Author: Gary Laws

Feb82010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

KHL » Viktor Tikhonov: “I’ll be back in Phoenix next year”

Viktor Tikhonov: "I'll be back in Phoenix next year" (Photo © AP/Paul Connors) Viktor Tikhonov declared that he's not going to return back in Severstal next year. After scoring two goals to in the regular season contest between Severstal Cherepovets and Metallurg Novokuznetsk, he has been interviewed by a reporter of the local website sport-nk.ru. RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the most interesting parts of the interview: Where do you plan to spend the next season? Viktor Tikhonov: "I have to come back to Phoenix, I have a three years deal with them. Most likely I'm going to play there." Is there a big difference between the NHL and the KHL? Viktor Tikhonov: "A little bit in the game's speed. And the different rinks size too." You should follow us on Twitter

Feb72010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Alexander Medvedev: “I’ll talk to Kovalchuk’s wife”

Russian Players In NHL

Alexander Medvedev: "I'll talk to Kovalchuk's wife" (Photo © Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Alexander Medvedev's quest for signing Ilya Kovalchuk to a KHL contract for the 2010/11 season goes on, despite the recent trade that brought the Russian sniper to New Jersey. This is what SKA St. Petersburg's president said to gazeta.ru: Alexander Medvedev: "Atlanta already regrets that they parted with Kovalchuk. On the other hand New Jersey almost secured themselves a playoff spot. We are still considering to transfer Ilya to the KHL. I'm going to attend the game New Jersey - Philadelphia, I will talk to both Ilya and his wife after the match." Read also: SKA to offer Kovalchuk a contract? SKA of the KHL is interested in Kovalchuk

Feb62010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Anton Khudobin plays his first NHL game

Russian Players In NHL

Anton Khudobin plays his first NHL game (Photo © Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) Russian goalie Anton Khudobin played his first NHL game tuesday night, when his Minnesota Wild skated past the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. Khudobin, 23, has been iced in the game's third period after an injury occoured to Josh Harding. He reflected all the nine shot thrown towards his crease. "Yes, it was hard, but there's nothing you can do about it" - he told nhl.com after the game. "It's my job. My team mates said me to relax, and I thought that I only had to stop the first shot, then everything would be good." Most likely Khudobin will be the starting goalie in today's match against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Feb52010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Prospects » Vladimir Tarasenko: “I’m under contract for the next season”

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Vladimir Tarasenko: "I'm under contract for the next season" (Photo © Bruce Bennet/Getty Images) Vladimir Tarasenko, one of the top Russian players eligible for the upcoming 2010 NHL Entry Draft, confirmed that he is under contract for the 2010/11 season. RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the most interesting quotes from an interview recently appeared on Sibir Novosibirsk's official site. Vladimir, let's talk again about the recent WJC. There was a lot of speculation about the conflict between the team's head coach, Vladimir Plyuschev, and the team's captain, Nikita Filatov. If there is no team then there can't either be results. Do you agree? Vladimir Tarasenko: Yes, there was no team spirit. We couldn't work as a true team and I don't know who's to blame. But there are ...

Feb52010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Ilya Kovalchuk traded to New Jersey Devils

Russian Players In NHL

Ilya Kovalchuk traded to New Jersey Devils (Photo © AP Photo) Ilya Kovalchuk has been traded to the New Jersey Devils. It's rumored that before the trade the former Atlanta Thrashers captain, one of the NHL top snipers, turned down a 12-year offer. Kovalchuk costed the Devils defenseman Johnny Oduya, forward Nicklas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cormier and the Devils' 2010 first round pick. "New Jersey is a good team and it's a great chance to go far in the playoffs," Kovalchuk said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It's sad at the same time because now - I can say it - I've been a Thrasher for eight years. I'm appreciative of everything, the organization and the fans." Kovalchuk's first match as a New Jersey Devil will be on Friday night against Toronto. His first match against Atlanta ...

