Potential Kontinental Hockey League expansion

The potential of including additional franchises to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) has been an ongoing topic since the league's inception. In June 2012, the league presented a plan that would see expansion to as many as 64 teams in up to 22 countries.[1] It has later been stated that the league only can comprise 32 teams, because of problems with logistics with more teams.[2]

## Proposed pan-European league[edit]

United Hockey Europe was the first proposed pan-European ice hockey league. It was announced at the International Ice Hockey Federation's September 2009 congress by Alexander Medvedev, president of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).[3]

The proposed league would have consisted of two conferences split into four divisions. The current KHL would have made up one of the conferences. The other conference would have been composed of a Scandinavian division and a Central European division. The winners of the two conferences would have played each other for the overall championship.[3]

The proposal of June 2012 at the International Hockey Forum in Barcelona was an updated version of this plan, that would see two conferences of 32 teams each, playing a 62-game regular schedule followed by five rounds of playoffs.[1]

The KHL would essentially replace the current model of European hockey based on promotion and relegation within national systems, supplemented by an international tournament, most recently the Champions Hockey League, and replace it with a system of franchises much like that of the North American National Hockey League (NHL).

## Central and Western Europe[edit]

The Czech Republic's HC Energie Karlovy Vary[4][5] signed letters of intent with the KHL in 2008 and hoped to begin playing in the 2009–10 season.[6] However, they had to annul plans to join the league[7] due to the financial crisis of 2007–2010.[8]

German teams Eisbären Berlin[9] and Kölner Haie[10] have been approached by the KHL but are currently not considering joining the league. The KHL also wants to expand to Austria by affiliating EC Red Bull Salzburg. SKA Saint Petersburg General manager Barry Smith said that an affiliation may be possible in three or four years. Red Bull and team owner Dietrich Mateschitz, however, favours playing in the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga.[11][12]

Italian hockey club Hockey Milano Rossoblu was slated to join the KHL in the 2012–13 season[13] but the move was delayed due to a small arena, tight finances and the club being too underdeveloped. In October 2012, they indicated plans intending to join in 2013–14.[14] There has been doubt about Milano's accession to KHL, as the negotiations have lasted several years. However, both KHL and Milano are still positive to accession, concluded from a meeting in February 2014.[15]

A group from Switzerland was interested in starting an expansion team in Huttwil for the 2014–15 season.[16]

The owners of Polish club Olivia, based in Gdańsk, have applied in January 2013 for a new team, Oliva Gdansk, to join the KHL and play home games at Ergo Arena.[17]

In September 2016, KHL president Dmitry Chernyshenko stated, while they were still negotiating with a new team from London, there were also requests from Milan, Dresden and Geneva.[18]

## Northern Europe[edit]

Scandinavium in Gothenburg has hosted the World Championships in 1981 and 2002.

On 28 April 2009, it was reported that Swedish teams HV71, Linköpings HC, Färjestad BK, Frölunda HC and Djurgårdens IF (of which Färjestad and Frölunda have had offers previously from the KHL) had terminated their shareholders' agreements with Elitserien (now named the Swedish Hockey League or SHL).[19] This caused speculation as to whether they wanted to join the KHL or create a new league as an expansion of the Nordic Trophy. None of the clubs officially said that they wanted to stop playing in the Elitserien, although the seven remaining clubs drew such conclusions.[20] The quarrel was resolved on 16 November 2011, when the plans were officially put down. All clubs agreed to continue their operation in Elitserien.[21][22]

It is possible that the KHL will have a new team from Vilnius, Lithuania. In Autumn of 2009, KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg and Ak Bars Kazan played an exhibition game there, with more such games likely in the future. The main hurdles to be overcome for bringing a team there is funding, as well as the fact that basketball is a more popular sport in the region.[23] The team would be called Vėtra Vilnius, and would be an expansion of the Sports Association Vėtra.[24]

In November 2009, the KHL and AIK IF from Stockholm, Sweden (at that time playing in the HockeyAllsvenskan) signed a document inviting AIK to become a member of the KHL, and join the league beginning in the 2010–11 season, provided that AIK observed all the terms and conditions, and met all KHL admission criteria.[25] AIK's interest was largely due to the club's serious financial problems at that time, however, in the end, AIK were unable to join after the plan was rejected by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association.[26] Later during the 2009–10 season, AIK were promoted back to the top Swedish league, which stabilized their finances for the time being. In January 2016, SIHA manager Mikael Lundström stated that they're stopping all Swedish teams from joining the KHL. According to Russia Today News, Finnish team Kärpät from Liiga was also interested.[27] Another real candidate from Finland may have been the Espoo Blues,[28] but they went bankrupt at the end of the 2015–16 Liiga season.

