Might the KHL be poised to move into Finland?
The Helsinki newspaper Ilta-Sanomat is reporting in its Friday edition that Hartwall Areena in Helsinki has been sold to a pair of Russians, who are reportedly childhood friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that Jokerit Helsinki will withdraw from SM-Liiga to join the KHL.
There isn’t any mention of when this move might occur, and both leagues already have released their 2013-14 schedules.
Still, a news conference has been called for today (4:30 p.m., in Helsinki, which is 6:30 a.m. Pacific).
Another Helsinki newspaper, Iltalehti, reports that it is rumoured that Jokerit has been sold to Gennadi Timtshenko, the president of SKA St. Petersburg. Hartwall Areena is the home of Jokerit.
The purchasers of the Areena are said to be Russian brothers Arkadi and Boris Rotenberg.
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The moves for today . . .
F Colton Yellow Horn (Lethbridge, Tri-City, 2003-08) signed a one-year contract with Alba Volan Szekesfehervar (Hungary, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had 36 goals and 22 assists in 48 games with the Ontario Reign (ECHL) and six goals and 12 assists in 28 games with the Manchester Monarchs (AHL) last season. . . .
F Adam Rehak (Medicine Hat, 2011-12) signed a one-year contract with Meran/Merano (Italy, Austria Inter-National-League). He had 17 goals and 19 assists in 22 games with Vitkovice Ostrava U20 (Czech Republic, Extraliga Junior) last season. . . .
F Sean O'Connor (Moose Jaw, 1999-2002) signed a one-year contract with Munich (Germany, DEL). He had 13 goals and eight assists in 34 games with Ingolstadt (Germany, DEL) last season.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Taylor Dakers is the new goaltending coach with the Red Deer Rebels. Dakers played four seasons (2003-07) with the Kootenay Ice and was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round of the NHL’s 2005 draft. He has been the goaltending coach with the Everett Silvertips. Dakers works with World Pro Goaltending in Calgary. . . . With Red Deer, he replaces Brent Belecki.
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