HC Lev will not play in 2010-11 KHL Championship

 On June 7th the members of the Czech ice hockey federation’s executive committee voted unanimously against the Hradec Králové hockey club Lev appearing in the 2010-11 championship of the Kontinental Hockey League.

The Kontinental Hockey League, having earlier received HC Lev’s application, and having implemented a full inspection of the club’s infrastructure, and rendered help to the club in solving problems regarding financing and technical matters, officially announced that HK Lev (Hradec Králové) will not now appear in the KHL season 2010-11. The KHL express regret at the decision taken by the Czech ice hockey federation.

“Sadly, politicking is once again an obstacle, we hope a temporary one, to fresh ideas and initiatives in sport and business,” said KHL President Alevander Medvedev. “We know how many Czech players were eager to play for the Lev team and appear in the Kontinental Hockey League. We know too how Czech hockey fans supported the idea of having a club in our League and hoped to see their team play live against clubs from the KHL, and see their legendary compatriots Jagomir Jagr and Dominik Hasek. The decision by the executive committee deprives Czech hockey of not only having their own fully-fledged representative in the KHL, but also of many commercial opportunities from potential sponsors and partners.”