Lada can count on further support

The Kontinental Hockey League’s strategic development group held its first meeting this week in Moscow. The Committee for the KHL, which has been set up to promote the long-term future of the League, is intended to put forward innovative proposals to the Board of directors.

The committee is chaired by KHL president Alexander Medvedev, with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s president Yury Yakovlev and the KHL’s vice-president of hockey operations Vladimir Shalayev as deputy chairmen. The Development committee also involves the KHL’s first vice-president Vladimir Torzhkov, the league’s vice-president for commerce and communication Ilya Kochevrin, the director of the organization of sporting events Dmitry Kurbatov and the chairman of the disciplinary committee Vladimir Sarayev. Several club officials are also involved: Severstal Cherepovets director Anatoly Tenitsky, Metallurg Magnitogorsk CEO Gennady Velichkin, Sibir Novosibirsk general manager Alexander Kantsurov and directors of Ak Bars Kazan and Traktor Chelyabinsk Shamil Khusnutdinov and Isaac Valitsky.

At the opening meeting on November 9 the committee discussed the implementation of the league’s anti-doping program, the League’s financial and economic performances, reviewed the junior KHL draft for the 2009-10 season and discussed the main provisions of the League rules for next season. The new rules have been drawn up jointly with the Russian Hockey Federation’s program to develop refereeing in domestic hockey. Regular working meetings have been scheduled, and during the next break in the League program the Committee will meet to prepare several fundamental innovations for the highest management bodies of the KHL.

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The KHL is still keeping a close eye on the financial situation at Lada, and is well-informed about what is happening to the Togliatti team. The League is well aware of the seriousness of the situation and hopes for understanding from the club’s players. If Lada’s funding problems continue in the near future the League is once again ready to provide practical help to the club.

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