Champions Hockey League 18-19 Preview

Ziga Jeglich suspended 8 months

The IIHF issued a verdict on the case of Slovenian national team player Ziga Jeglic. He receives an eight-month suspension, until October 20, 2018.

During the Olympics 2018, a fenoterol drug was found in the hockey player's test. The hockey player recognized the violation of the anti-doping rules, and was suspended from the remaining matches of the Slovenian national team. In Korea Jeglich scored one goal. He accepted a voluntary suspension until the date of the final decision
Jeglic played in the KHL last season for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and Neftekhimik. After reporting a positive doping test, he left the Nizhnekamsk club.

(13 Aug 2018)

Ivo Jan will coach Slovenia

Vipiteno Broncos head coach Ivo Jan will coach Slovenia national team keeping his job at the Italian team competing in Alps Hockey League.
Matjaz Kopitar, father of Los Angeles superstar Anze, was originally supposed to coach the Slovenian national team, but he cancelled the contract accepting a scout role at Los Angeles Kings.
The 43-year-old signed a 1+1 year contract, heading Slovenia at the 2019 World Championship Division I in Astana against Belarus, South Korea, Lithuania, Hungary and Kazakhstan

(09 Aug 2018)

Ilya Vorobyev and Harijs Vitolins awarded

Ilya Vorobyev and Harijs Vitolins, head coach and assistant of Russia national team, were awared by President Vladimir Putin with the Order of Friendship and the Order of Alexander Nevsky respectively "for the successful preparation of athletes who have achieved high sporting achievements at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang"
Russian hockey team, competed in Korea under the status of the Olympic athletes from Russia, won gold medals.

The Order of Friendship rewards foreign nationals whose work, deeds and efforts have been aimed at the betterment of relations with the Russian Federation and its people.

The Order of Alexander Nevsky is awarded to citizens of the Russian Federation who have achieved special personal merit in nation-building and for strengthening the international prestige of Russia

(01 Aug 2018)

Former goalie Yuri Shundrov passed away

Former goalkeeper Yuri Shundrov passed away at 62 as reported by the official website of the Ukrainian Hockey Federation.

Shundrov, born in Penza, Russia, played for 16 years for Sokil Kyiv, winning a bronze medals of the USSR championship and several titles of champion of Ukraine. He closed the career in Romania, with Rapid Bucharest.

With the national team of Ukraine played in four World championships: 1995, 1997, 1998 and 1999, winning the award as best goalie in 1998. He was back in national team as assistant coach in 2007 and 2010

After the retirement, Shundrov worked as goalies' coach at Metallurg Magnitogorsk, CSKA Moscow, Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk and until last season at HC Sochi

(01 Aug 2018)

Sergei Pushkov named Coach of the Year in Belarus

A jury of 51 journalists voted champion Neman Grodno Sergei Pushkov as Coach of the Year in Belarus, for the second consecutive season. The 54-year-old Russian coach preceded Belarus U18 coach Pavel Perepekhin, who lead the national team at the final 8th place at World Championship and current Barys Astana coach Andrei Skabelka.

(18 Jul 2018)

Yevgeny Rymarev is the Kazakhstan Player of the Year

Kazzin Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk captain Yevgeny Rymarev was named Kazakhstan Player of the Year for the 2017-2018 season. Rymarev preceded Avangard Omsk left-winger Semyon Koshelev - who plays with Russian passport - Barys Astana duo Roman Starchenko (winner in 2013 and 2015) and the KHL Top-Scorer Nigel Dawes and the winner of last season, Nomad and Barys forward Nikita Mikhailis

(29 Jun 2018)

Sergei Ogorodnikov passed away

Former Russian national team player Sergei Ogorodnikov passed away at 32, as a result of injuries after an accident on a water scooter.
Drafted by New York Islanders in 2004, Ogorodnikov played in US in 2006-07 season for Bridgeport Sound Tigers and defunct Pensacola Ice Pilots (ECHL), appearing in 127 games of KHL for CSKA Moscow, Dynamo Moscow, Lada Togliatti, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg and Metallurg Novokuznetsk with experiences abroad in Belarus (Gomel and Zhlobin), Kazakhstan (Sary Arka)and Poland (Podhale Nowy Targ) last season.
With Russia national team won the gold medal at WJC 18 in 2004 in Belarus, beating 3-2 USA, playing along with Anton Khudobin, Alexander Radulov and Evgeny Malkin and the silver medal at WJC U20 2006

(25 Jun 2018)

Erste Liga expands to 11 teams

- ersteliga.hu

The Erste Liga has expanded from nine teams during the 2017-18 season to 11 team for the upcoming 2017-18 season. There will be four new teams in the league as Vasas, DEAC, KMH and Gyergyói HK will be additions to the league. The Hungarian Ice Hockey Federations and the league has approved this. MAC Budapest and DVTK Jegesmedvék will be only playing in the Slovak Extraliga, thus the ERSTE Liga will have 11 teams.

Vasas, DEAC, KMH and Gyergyói HK have successfully applied to joining the ERSTE Liga and have the support of the Hungarian Ice Hockey Federation.

The league currently has 13 teams, Corona Brasov Wolves, Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák, DEAC, DVTK Jegesmedvék, Fehérvári Titánok, Ferencvárosi TC, Gyergyói HK, KMH Budapest, MAC Budapest, SC Csíkszereda, UTE, Vasas HC and the Vienna Capitals.

Of these 13 teams MAC Budapest and DVTK Jegesmedvék did not apply to participate in the upcoming season. There were be 11 teams competing for the championship during the 2018-19 season.

(23 Jun 2018)