Kontinental Hockey League

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Kontinental Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2012–13 KHL season
File:Kontinental Hockey League.svg
FormerlyRussian Superleague
SportIce hockey
Founded2008
CEOAlexander Medvedev
MottoХоккей – наша игра! Khokkei - nasha igra! (Hockey is our game!)[1]
No. of teams26
Country Russia (20 teams)
 Belarus (1 team)
 Kazakhstan (1 team)
 Latvia (1 team)
 Ukraine (1 team)
 Czech Republic (1 team)
 Slovakia (1 team)
Most recent
champion(s)		Russia Dynamo Moscow (1st title)
Most titlesRussia Ak Bars Kazan (2)
TV partner(s)KHL-TV (Russia (as part of the NTV Plus package), USA and Canada (part of ViaNetTV),[2] Latvia and international through KHL's website)
Russia 2 (Russia)[3]
Viasat (Finland, Sweden,[3] Norway, Denmark, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia)[4]
LTV7 (Latvia)
Nova Sport (Czech Republic, Slovakia)[5]
Sportdigital.tv (Germany)
Related
competitions		Russian Championship
Major Hockey League (VHL)
Minor Hockey League (MHL)
Official websiteKHL.ru (English)

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) (Russian: Континентальная хоккейная лига, Kontinental'naya khokkeynaya liga) is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. It is commonly considered to be the strongest hockey league in Europe, and the second-best in the world.[6]

The league was formed in 2008, from a predecessor organization, the Russian Superleague (RSL). The RSL, in turn, was a successor to the Soviet Championship League, which was founded in 1946 with only five teams. The KHL began its operations with 24 teams. After minor changes in the composition of the Russian teams and even a reduction to 23 teams for two seasons, the league is expected to expand to 26 teams for the 2012–13 season: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl will return after missing last season due to the air disaster in 2011, Slovan Bratislava from Slovakia and HC Donbass from Donetsk, Ukraine are set to join the league, while Lev Poprad will be replaced by HC Lev, a team with the same name, but based in Prague, Czech Republic. Thus, the league will for the first time consist of 26 teams, of which 20 are based in Russia and 6 more are located in Belarus, Czech Republic, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia and Ukraine.

The winner of the 16-team playoff after the end of the regular season is awarded the Gagarin Cup, named after the first man to reach space and orbit the Earth, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. The title of Champion of Russia is given to the highest ranked Russian team.[7]

Russians constitute a large majority of the players in the KHL because of its origins as the Soviet and Russian national league. Players not from Russia represent a minority of 33% of the KHL players, and are mostly Eastern European (17.0%), Scandinavian (7.7%), and North American (4.6%). In 2011–12, there were 701 players in the league.

Despite the word "Continental" traditionally being spelled with a C and not a K in the English language, the KHL transliterates the word with a K to distinguish it from numerous leagues that are abbreviated as CHL, such as the Canadian Hockey League and the Central Hockey League, and so that its abbreviation can look similar in both the Cyrillic and Roman alphabets.

Players

Though now not as restrictive in maintaining an exclusively Russian composition of players and teams, Russian teams are still not allowed to sign more than five foreign players, while non-Russian teams must have at least 5 players from their respective country. Foreign goaltenders in Russian teams have a limit regarding total seasonal ice time.[8]

Prior to the inaugural season, several KHL teams signed several players from the NHL.[9] A dispute between the two leagues over some of these signings was supposed to have been resolved by an agreement signed on July 10, 2008, whereby each league would honor the contracts of the other, but the signing of Alexander Radulov was made public one day after the agreement (though it was actually signed two days prior to the agreement taking effect),[10] leading to an investigation by the International Ice Hockey Federation.[11] On October 4, 2010, the conflict between the leagues was settled when both signed a new agreement to honor one another's contracts.[12]

KHL players are represented by the Kontinental Hockey League Players' Trade Union.[13]

Notable active players

The top four point scoring players in the 2010–11 season were Alexander Radulov (80 pts), Patrick Thoresen (65 pts), Roman Červenka and Sergei Mozyakin (61 pts each). The top goal scorers were Roman Červenka with 31, followed by Patrick Thoresen (29), Sergei Mozyakin (27), Ryan Vesce (25) and Igor Grigorenko with 24. The top plus-minus rating went to Alexei Morozov who was a +27. The top goaltenders (by wins) were Karri Rämö (33), Petri Vehanen (25), Dimitri Kotschnew (24), Dominik Hašek (23) and Bernd Brückler (22).

