Swedish club wants to join KHL
Published: 19 November, 2009, 18:49
Edited: 20 November, 2009, 15:48
The Continental Hockey League has announced the signing of a protocol of intent with Swedish club AIK Stockholm, who have expressed a desire to join the competition.
The Scandinavians plan to make their KHL debut in the 2010/11 season, becoming the first Western European competitor in the league.
"We are delighted with the invitation to the Continental Hockey League. I think participation in the KHL can bring our club to the next level and create huge potential for future development,” Peter Mellkvist, AIK CEO, said.
AIK hockey club was established in 1921. They’ve won the national championship seven times since then.
The Stockholm team currently play in the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan, and have a well-developed infrastructure and a serious fan base.
The move comes as part of the framework of the project of a Pan European hockey league, which the KHL presented at the International Ice Hockey Federation congress in September.
"AIK’s interest in joining the KHL is very important for us. It shows a positive trend in the development of hockey and proves that the project to create a pan-European championship can be executed," Alexander Medvedev, KHL president, said.
The league now consists of 24 clubs – 21 of them are Russian and three more represent the former Soviet states of Belarus, Latvia and Kazakhstan.
But since the league's inception there has been ongoing discussion about expanding the league to at least 30 clubs.
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I think Continental Hockey League can accomidate Europe and Russia, which would make for very interesting hockey!!! Imagine how competitive their games will get and improve their profession. Then imagine National games and the Olympics! They'll be even more intense! So this is a wonderful idea and will be a perfect varient away from NHL which is more glove heavy.