The Continental Cup 2018-2019 begins

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)

Kazakhstan named new coach

Belarussian Andrei Skabelka, 47, was appointed as new coach of Kazakhstan national team, following his sign as new coach of Barys Astana. Last season Skabelka coached Avangard Omsk

(06 Jun 2018)

Bat Yam win Israeli League

An hattrick of former Neusser forward Evgeny Kozhevnikov gives HC Bat Yam the title of Israeli League, the third in the history of club, by beating 5-2 Canada Israel Hockey School Metula, at the first final after beating 6-5 SO reigning champion and regular season winner Rishon Le-Zion Ice Devils in the semifinals. Bat Yam won 9-4 the other semifinal against HC Kfar Saba that later forfeited the bronze game. Bat Yam Russian forward Artyom Verny finished as top scorer

(28 May 2018)

2018 Rona Cup cancelled

Due to work at the Pavol Demitra Arena, the traditional summer hockey tournament Rona Cup will not be held this year. An important part of the reconstruction will be the replacement of the old cooling technology. Since its beginning in 1994, the Rona Cup was not played only in 2016, again for work at the arena

(22 May 2018)

Yunost and Shakhtar become farm clubs of Dinamo Minsk

Yunost Minsk and Shakhtar Soligorsk will be both farm-clubs of Dinamo Minsk. The agreement was signed by the General Director of Dinamo Anatoly Kurilets, and the equal role Alexei Torbin (Yunost) and Yuri Budko (Shakhtar).

"Today we have made logical steps that will help further progress of all three teams. We ended the cooperation with Dinamo Maladzyechna that now is becoming an indipendent club.
Now we should give an opportunity to young Belarusian players to prove themselves. Cooperation with the leading clubs of our national championship will allow it to be done with the greatest efficiency" said Kurilets

(21 May 2018)

Belarus changes Head Coach

After three losses in the opening of the World Championship Belarus changes coach. Sergei Pushkov replaces Dave Lewis.

(08 May 2018)

Tomasz Rutkowski resigned

Tomasz Rutkowski is no longer the Manager of the Polish Ice Hockey Association. 53-year-old resigned with a short notice.
He worked for Polish Federation with various charges, included head coach of U18 and U20 national teams since May 2012.

(30 Apr 2018)

Donbass will build two arenas in Mariupol

The President of the HC Donbass, Boris Kolesnikov, announced the construction of two ice arenas in Mariupol.

The construction of a full-scale air bearing structure with an ice field of 60x30 meters should begin no later than June 1 and will be completed this year.

The second stage will be the construction of a multisport complex, for approximately 2,000 spectators, to be built at the end of 2019 - early 2020.

"At the age of 8, it is necessary to bring a child to a big hockey and at five years old - to figure skating - these are very early sports" said Boris Kolesnikov

(29 Apr 2018)