KHL And The IIHF

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Recap of IIHF President Rene Fasel’s Press Conference in Moscow

A press conference was held in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) office in Moscow today featuring Rene Fasel, President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

Video of the press conference can be viewed at http://www.khl.ru/tv/index.php?iblock=17. Additionally, below are several of the statements Fasel offered at today’s event, as well as highlights from the media Q&A session.

Fasel's statements:

· I’ve had a really busy time in Moscow thus far. Yesterday I met with the President of the Russia Ice Hockey Federation Vladislav Tretiak, Russia’s sports minister Vitali Mutko, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitri Kozak, the President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitri Chernyshenko and the head of the Olimpstroy company, Taimuraz Bolloev.

· At the end of the day, it was a great honor to meet with Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin. I first met Mr. Putin 10 years ago, in 1999. I have tremendous respect for him. Over these 10 years we have had many opportunities to meet and talk. He speaks very good German, so there was no need to translate.

· Putin and I talked about the Olympics in Sochi. The IIHF is very pleased with the preparations being done. I promised that for this Olympics, we are ready to render any assistance from the IIHF and the International Olympic Committee.

· In Sochi, I studied the Olympic facilities that were being constructed. It was very nice to see how the organizers of the Games and Vladimir Putin personally do everything to meet the IOC and the environment requirements. I would also note that from the coast you can commute to the facilities located in the mountains in only 20 minutes by train. In other cities, which were hosting the Winter Olympics, this distance is much greater.

· I also talked with the Prime Minister about hockey. Everyone knows that we have good relations with the Kontinental Hockey League, but at the same time, there remain some contentious issues. Speaking metaphorically, the KHL president Alexander Medvedev plays typical Canadian hockey, he throws a puck in the zone and goes forward. I prefer Russian style - playing in a pass, and waiting for the right chances to score.

· Our position is simple: each country, including Russia, has national hockey federations, and they must be strong. They should be responsible for the teams, training players, the coaches, referees and the development of this sport. In addition, each country must have a strong league. I really like how the KHL works. We have the opportunity to see high-class games. It helps a lot to develop hockey in Latvia, Belarus, Kazakhstan. Just recall the results of the national teams of both countries at the 2009 World Championship and the return of Kazakhstan in the elite group.

· In general, I like the KHL, and I think that the idea of pan-European leagues is smart, but I still say that national federations and leagues have to live by the same rules. I will never allow the absorption of the weak by strong.

· As for the NHL, we must accept the fact that they exist. It is still a very strong league with two billion annual revenues and one hundred years of history. We should compete with them, rather than fight.

Highlights from the media Q&A:

Q: The NHL Players' Association fired their leader, Paul Kelly, who advocated the participation of NHL players in the Olympics. What do you think about it?

Fasel: I do not know the reasons for his dismissal. We have very good contact with Paul and it was a pleasure to deal with him. I am surprised by his dismissal. Now, we must wait until they choose the new head of the PA, and what will be his position regarding the participation of NHL players in the Olympics.

What do you feel about the open training of team Russia on the Megasport Arena? And about the attention of Russia's politicians to hockey?

I really like how Russia's training camp is organized. With regard to the attention of politicians at the highest level, I would really welcome it, because it is fully justified. Ice hockey in Russia has a great history. Despite the popularity of football, hockey in Russia, in my opinion, is the number one sport. I know that Mr. Mutko would not like my words, but I really think so (smiling).

What do you think about the difficult situation in the NHL, related primarily to the bankruptcy of Phoenix Coyotes?

Maybe I'm not so good at getting information as you, and just watch the news in the media. If we talk about the relationship between IIHF and the NHL, then I will fight for people in North America with respect to the other federations and leagues. We might have slightly different goals, but because the NHL is a business model, it should earn respect. If we do not cooperate, the future of our sport looks obscure.

How come the IIHF, which should assist the national leagues and federations within its structure, won’t give a transfer card to Dynamo Moscow player Jiri Hudler, even though Detroit admitted his contract with Russian club?

It all started with the Radulov case, who left Nashville for Ufa under the valid contract, and the IIHF did not interfere. We do not like it, because players must fulfill contractual obligations. Now we have changed our rules a little, because the NHL is not included in the IIHF family. But in any case, everyone should obey the law.

As for Hudler, his transfer card was not sent by the Ice Hockey Federation of the United States. We conducted an investigation and found that Hudler did not sign the NHL arbitration decision, his agent did, and we cannot decide whether he had that right. We will defend Hudler and the law. We will decide all the questions regarding Hudler at the Victoria Cup in Zurich, where a meeting between the IIHF, the KHL and the NHL is to take place. I hope that the two leagues finally agree on the transfer agreement.

Can Russia look forward to hosting the World Cup in 2015?

If you will not leave the IIHF, then yes. This, of course, is a joke. Russia held the world championship in 2007. We have an unwritten rule: the World Cup shall not be held in one country more frequently than once in 10 years. I think that in 2015 the World Cup will be held in the Czech Republic. The last championship in this country was held in 2004. Moreover, Russia will host the Olympics in 2014. In my experience, the big countries do not like to host big tournaments with an interval of one year.

General Manager of the US team, Brian Burke suggested that the hockey tournament would be better placed in a summer program of the Olympic Games. How do you feel about this proposal?

This is not the first time I hear people talking about it. But the Olympic Charter states: winter sport is on ice or on snow. Some sports, which are held in the gym: volleyball, basketball, table tennis, gymnastics - would like to enter the Winter Olympics. But, believe me, it would be a nightmare.

What would happen if at the beginning of the KHL season Jiri Hudler will start playing for Dynamo without a transfer card? -

I think the situation will be resolved by that time. This is a normal legal process. We need to settle all the details. The IIHF and my personal goal is to let hockey players play, and not to sit waiting for the next proceedings.

What is the future of the Champions League and the Victoria Cup?

I really want the Victoria Cup to be held the next year. Since the Champions League this season is not being conducted, it is unclear exactly what team will compete with the NHL. As for the Champions League, we are discussing its format with the national federations and leagues. And after we make a decision on the restart, we can arrange the tender for its holding.

For more information about the KHL, visit www.khl.ru.