In March 2016, information reached media about plans to form a team in Sweden-the Crowns-that intended to join the KHL for the 2016–17 season. Their plan was to hold the matches in Malmö, Oslo, Copenhagen, Lillehammer and Stockholm.[29] However, IIHF CEO René Fasel stated that as long as the national federation is against KHL play, the IIHF will not approve new KHL teams from that nation. This made the Crowns' plan impossible, as the SIHA rejects any KHL participation from Swedish teams; the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia also did not approve.[30]

## Eastern Europe[edit]

The Belarus Ice Hockey Federation has announced that it plans to include up to four Belarusian teams in the KHL, with league VP Vladimir Shalaev confirming the prospect of adding a second Belarusian KHL team for the 2009–10 season.[12][31] Of these, Yunost Minsk, along with HK Gomel (which may relocate to Babruysk due to arena complications) of the Belarusian Extraleague, are actively taking steps to join the KHL.[31][32]

Ukraine's Sokil Kiev has attempted to join, but financial issues have delayed a bid. They have a new 12,000-seat arena due in 2012 and are currently in negotiation with the KHL to join in the near future. President of the Hockey Federation of Ukraine, Anatoliy Brezvin, stated "I can not say under what brand it will be [...] Sokil, HC Kiev or some other. But there is some agreement that the next season will be [a] team from Ukraine, with Ukrainian players in the KHL."[33] Also from Kiev, the expansion HC Budivelnyk had signed letters of intent and planned on joining the KHL for the 2010–11 season, but support fell through due to bureaucratic complications with the arena. Budivelnyk had even signed several players and personnel in order to ice a team for the coming season. HC Berkut has stated its goals are to build a new arena and join the KHL.[34]

Russian team Krylya Sovetov were interested to join the league for the 2010–11 season;[35] however, after 2011 they were not able to continue to operate as a professional hockey club and withdrew from the championship on all levels.

## Central Asia[edit]

### Kazakhstan[edit]

Kazzinc-Torpedo, currently playing in the Supreme Hockey League, has been in negotiations to join the KHL.[36] The club, formerly known as Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk, used to play in the highest division during the Soviet era. Torpedo has typically been the most dominant developmental club in Kazakhstan. Most Kazakh players who have reached the NHL trace their roots to Torpedo.[37]

### Uzbekistan[edit]

It was reported that Binokor Tashkent which played in Uzbekistan Hockey League could appear in the Kontinental Hockey League in either 2018/19 or 2019/20 after the proposed opening of Humo Arena.[38]

In March 2019, Binokor Tashkent reportedly had a pathway of entering KHL via competing in second-tier league VHL by 2020 at the earliest. The possible time for getting into KHL will be 2022 with training adequate players and sufficient preparations. Newly opened Humo Arena will host home matches for Binokor.[39] On 31 May 2019 it was announced that Humo Tashkent would be joining the VHL for the 2019–20 season and not Binokor Tashkent as originally assumed.[40]

## East Asia[edit]

Former ice hockey player and member of the council of the Ice hockey Federation Viacheslav Fetisov, has expressed hopes of expanding the KHL into several countries in East Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea and even North Korea;[41] and the development of a Far East division in KHL was discussed in a meeting with the board in July, 2014.[42]

## Gulf Nations[edit]

In August 2018, vice-president of KHL commented on the possibility of expanding the league in UAE.[43] There was no official discussion with UAE Ice Sports Federation.

