Legendary coach heads back to KHL – for one weekend only!
A former Gagarin Cup-winning coaching partnership is returning to Russia for a special engagement next month. In addition, the league announced ground-breaking plans for a new tournament format. Elsewhere, a celebrated Russian star scored a spectacular goal and a recent import finally got off the mark after 23 games without finding the net.
Keenan, Pelino are back
Mike Keenan and Mike Pelino, the first foreign coaches to win the Gagarin Cup with Metallurg in 2014, are heading back to the KHL. The duo will take charge of the KHL World Team at next month’s Channel 1 Cup in St. Petersburg. The special roster, comprised of the best imports in the league, will join Russia’s traditional international tournament, taking on Russia 25, Belarus and Kazakhstan at the SKA Arena from Dec. 12-15. Keenan admitted that there isn’t much time to prepare his team, but promised to create the most competitive roster possible as well as taking the opportunity to catch up with some old friends.
Mike Keenan and Mike Pelino will lead the KHL World Team at the Channel 1 Cup
KHL 3x3
The KHL is about to launch the first ever pro 3x3 hockey tournament. Starting On Dec. 19, eight teams will enter the 3x3 championship. The teams – Avangard, Ak Bars, Metallurg, Salavat Yulaev, Traktor, Barys and Dinamo Minsk – will contest a regular season of 312 games, played in 24 weekly rounds. That will determine the top three teams in each conference who advance to post season in June 2025. The final for the historic KHL 3x3 debut season is scheduled for July 13, 2025.
3x3 hockey is a fast-paced variation on the familiar 5x5 game. Played on a smaller rink, with fewer stoppages and end-to-end action, it is currently under consideration as an Olympic discipline for the 2030 Winter Games. It has previously been played at Youth Olympic Games in 2020 and 2024, but has never before had a full professional tournament.
KHL 3x3 Championship: 8 teams, 24 rounds and Superfinal in July
Kuznetsov’s wonder goal
SKA forward Evgeny Kuznetsov submitted his candidate for the 2024-2025 goal of the season award during his team’s 6-3 win over Amur. Kuznetsov collected a loose puck in front of the net, scooped it onto the blade of his stick and slung it into the top corner – effectively a lacrosse goal, but from the slot rather than reaching around the net. Definitely a moment worthy of the famous Bird celebration.
Another achievement for Shipachyov
Vadim Shipachyov continues to reach new milestones. His goal for Dinamo Minsk at Avangard took him to 294 KHL goals in his career. That puts him clear of Nigel Dawes on the all-time goalscoring chart, although there’s a long way to go to reach Sergei Mozyakin’s 419. Earlier in the season, Shipachyov overtook Mozyakin’s 928 points. His current tally is 938 (294+644).
Cassels scores at last
Avangard forward Cole Cassels hasn’t had the easiest of introductions to life in the KHL. After arriving from the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda in the summer, the 29-year-old American has struggled for points. Prior to the weekend, he had just three assists from 23 games. But he picked a great time to score his first, grabbing an overtime winner for the Hawks at Barys. That came after he played a significant role in his team’s last-minute equalizer to force the game into the extras. A much-changed Avangard roster moved up to eighth in the East on that win; could Cassels be hitting form in time to solve his team’s early-season struggles?
Trade news
Avangard remains active in the transfer market as the Hawks look to get back into the playoff places in the East. This week former Barys forward Mike McLeod (6 points in 16 games before the exodus of imports from Astana) joined the offense. On defense, Darren Dietz left the club, with Ryan Merkley of Kunlun coming in his place. Merkley has 8 (1+7) points from 19 games this season, and 37 in 83 in his KHL career.
Goalie Nikita Serebryakov is also heading to Omsk after an unhappy spell at SKA. Serebryakov starred for Admiral in 2022-2023, earning the goalie of the year award after helping the Sailors to the playoffs. But he struggled to secure the #1 role in St. Petersburg and, after falling from favor early this season, is heading east. Rookie goalie Stanislav Berezhnoi, 21, goes in the opposite direction. Forward Emil Galimov, 32, is also moving from Petersburg to Siberia after failing to feature for SKA this season.
Elsewhere, Kunlun Red Star signed Slovenian international forward Jan Drozg from Amur. He converted two attempts in a shoot-out on his debut, helping the Dragons to a first win at Avtomobilist since 2017. The Dragons also signed American defenseman Joe Duszak from Severstal. Neftekhimik cancelled its contract with Czech defenseman Lukas Klok due to family circumstances.
All-Star vote underway
The selection process for the 2025 Fonbet KHL All-Star Game is underway – and the first star has already been selected. Dinamo Minsk forward Sam Anas topped a poll on the Fonbet Overtime site to book his place at February’s big event in Novosibirsk. But there’s still a chance for you to have your say: fan voting for the first round of All-Star picks opened on Friday on the official FONBET KHL All-Star Game website and continues through Nov. 27. KHL lovers can vote for one goalie, one defenseman and two forwards from each of the four divisions to form the core of the teams for the action on Feb. 8 and 9 at Arena Sibir.
Make your choice! 2025 Fonbet KHL All-Star Game voting gets underway!
