Russian Vysshaya Liga - pre-season news

[Rabbit]

There are some news on prticipant of Vysshaya Liga next season:
New teams: East - Yermak Angarsk, Barys Astana (Kazakhstan) and Yantar Seversk (after one-year pause). West - Sokol Kiev (Ukraine), HK Ryazan and Orenburggazprom-Universitet Orenburg.

Disbanded teams: Energia Kemerovo and Dynamo-Energiya Ekaterinburg

[Rabbit]

East has two disbanded clubs also. There are Spartak St.-Petersburg and Olympia Kirovo-Chepetsk

[ulricehamnsif]

Nice to have Yermak in 2nd highest league.

P.S: Rabbit do you have any ICQ number, would be interesting to get in touch with you.

[Rabbit]

No problem. 317-157-509. But I'm at unvisible mode usually. Send me some message and I'll add you to the visible list

[Trim]

What were the reasons for the four teams to disband? I imagine financial problems.

Nice to see Kiev and Astana join the league, but with Angarsk having looked into Asia League but joining the Vysshaya Liga, did the other Asia League-prospect Sokol Krasnoyarsk consider moving up from the first league?

[Rabbit]

KazakhEagles, Yermak decision to join VL caused by the real difficulties with infrastructure. Joining to Al is moved one season later.
On reasons to disband - Energia stopped his activity for one season due to incomplete construction of new ice arena (past season team played at Belovo as home ice - very bad rink without seating places). Dynamo-Energia disbanded perfectly. As it was announced - there is no reason to have two teams of VL at the same city (the second team is Avtomobilist). Reasons to disband of Spartak Spb and Olympia I don't know

[Davide]

Finally it's official, Riga2000 will not play in next russian Vysshaya league: here an interview with Riga' s president Vesturs Kozels from Sport Express:

During negotiations with FHR I have already agreed on paying to the Russian clubs travel to Riga and registration of entry visas to Latvia. But one more requirement of Russians namely to defray all charges on residing and a feed(meal) of visitors, for us it is unacceptable. All this pours out in huge money which would make more than thirds of all our budget. We shall wait year, we shall look, whether your federation will want to soften the requirements before a following season.

[Rabbit]

I think requirements will not be soften. And, IMHO, this decision is bad for Latvian hockey.

[Davide]

I think requirements will not be soften. And, IMHO, this decision is bad for Latvian hockey.

yes agree, so an ambitious club as Riga is out from Belarus league and Russian league...just play the less competitive latvian league

[DIN]

yes agree, so an ambitious club as Riga is out from Belarus league and Russian league...just play the less competitive latvian league

Really sad, but the position of the FHR was correct, 'cos team is from another country, and it's really expensive to make so many flights and expenses for accomodation...

[Shardik]

Really sad, but the position of the FHR was correct, 'cos team is from another country, and it's really expensive to make so many flights and expenses for accomodation...
Yes, well. I am sure travelling to St. Petersburg isn't really cheaper for almost all Russian teams compared to travelling to Riga and accomodation is probably more expensive. Riga is so close to Russia and Russia is such a huge country that it shouldn't make a squat's difference to the budgets of the teams. It would be different it the new team came from Paris or London though.

I think Riga 2000 did give a good enough offer and I am glad that they are not trying to play in a league they can't afford.

[Rabbit]

the position of the FHR was correct, 'cos team is from another country, and it's really expensive to make so many flights and expenses for accomodation...
I can add: if FHR requirement are useful for Sokol, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Barys and Kazakhmys and not useful for Riga that means this state is problef of Riga, not of FHR.

[DIN]

I can add: if FHR requirement are useful for Sokol, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Barys and Kazakhmys and not useful for Riga that means this state is problef of Riga, not of FHR.

Yeah, just the same thought!!! :)

[Karsten]

VYSSHAYA LIGA 2007-08

WEST
Ariada-Akpars, Volzhsk
Crystall, Electrostal
Crystal, Saratov
CSK VVS, Samara
Dizel, Penza
Gazprom-OGU, Orenburg *
HC Belgograd
HC Dmitrov
HC Ryazan *
Kapitan Stupino
Khimik, Voskresensk
Krylia Sovetov, Moscow
Neftyanik, Almetievsk
Neftyanik, Leningorsk
Sokol, Kiev (UKR) *
Titan, Klin
---------------------------
*) newcomers

EAST
Avtomobilist, Ekaterinburg
Barys, Astana (KAZ) *
Gazovik, Tyumen
Izhstal, Izhevsk
Kazakhmys, Satpaev (KAZ)
Kazzink-Torpedo, Ust-Kamenogorsk (KAZ)
Mechel, Chelyabinsk
Metallurg, Serov
Molot-Prikamie, Perm
Sputnik, Nizhny Tagil
Toros, Neftekamsk
Yermak, Angarsk *
Yuzhny Ural, Orsk
Zauralie, Kurgan
---------------------------
*) newcomers

[Rabbit]

Rumoured comeback of Yantar Seversk is not real thing. Next season re-builded team will join 1 liga. Detail (on russian) here: http://sdv-hockey.jino-net.ru/main.php?action=singlemessage&id=45