Nationalities of players

In the current season, players representing 14 nations have played at least one game in the KHL.[14][15] A player's nationality is for various reason sometimes ambiguous. For the table presented below, the nationality "is determined based on the last country that the player represented in international competition. If a player has never played for a national team, usually the country of birth is chosen as the player nationality, unless there is strong evidence indicating otherwise."[16] For players born in former Soviet republics, the situation is often more complex. Therefore, a list of players born in Ukraine gives case-by-case details for some of those players.

Country Players active
(2011–12)
Russia Russia (20 teams) 467
Czech Republic Czech Republic (1 team) 40
Finland Finland 33
Latvia Latvia (1 team) 27a
Slovakia Slovakia (1 team) 26
Canada Canada 26
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan (1 team) 26
Belarus Belarus (1 team) 22
Sweden Sweden 20
United States United States 6
Ukraine Ukraine (1 team) 4b
Norway Norway 3
Germany Germany 2
Austria Austria 1
TOTAL 701

a - For further information, see: List of Latvians in the KHL

b - For further information, see: List of Ukrainians in the KHL

Season structure

The league is divided into two conferences, East and West, and further into two divisions per conference. During the regular season, each team plays 54 games: four games against each of the teams in their own division (for a total of 20 games) and two games against each of the other teams (for a total of 34 games). Teams of the Tarasov division play two extra games each among each other to also reach the total of 54 games.

The eight top-ranked teams in each conference receive playoff berths. Within each conference quarterfinals, semifinals and finals are played before the conference winners play against each other for the Gagarin Cup. The division winners are seeded first and second in their conference, based on their regular season record. All playoff rounds are played as best-of-seven series.[17] In each round, the top seeded remaining team is paired with the lowest seeded team etc. This playoff structure is very similar to the current format of the NHL playoffs. In the playoffs, overtime periods last 20 minutes (or until a goal is scored). The number of overtime periods is not limited.

This playoff format does not allow the strongest teams to take the topmost positions in the KHL final standings when these teams are from the same conference. This is because the format makes the conferences equally represented in top two, four, eight and sixteen spots of the final standings, regardless of the relative strength of the conferences.[17]

Higher rank within the entire league after the regular stage of the championship does not give home ice advantage for a Gagarin Cup finalist, when the team have lower seed within their conference, than their opponent from the other conference.[17]

Teams in 2012–13

Note: the division alignment for the next season is not yet published. These maps and the table display the most likely scenario.

class=notpageimage|
Western conference teams (Divisions: : Bobrov, : Tarasov)
class=notpageimage|
Eastern conference teams (Divisions: :Kharlamov, : Chernyshev)

Template:KHL teams organization

History

Seasons overview

Season Gagarin Cup Winner Gagarin Cup finalist Continental Cup Winner Top scorer
2008–09 Russia Ak Bars Kazan Russia Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa* (129 points) Russia Sergei Mozyakin (76 points: 34 G, 42 A)
2009–10 Russia Ak Bars Kazan Russia HC MVD Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa (129 points) Russia Sergei Mozyakin (66 points: 27 G, 39 A)
2010–11 Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa Russia Atlant Moscow Oblast Russia Avangard Omsk (118 points) Russia Alexander Radulov (80 points: 20 G, 60 A)
2011–12 Russia Dynamo Moscow Russia Avangard Omsk Russia Traktor Chelyabinsk (114 points) Russia Alexander Radulov (63 points: 25 G, 38 A)

*: In the first season, Salavat Yulaev Ufa was the winner of the regular season, but the Continental Cup was not yet awarded.

Foundation (2008)

The KHL was founded in 2008 with 24 teams, the 20 teams from the last season of the Russian Superleague as well as the champion of the 2007–08 season of the second division. In addition, one team each from Latvia, Belarus and Kazakhstan were included. The teams were divided into 4 divisions, based on the performance in previous seasons. The first season got under way on 2 September 2008 and ended in April 2009 with Ak Bars Kazan becoming the first ever winner of the Gagarin Cup.

