Fans flock to playoff games, Fedorov eyes repeat — the KHL week in review
The final week of the season is underway, and CSKA is in prime position to defend its title. Meanwhile, the 2023 playoffs have attracted record crowds. In international play, several KHLers are in action for Team China this week, while off the ice more clubs are beginning to shape their rosters for next season.
Can CSKA complete the repeat?
CSKA is one game away from repeating as Gagarin Cup champion. The Muscovites lost the opening game of this year’s final in Kazan, but reeled off three successive wins to lead Ak Bars 3-1. If Sergei Fedorov’s team finishes the job – and it could do that on Tuesday when Kazan hosts game five – it will join Ak Bars on three Gagarin Cup successes. It will also be only the third team to win back-to-back cups. Fedorov would continue his impressive record of never losing a playoff series as a head coach since taking up the CSKA job two seasons ago. Tuesday’s games starts 1930 Moscow time.
Kamenev’s late tally puts CSKA on the brink. April 23 playoffs
Post season attendance boom
This year’s playoffs set a new attendance record for the KHL. In 84 games played through Sunday, April 23, the combined attendance was 701,825. That beats the 696,169 fans who watched 86 games in the 2011 playoffs. With at least one more game to come, the 2023 post season will also see a new record average attendance at games.
Nemirovsky to Sibir
Former Torpedo head coach David Nemirovsky is the new man in charge at Sibir. His appointment was announced by the Siberians this week, following the departure of Andrei Martemyanov at the end of the season. Nemirovsky spent four seasons behind the bench at Torpedo. In three of them, he made the playoffs. The only year he missed out was the pandemic-affected 2020 campaign. Torpedo was well-regarded for its attractive hockey, but never made it past the first round of the playoffs. After leaving Nizhny Novgorod in 2022, the Canadian-born Russian dual national spent a year out of the game before taking the Sibir job.
In other coaching news, Vadim Yepanchintsev confirmed his departure from Amur. The Tigers failed to make the playoffs this season.
Three imports extend, one on the move
Last week saw three major imports sign new deals with their clubs, while defenseman Michal Cajkovsky complete a move to Spartak. French center Stephane Da Costa inked a new two-year deal at Avtomobilist, and spoke of how much he enjoys living in Yekaterinburg. American defenseman Brennan Menell also signed a two-year extension with Dynamo Moscow after he had 27 (2+25) points from 50 games in Blue-and-White this season. And Sibir’s leading scorer, Taylor Beck, is back for more after securing a deal that runs to the end of the 2025-2026 campaign. Meanwhile, Cajkovsky leaves Sibir to join Spartak Moscow. The 30-year-old Slovak defenseman previously played for Avtomobilist and Dynamo.
Winning start for China
Late April brings a busy international schedule. There’s plenty of KHL interest in World Championship Division IB, where Team China is looking to make it back-to-back promotions. The Chinese roster draws heavily on Kunlun Red Star players and is coached by the Dragons’ Greg Ireland. The opening game of the tournament in Tallinn saw China edge Ukraine 5-4 in overtime. Cory Kane got the winning goal, with Colin Joe, Brandon Yip, Tyler Wong and Jake Chelios also on target. The six-team tournament continues all week, with the winner of the round robin event moving up to next season’s Division IA.
Chaika close to lifting Kharlamov Cup
As well as the Gagarin Cup final, the Junior Hockey League’s Kharlamov Cup final is nearing its conclusion. Tomorrow in Nizhny Novgorod, Chaika takes on Omskiye Yastreby in game six. The home team can seal victory in Tuesday’s game as it currently leads the series 3-2. However, Omsk escaped defeat in game five on Sunday to prolong the series: Chaika tied that game in the final second of regulation through Artyom Misnikov’s goal, but the Yastreby got the winner after 15 minutes of OT. Vyacheslav Malov potted the decider.
