilist

August 10

HAM Frankfurt Lowen – Sibir

CHE Severstal – Metallurg, Traktor – Kunlun Red Star

NNC Dynamo Moscow – Khumo (VHL), Torpedo – Dinamo Minsk

KRP Neftekhimik – Salavat Yulaev, Avtomobilist – Barys

August 11

CHE Metallurg – Kunlun Red Star, Traktor – Severstal

NNC Bronze medal game and Final

KRP Avtomobilist – Ak Bars, Salavat Yulaev – Barys

August 12

KUS Mountfield – Amur (in Hradec Kralove)

August 13

EX Vityaz – Pelicans (in Imatra), Sibir – Energie (in Karlovy Vary)

CHE Kunlun Red Star – Severstal, Traktor – Metallurg

KUS Admiral – Znojmo

August 14

EX Jokerit – SKA (in Tikkurila)

HOC CSKA – Lausanne

KUS Kosice – Admiral, Dinamo Pardubice – Amur

August 15

EX SaiPa – Vityaz, Avangard – Dynamo Moscow, Sibir – Pirati (in Khomutov)

HOC CSKA – Genève Servett

August 16

EX SKA – Vityaz (in Espoo)

HOC CSKA – Fribourg Gotteron

KUS Last game day

LEH Barys – Ambri-Piotta

August 17

EX Salavat Yulaev – Traktor, Sochi – Sparta (in Khomutov), Neftekhimik – Ak Bars

SAL Dinamo Minsk game

LEH Zug – Barys

August 18

EX Salavat Yulaev – Traktor, Spartak – Dynamo Moscow

SAL Dinamo Minsk game

August 19

EX Admiral – Verva Litvinov (in Litvinov)

August 20

EX Sochi – Energie (in Karlovy Vary), Davos – Barys

RIG Ak Bars – Dinamo Minsk, Dinamo Riga – Avtomobilist

August 21

PUC Jokerit – Severstal, SKA – Torpedo

RIG Dinamo Minsk – Avtomobilist, Dinamo Riga – Lokomotiv

August 22

EX Liberec – Amur, Admiral – Zvolen, Lugano – Barys

MOS Dynamo Moscow – Vityaz, Spartak – CSKA

ROM Traktor – Kunlun Red Star, Metallurg - Sibir

RIG Lokomotiv – Ak Bars

PUC Avangard – Severstal, Sochi - Torpedo

August 23

EX Neftekhimik – Neftyanik (VHL)

PUC Avangard – Jokerit, SKA – Sochi

ROM Traktor – Sibir, Metallurg – Kunlun Red Star

RIG Ak Bars – Avtomobilist

August 24

MOS CSKA – Vityaz, Spartak – Dynamo Moscow

RIG Dinamo Riga – Dinamo Minsk, Lokomotiv – Avtomobilist

PUC Severstal – Torpedo

August 25

MOS Spartak – Vityaz, CSKA – Dynamo Moscow

PUC Avangard – Torpedo, Sochi – Severstal, SKA – Jokerit

ROM Kunlun Red Star – Sibir, Metallurg – Traktor

RIG Dinamo Minsk – Lokomotiv, Dinamo Riga – Ak Bars

August 26

EX Salavat Yulaev – Neftekhimik

PUC Sochi – Jokerit, SKA – Avangard

August 27

EX Motor – Amur (in Czech Republic), Salavat Yulaev – Avtomobilist

August 28

EX Spartak – Admiral, Salavat Yulaev – Neftekhimik

August 29

EX Vityaz – Dynamo Moscow, Linz – Amur (in Czech Republic), Lokomotiv - Severstal

With the pre-season build-up gathering pace, Spartak played its first game under new head coach Oleg Znarok while Dinamo Riga set a new record for a KHL team. Elsewhere, the Women’s Hockey League announced an exciting new addition.