Introduction of conferences (2009)

In an effort to reduce the large travel distances for the teams, the second season saw the introduction of two conferences (East and West) and the re-alignment of the divisions according to geographical criteria. Despite efforts to expand the league to Central and Western Europe, only minor changes in the compositions of the Russian teams happened in the first three seasons. In the Gagarin Cup finals, teams from the East dominated with Ak Bars Kazan winning twice and Salavat Yulaev Ufa once.

Yaroslavl air disaster (2011)

The start of the fourth season was overshadowed by the Yaroslavl air disaster on 7 September 2011 in which almost the entire team of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl was killed shortly after take-off for their flight to their season opening game in Minsk. The Opening Cup game in Kazan, which was already under way when news of the disaster arrived, was abandoned and the start of the season postponed by 5 days. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl was forced to withdraw from the KHL season, but later played part of the VHL season and is expected to return to the KHL in 2012.

Expansion to Central Europe (2011 and 2012)

After several failed attempts of teams from Central Europe and Scandinavia to join the KHL, expansion beyond the borders of the former Soviet Union was finally realized in 2011. HC Lev, a newly founded team based in Poprad, Slovakia was admitted to the league. Lev failed to reach the play-offs, but managed to draw considerable interest and sold out many of their home matches. For the 2012–13 season, Lev is moving to Prague, Czech Republic, while Slovan Bratislava from Slovakia is set to join the KHL.[18] In addition, Ukraine's HC Donbass will join the league in 2012 after competing in the Russian Major League the previous season.

Statistics

Single season records

Regular season[19]

Record Name Season
Points 80 Russia Alexander Radulov (Ufa) 2010–11
Goals 35 Czech Republic Jan Marek (Magnitogorsk)
Czech Republic Pavel Brendl (N. Novgorod)
Slovakia Marcel Hossa (Riga) 		2008–09
2008–09
2009–10
Assists 60 Russia Alexander Radulov (Ufa) 2010–11
Shots on goal 234 Canada Kevin Dallman (Astana) 2011–12
Plus/minus +45 Norway Patrick Thoresen (Ufa) 2009–10
Penalty minutes 374 Canada Darcy Verot (Chekhov) 2009–10
Wins (goaltender) 33 Finland Karri Rämö (Omsk) 2010–11
Shutouts 9 United States Robert Esche (St. Petersburg) 2008–09

Playoffs[19]

Record Name Season
Points 22 Czech Republic Josef Vašíček (Yaroslavl) 2010–11
Goals 14 Russia Mikhail Anisin (Dyn. Moscow) 2011–12
Assists 15 Czech Republic Josef Vašíček (Yaroslavl)
Slovakia Pavol Demitra (Yaroslavl)
Norway Patrick Thoresen (Ufa)
Russia Alexander Radulov (Ufa)
 2010–11
2010–11
2010–11
2010–11
Shots on goal 77 Russia Sergey Mozyakin (Mytishchi) 2010–11
Plus/minus +15 Czech Republic Josef Vašíček (Yaroslavl) 2009–10
Penalty minutes 69 Russia Grigori Panin (Kazan) 2008–09
Wins (goaltender) 16 Russia Alexander Eremenko (Dyn. Moscow) 2011–12
Shutouts 5 Russia Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl) 2008–09

Career records

Regular season[19]

Record Name Years
Points 254 Russia Alexander Radulov (Ufa) 2008–2012
Goals 108 Russia Sergei Mozyakin (Mytishchi, Magnitogorsk) 2008–2012
Assists 163 Russia Alexander Radulov (Ufa) 2008–2012
Games played 219 Russia Sergei Mozyakin (Mytishchi, Magnitogorsk)
Latvia Miķelis Rēdlihs (Riga) 		2008–2012
Plus/minus +98 Russia Alexander Radulov (Ufa) 2008–2012
Penalty minutes 798 Canada Darcy Verot (Chekhov, CSKA) 2008–2012
Wins (goaltender) 84 Canada Michael Garnett (HC MVD, Dynamo M, Chelyabinsk) 2008–2012
Shutouts 24 Russia Vasily Koshechkin (Togliatti, Magnitogorsk, Cherepovets) 2008–2012

Playoffs[19]