In February 2019, president of the Emirates Ice Hockey League (EHL) Vladimir Burdun announced the goal of entering an UAE team in KHL by 2021. He also aimed at strengthening UAE ice hockey team by 2020, in order to get players ready for NHL. A new ice arena is expected to open in Abu Dhabi in 2019 which meets all the requirements of the KHL.[44] The plan was to replicate the success of another ice hockey team situated in deserts, Vegas Golden Knights. NHL and KHL stars such as Pavel Datsyuk, Sergei Mozyakin, Alexander Ovechkin were mentioned to improve competitiveness.[45]

## Teams currently involved[edit]

Team  | City/Area  | League  | Status

|
|
|

Genève-Servette HC | Geneva | National League | Expressed hopes to join in the future.[18][46]
Ilves Tallinn | Tallinn | Expansion  | Had intentions to join prior to 2016–17 season.[47][48]
Crowns[49] | Malmö and Stockholm[50] | Expansion  | Had intentions to join prior to 2016–17 season;[47] now possible for the 2017–18 season.[51]
London Emperors | London | Expansion  | Had intentions to join prior to 2016–17 season.[47] Requires new arena.[48]
ORG Star Ice Hockey Club | Beijing | Expansion  | Expressed hopes to join in the future.[52]
Binokor Tashkent | Tashkent | Uzbekistan Hockey League | Could join in either 2018–19 or 2019–20. Terms of the club's admission into the league directly depend on the date of putting their new arena (Humo Arena) into operation.[53]
Vålerenga Ishockey | Oslo | GET-ligaen | Vålerenga discussed joining the KHL in 2014–15,[54] and again in 2015–16.[55]
Stavanger Oilers | Stavanger | GET-ligaen | Expressed hopes to join in the future.[56]
Rubin Tyumen | Tyumen | Supreme Hockey League | Requires new arena.[57]
Hockey Milano Rossoblu | Milan | Elite.A (formally Serie A)  | Have had partnership with the KHL since 2011.[14][58] Unclear if and when the team will join the league.
Olivia Gdańsk | Gdańsk | Expansion  | Applied for KHL expansion prior to 2013–14 season, but were not approved for financial reasons.[59]
Huttwil Helvetics | Huttwil | Expansion  | Planned to join league in 2015.