Znarok’s winning return

Oleg Znarok returned to coaching with Spartak this week – and duly opened his account with a win in his first game in charge of his new club. The 56-year-old, whose achievements include three Gagarin Cups, a World Championship gold and last year’s memorable Olympic triumph, started his latest challenge in the somewhat low-key surroundings of Litvinov, Czech Republic. The occasion was an exhibition game against local team Verva, the outcome a 2-1 victory with a solid showing from Spartak’s younger players. Welcome back, coach!

Shoot-out record in Liepaja

Znarok’s return wasn’t the only point of interest from this week’s exhibition games. One of the clubs he represented as a player, Dinamo Riga, took part in a 38-shot shoot-out to settle its match-up against VHL team Nefteyanik. That’s a record for any shoot-out involving a KHL team. Unfortunately for Dinamo, the verdict went to the opposition. However, the Latvians can console themselves with the equivalent record in a KHL game – 36 shots in a victory over Lokomotiv in 2016/17.

A record in Liepaja – 38 shots in a shoot-out!

Dynamo snaps up record-breaking junior

Most of the summer’s big trades are done; the teams are already back in training and the bulk of the KHL’s rosters are filling up nicely. But there’s still the odd eye-catching move, and Dynamo Moscow’s capture of young forward Anton Vasilyev could be one to watch. The 21-year-old isn’t on the radar of many KHL fans; he’s yet to play a game in the competition. But he’s blazed a trail through the Junior Hockey League in recent seasons and his 247 (102+145) points from 245 games, mostly with Dynamo St. Petersburg, is an all-time record in that league. His senior debut came in last season’s VHL but his Petersburg club has no KHL affiliate. That alerted the Moscow team to the opportunity and the youngster now has the chance to show what he can do at the highest level. Watch this space …

Women’s League expands into China

The set-up for next season’s Women’s Hockey League was confirmed, and there’s an exciting new arrival in the competition. The Kunlun Red Star Vanke Rays, part of the Chinese franchise familiar to KHL followers, has joined the league after the collapse of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League over the summer. At a time when the debate about how to create and develop genuine pro leagues in women’s sports – not just hockey – continues, the success of our WHL in expanding to become a cross-border league is significant. And, of course, providing a high level of competition for China’s up-and-coming players is vital as the country’s women prepare for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Winter Games in 2022.

Coming up

Pre-season action steps up a gear next week with the first of the summer tournaments. The action starts Friday in Beijing, where Kunlun Red Star hosts the Renaissance Cup. The competition also involves two Chinese teams from the VHL and Arizona State University’s team, featuring Beijing-born Peter Zhong among its NCAA roster. On Saturday, it’s the Sochi Hockey Open, with the host taking on SKA, Avangard, Lokomotiv, Dinamo Riga and Russia’s ‘B’ team. Further afield, Spartak takes part in the Mountfield Cup in Hradec Kralove. Starting Sunday, the Red-and-Whites face two Czech opponents, host club HC Mountfield and Dynamo Pardubice, as well as former KHL team Slovan Bratislava.

Pre-season 2019. Day by day

The Ural club made a successful start to its pre-season campaign, easing past Czech team Pirati Chomutov by a 4-0 scoreline. Avtomobilist went into the game without Pavel Datsyuk and a host of other key players.

It wasn’t just the absence of Datsyuk that caught the eye when the rosters were announced. For this game on the road against Czech Extraliga opposition, Avtomobilist went shortbenched with just three lines. No imports were involved on the day, making the comfortable victory even more notable.

Alexander Protapovich, a 22-year-old forward, was the star of the show. Thus far, he’s played just three KHL games, and they were back in 2015/16, but today he scored twice and made a case for more action with the first team in the coming months. Vyacheslav Litovchenko and Nikita Setdikov each chipped in with a goal and an assist.

Meanwhile, we’re still waiting to Datsyuk in an Avtomobilist jersey, as well as anticipating Geoff Platt’s debut for the club. The team’s next game is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 1, with a trip to another Czech team, Karlovy Vary.

