KHL continues European expansion with Ukrainian team

by Dirk Hoag on Mar 19, 2010 11:33 AM EDT Comment 3 comments

This press release came from the KHL this morning:

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and Ukrainian hockey club Budivelnyk in Kiev have signed a letter of intent for the club to participate in the 2010-2011 KHL season.

The agreement stipulates that the KHL will consider allowing the club to participate in the league starting next season if it meets the appropriate rules, regulations and by laws necessary. Further, the KHL is asking the club to commit to an active role in the growth and development of European, continental and world hockey.

As an immediate next step, the KHL and Budivelnyk have agreed that the deadline for the club to provide the financial guarantees necessary to participate in the 2010-2011 season will be April 1, 2010.

Today's news follows the recent announcement that the KHL has also signed a letter of intent with Czech club Lion, located in the city Hradec Kralove, for their participation in the 2010-2011 season, pending their meeting all necessary requirements.

Outside Russia, the KHL currently has teams in Belarus, Latvia and Kazakhstan, and besides the new Czech franchise, may also have a team in Stockholm, Sweden next season as well.

In the past, there has been tentative discussion about the NHL possibly creating a European division, but unless they get moving, the KHL may beat them to the punch.

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About AIK

As a Norwegian I know a bit about AIK and they are famous for economic struggles, bad organization and is not in the elite league right now. If they get added to KHL, the joke will only get bigger.

by Andy from FightNight on Mar 19, 2010 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks for joining the site!

I understand they’re currently in the 2nd division of the SEL right now, correct? You have to wonder if they’re going to be subsidized somehow by the KHL in order to be able to compete.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Mar 19, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I start to wonder about this whole KHL thing. They already have 24 teams in a league that’s only two years old in its present format. (Obviously, most of the teams were in the Russian Superleague before that.) I would think that with the economic situation, finding solid additions with solid financial footing would be tough to do… Are they growing too big, too fast for their own good? Are they trying to be an NHL-quality league in time for 2014, and will that bite them in the zadnitsa?

by WestSideDrew on Mar 19, 2010 11:06 PM EDT reply actions