## See also[edit]

* Kontinental Hockey League team changes

## References[edit]

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4. ^ ЮРИН, Владимир (2008-05-16). ЧЕРЕЗ ГОД БУДЕМ ИГРАТЬ С "КАРЛОВЫМИ ВАРАМИ" (in Russian). Sport-Express.
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14. ^ a b "Milan's big league aspirations". Iihf.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
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17. ^ "Gdansk is ready to land in KHL". Eurohockey.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
18. ^ a b "Чернышенко: до 15 сентября замораживаем трансферы трёх клубов КХЛ". 2 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
19. ^ "Elitserieklubbar vill starta liga med KHL". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
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21. ^ Pettersson Kymmer, Peter (2011-11-16). "Skippar Europaligan". Göteborgsposten (in Swedish). gp.se. Archived from the original on 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
22. ^ "Svenska planer på Europaliga läggs ned". Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå (in Swedish). hockey.expressen.se. 2011-11-17. Archived from the original on 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
23. ^ Merk, Martin (2009-10-14). "Going East and West". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
24. ^ Grellet, Jared (31 October 2009). "A second KHL team for the Baltics?". Baltic Reports. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
25. ^ Swede dreams. en.khl.ru, November 19, 2009
26. ^ Grefve, Daniel (2010-02-23). "AIK får inte spela i KHL". Sportbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 2014-02-24.
27. ^ Russian league set to rival NHL (Television News Production). YouTube. 2008-04-10. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20.
28. ^ Александр Медведев: "Всех ждет драфт отказов". Sport Express (in Russian). 21 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
29. ^ "Next season in the KHL, you may receive a club from Sweden". 14 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
30. ^ Wennerholm, Mats (9 May 2016). "The hockey base: "This is an impossibility"". Sportbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 January 2020.
31. ^ a b "ХОККЕЙ - С ШАЙБОЙ - КХЛ". Archived from the original on March 14, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
32. ^ ""Юность" хочет участвовать в КХЛ - Газета.Ru | Новости". Gazeta.ru. 2008-04-26. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
33. ^ Сергей Гапшенко. "Сокол будет в КХЛ?". iSport.ua. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
34. ^ "ПХЛ выходит на старт". ПХЛ выходит на старт. HCDonbass.com. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
35. ^ "Хоккей на AllHockey.Ru - "Крылья Советов" планируют через год играть в КХЛ". Allhockey.ru. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
36. ^ "Torpedo". Retrieved 2009-11-09.
37. ^ "Young Kazakhs gaining international experience - NHL.com - Across the Pond". NHL.com. 2008-12-31. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
38. ^ "Хоккейный клуб из Ташкента может появиться в КХЛ в 2018 или 2019 году" (in Russian). Rsport. 11 November 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
39. ^ "Клуб из Узбекистана будет играть в ВХЛ, после ОИ-2022 он может войти в КХЛ" (in Russian). Чемпионат. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
40. ^ "Tashkent-based Humo club to play in Higher Hockey League in 2019-2020 season". Tashkent Times. June 3, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
41. ^ Farid Bektemirov. "Russian hockey goes east | Russia Beyond The Headlines ASIA". Rbth.asia. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
42. ^ "Состоялись заседания руководящих органов КХЛ". 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
43. ^ Mattias Ek (2019-02-20). "Vill locka NHL-stjärnor till KHL-lag i Dubai" (in Swedish). HockeyNews.se. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
44. ^ Sam Bridge (2018-11-23). "How one Russian expat aims to make the UAE an ice hockey force". Arabian Business. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
45. ^ Aivis Kalnins (2019-02-20). "Russian businessman talks KHL expansion to Dubai". HockeyBuzz. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
46. ^ "Genf bekundet scheinbar Interesse an KHL". 3 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
47. ^ a b c "Tallinnan Ilves ei pelaa KHL:ssä ensi kaudella". 3 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
48. ^ a b "Who can really join the KHL?". Eurohockey. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
49. ^ "Legendarer leder svenskt KHL-lag". 13 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
50. ^ "Uppgifter: Malmö kan få ett KHL-lag snart". 26 February 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
51. ^ "Шведский клуб "Краунс" в ближайшем сезоне в КХЛ выступать не будет - Кобылянский". rsport.ru. May 18, 2016.
52. ^ KHL vill ha två lag i Kina, Retrieved May 14, 2016
53. ^ Хоккейный клуб из Ташкента может появиться в КХЛ в 2018 или 2019 году (in Russian), Retrieved November 12, 2017
54. ^ "Vålerenga Ishockey er ett steg nærmere en plass i KHL". Retrieved 2014-05-02.
55. ^ "Vålerengas KHL-drøm lagt på is til 2015/16". Retrieved 2014-05-02.
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57. ^ "Владимир Шалаев: Серьезно рассматриваем только "Югру" и "Будевельник"". Retrieved 1 April 2010.
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* t
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Kontinental Hockey League

| Western Conference| Eastern Conference

|

Bobrov Division

SKA Saint Petersburg

Sochi

Spartak Moscow

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

Vityaz Moscow Region

Tarasov Division

CSKA Moscow

Dinamo Minsk

Dynamo Moscow

Kunlun Red Star

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

Severstal Cherepovets

Kharlamov Division

Ak Bars Kazan

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg

Lada Togliatti

Metallurg Magnitogorsk

Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk

Traktor Chelyabinsk

Chernyshev Division

Admiral Vladivostok

Amur Khabarovsk

Avangard Omsk

Barys Astana

Salavat Yulaev Ufa

Sibir Novosibirsk

Topics

Seasons|

* 2008–09
* 2009–10
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* 2015–16
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* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
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* 2022–23
* 2023–24

Playoffs|

* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
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Junior Drafts|

* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* expansion
* 2014
* expansion
* 2015
* 2016

All-Star Games|

* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
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* 2017
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Games and Cups|

* Gagarin Cup
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* KHL vs NHL games

Former teams|

* Atlant Moscow Oblast
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* Jokerit
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* Lev Poprad
* Lev Praha
* Medveščak Zagreb
* Metallurg Novokuznetsk
* HC MVD
* Slovan Bratislava
* Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk

Related topics|

* Team changes
* Potential expansion
* List of champions
* List of goal scoring champions
* List of scoring champions
* KHL territorial pick
* KHL Players' Trade Union
* Rivalries in the KHL
* KHL arenas

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