Record Name Years
Points 50 Czech Republic Josef Vašíček (Yarolslavl) 2008–2011
Goals 22 Russia Aleksey Morozov (Kazan) 2008–2012
Assists 34 Russia Alexander Radulov (Ufa) 2008–2012
Games played 67 Russia Andrei Pervyshin (Kazan, Omsk, SKA) 2008–2012
Plus/minus +26 Russia Ilya Gorokhov (Yarolslavl, Ufa, Dynamo Msc, Atlant) 2008–2012
Penalty minutes 143 Russia Fedor Fedorov (Nizhnekamsk, Magnitogorsk, Atlant, SKA) 2008–2012
Wins (goaltender) 34 Russia Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl, Magnitogorsk) 2008–2012
Shutouts 7 Russia Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl, Magnitogorsk) 2008–2012

All-time team records

Since its foundation in 2008, 27 clubs have played in the KHL. Only three of the current teams have not yet played in the play-offs. The table gives the final regular-season ranks for all teams, with the play-off performance encoded in colors.

 [a]: includes record of Dynamo Moscow before the merger with HC MVD in 2010

Trophies and awards

The winner of the play-off is awarded the Gagarin Cup, the KHL Champion title and the Russian Champion title, regardless of the country the club represents. The team ranked first in the standings after the regular season, i.e. the winner of the regular season, is awarded the Continental Cup[20] (Russian: Кубок Континента, Kubok Kontinenta). The winners of the conference finals are awarded the Eastern Conference Champion Cup (Russian: Кубок Победителю конференции Восток, Kubok Pobeditelyu konferentsii Vostok) and the Western Conference Champion Cup (Russian: Кубок Победителю конференции Запад, Kubok Pobeditelyu konferentsii Zapad).[21]

The KHL presents annual awards to its most successful players. In 2012, a total of 20 trophies in various categories were awarded. Among the winners were Alexander Radulov (regular season MVP), Oleg Znarok (coach of the year) and Dmitry Lugin (rookie of the year).[22]

The KHL also awards the Lokomotiv Cup annually to the winner of the first game between the Gagarin Cup winner and the runner-up of the previous season. The Cup, originally known as the Opening Cup, was renamed in the wake of the plane crash that killed 36 Lokomotiv players and staff in 2011.

Season Lokomotiv Cup Winner Gold Stick Award (MVP)
2008/09 Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa Russia Danis Zaripov
2009/10 Russia Ak Bars Kazan Russia Alexander Radulov
2010/11 Russia Dynamo Moscow Russia Alexander Radulov
2011/12 Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa Russia Alexander Radulov

See also

References

  1. ^ "Новый игровой ролик КХЛ "Пробка"" (in Russian). khl.ru. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  2. ^ "Crossing the Atlantic". khl.ru. 2010-04-20.
  3. ^ a b "Kontinental Hockey League And TV Channel Sport Ratified An Agreement On KHL Championship Games Broadcast In 2009/2010 Season". en.khl.ru. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  4. ^ "Kontinental Hockey League Signed An Agreement With Viasat". khl.ru. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  5. ^ "Jágr a KHL budou v televizi. Práva koupil Nova sport". Týden.cz. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  6. ^ "World of difference for KHL?". iihf.com. 2012-05-07.
  7. ^ "About the KHL". khl.ru.
  8. ^ "Навстречу Федерации, во имя Сочи". khl.ru. 2012-04-11.
  9. ^ Emery signs one-year deal with Russian team - tsn.ca
  10. ^ Radulov on His Return to Russia - NHL FanHouse
  11. ^ Predator inks debatable deal - iihf.com
  12. ^ "NHL signs agreement with KHL". ESPN.com. 2010-10-04. Retrieved 2010-10-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Kontinental Hockey League Players' Trade Union" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  14. ^ "KHL Totals by Nationality – 2011-12 Stats". quanthockey.com.
  15. ^ "KHL Totals by Nationality – 2011-12 Goalie Stats". quanthockey.com.
  16. ^ "QuantHockey FAQ: How is player nationality determined?". quanthockey.com.
  17. ^ a b c Structure and terms for the second stage of 2011-12 KHL championship - Russian Open Ice Hockey Championship Template:Ru icon
  18. ^ "Lev from Slovakia to Prague". IIHF.com. 2012-03-30.
  19. ^ a b c d "Kontinental Hockey League Records".
  20. ^ "Ufa's first trophy". khl.ru. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  21. ^ "Новые трофеи Лиги". khl.ru. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  22. ^ "The League's Finest". KHL.ru. 2012-05-23.

External links

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