Jan312010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

KHL » Team Jagr triumph in the KHL All-Star Game

KHL News and Interviews

Team Jagr triumph in the KHL All-Star Game (Photo © khlallstar.ru) Team Jagr won the KHL All-Star game in Minsk with a 11-8 score, repeating last year's victory in the Red Square. The match was played in front of more than 15,000 spectators, including Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. Sergei Zubov, Andrei Mezin and Alexei Yashin have been named Team Yashin's players of the game, while for Team Jagr the honors went to Karri Ramo, Marcel Hossa and Ville Peltonen. Team Yashin - Team Jagr - 8:11 (1:4, 5:3, 2:4) 1:0 - Zaripov (Babchuk), 02:05 1:1 - Hossa (Strbak), 07:32 1:2 - Thoresen (Kukkonen, Peltonen), 11:59 1:3 - Hudler (Jagr, Weinhandl), 13:32 1:4 - Weinhandl (Jagr, Hudler), 14:52 2:4 - Yashin, 21:00 2:5 - Hudler (Weinhandl), 26:14 2:6 - Strbak (Jagr), 31:15 3:6 - Fedorov (Radulov), 31:59 4...

Jan292010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Linus Omark attempts a new penalty shot, but fails

KHL News and Interviews

Linus Omark attempts a new penalty shot, but fails (Photo © khl.ru) Linus Omark, who plays for Dynamo Moscow of the KHL, attempted another fancy shoot-out in the January 20th regular season match against Dynamo Minsk, months later his amazing goal against Team Switzerland that made him famous around one year ago. This season Omark scored so far 19 goals and 31 points in 50 regular season games with Dynamo. Here is the video of Omark's attempt:

Jan282010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

All-Star Game rosters released

KHL News and Interviews

All-Star Game rosters released (Photo © khlallstar.ru) The complete KHL All-Star Game rosters have been released today. The event will be held in Minsk, Belarus, on January 30th. This is how the rosters look like: Team Yashin (Russian stars) Goalkeepers: Georgy Gelashvili (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl); Andrei Mezin (Dynamo Minsk) Defenders: Sergei Zubov (SKA St. Petersburg); Ilya Nikulin (Ak Bars Kazan); Dmitriy Kalinin (Salavat Yulaev Ufa); Anton Babchuk (Avangard Omsk); Konstantin Korneev (CSKA Moscow); Vitaly Atyushov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk) Forwards: Alexei Yashin (SKA St. Petersburg); Alexander Radulov (Salavat Yulaev Ufa); Alexei Morozov (Ak Bars Kazan); Danis Zaripov (Ak Bars Kazan); Sergei Fedorov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk); Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant Mytischi); Alexei Tereschenko (Ak Bars Kaz...

Jan282010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Markov to Price: “We don’t need you here”

Russian Players In NHL

Markov to Price: "We don't need you here" (Photo © Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) After the Habs lost 4-3 in an overtime to the St. Louis, Russian defenceman Andrei Markov had something to say to their goalie Carey Price. According to the TEAM990 radio, Markov told Price "If you are not going to play with heart, stay home. We don't need you here." The same radio station reported that some players supported Markov while some part of the team sided with Price. The Montreal Canadiens didn't comment on the situation yet.

Jan282010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Nikita Filatov knocked down by Darcy Verot

KHL News and Interviews

Nikita Filatov knocked down by Darcy Verot (Photo © boeboda.ru) NHL Blue Jackets forward Nikita Filatov, playing on a loan basis for CSKA of the KHL, was knocked down by Darcy Verot of Vityaz Chekhov in Monday's game between Vityaz and CSKA. After the famous bench-clearing fight Vityaz, a team having an enormous for the KHL amount of tough guys, didn't fight at all. There were rumors that players were told not to fight in order to calm down fans. The KHL even warned Vityaz to exclude the team from the league in case of another cancelled game. The peace didn't last long as on Monday Darcy Verot knocked down youngster Nikita Filatov with a cheap shot to the head and got a game misconduct. Here is the video of Verot's cheap shot on Filatov: