Ice wars: new Russian hockey league will rival NHL
Published 26 January, 2008, 09:31
A new Russian Hockey League is being set up to challenge the dominance of America's NHL. However, the idea has caused a conflict with the Russian Hockey Federation, which is against it.
The Open Russian Hockey League is set to give the NHL a run for its money.
The league will have the backing of eight internationally renowned companies, including Russian energy major Gazprom.
When the league starts, it's likely to have only Russian teams. However, there are aims to include sides from Europe in the future.
The league's organisers, which include the head of the Russian Agency for Sport and Physical Education, Vyacheslav Fetisov, want to model the championship on the best parts of the NHL. That's why they've drafted in Scotty Bowman, a former Red Wings Head Coach.
Meanwhile, the head of the Russian Hockey Federation, Vladislav Tretyak, is against the idea.
“There are a number of problems at the moment. The clubs are worried because they don't know whether there'll be 16, 18 or 20 clubs in the new league. I get the feeling, the Open Russian Hockey League doesn’t know what they want,” he said.
Despite opposition from the Russian Hockey Federation, the Open Russian Hockey League is likely to be set up.
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