Statistics

Pirati Chomutov 0 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 4 (0-1, 0-3, 0-0)

Goals: 0-1 Litovchenko (Setdikov, Berezin 19:33); 0-2 Protapovich (Pilipenko, Gareyev 24:21); 0-3 Setdikov (Litovchenko PP 33:50); 0-4 Protapovich (39:27)

Goalies: Pavlat – Gross (40:00), Galkin (20:00)

Wednesday’s pre-season action saw Vityaz avenge its loss against Metallurg, while Salavat Yulaev began with a win over Neftekhimik.

Bright start for Salavat Yulaev

Salavat Yulaev and Neftekhimik set up their summer camps in neighboring towns in Finland, always a popular summer destination for Russian teams. Not surprisingly, then, they decided to meet up for a warm-up game in Pajulahti. For both teams, it was the first game of pre-season, although Salavat did have a two-way game among its own roster a few days earlier. For Neftekhimik, it was the first in-game test of the current roster.

Ufa’s head coach, Nikolai Tsulygin, opted to rest most of his leading players. Juha Metsola, Linus Omark, Teemu Hartikainen, Grigory Panin, Philip Larsen and Alexander Kadeikin were all left out of the line-up and continued their physical preparations. But that did not prevent Salavat from recording a victory. Two goals from forward Rodion Amirov led the team to a 4-2 verdict.

Statistics

Salavat Yulaev 4 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 2 (1-1, 2-0, 1-1)

Goals: 1-0 Burmistrov (Sergeyev, Lisovets 9:16); 1-1 Sharifyanov (13:12); 2-1 Amirov (Kugryshev, Lisovets PP 24:10); 3-1 Amirov (Lisovets, Kugryshev PP 29:10); 3-2 Avtsin (41:44); 4-2 Majorov (Gareyev, Gimatov 55:56).

Goalies: Kareyev, Sokhatsky – Barulin, Ozolin

Vityaz responds against Magnitka

Unlike most KHL teams, Vityaz and Metallurg were already playing their second game of pre-season, having met last week in Garmisch Partenkirchen, where Magnitka is having its summer camp. Vityaz is based in Bressanone, Italy, barely two hours drive away, and was happy to welcome its rival to its temporary home. In Germany, Pavel Dorofeyev was the difference-maker in a 3-2 win for Metallurg but once over the border, Vityaz got revenge.

From the start, Mikhail Kravets’ team was out to prove a point. Within the first period, it jumped to a 3-0 lead. Metallurg battled back and got to within a single goal but could not salvage the game. Joonas Nattinen and Danila Kvartalnov scored two goals apiece for Vityaz, Viktor Antipin netted twice for Magnitka.

Statistics

Vityaz Podolsk 4 Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3 (3-0, 0-1, 1-2)

Goals: 1-0 Nattinen (Jormakka, Alltonen 7:00); 2-0 Kvartalnov (Jerabek, Shevchenko 10:00); 3-0 Nattinen (Aaltonen, Lajunen PP 18:51); 3-1 Antipin (Nekolenko 37:30); 4-1 Kvartalnov (Mons 46:03); 4-2 Minulin (Antipin 47:23); 4-3 Antipin (49:32)

Goalies: Samonov, Saprykin – Galimov, Nosov.

Avtomobilist continued its pre-season build-up in the Czech Republic with a second warm-up game. This time the Ural club won 4-2 against Energia Karlovy Vary – but Pavel Datsyuk sat out the game once again.

Earlier in the week, Avto got its campaign underway with a 4-0 win over Pirati Chomutov despite resting its imports. This time, it was closer to a full-strength roster with the international brigade making a big contribution to the final scoreline. Peter Holland opened the scoring, Nigel Dawes increased the lead and Brooks Macek had an assist. Vladislav Gross kept goal.

STATISTICS

Energia Karlovy Vary 2 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 4 (1-3, 0-0, 1-1)

Goals: 0-1 Holland (Sexton PP 5:53); 0-2 Dawes (Macek, Bodrov 8:45); 1-2 Safar (14:03); 1-3 Obidin (Gareyev 14:36); 1-4 Mozer (Kucheryavenko, Litovchenko 42:27); 2-4 Rogan (Kubka 47:00)

Goalies: Novotny - Gross