Following the conclusion of the KHL 3×3 Championship Super Final, League President Alexei Morozov answered questions from journalists.
You were the first champion in KHL history, scoring the “golden goal.” How interesting is it for you now to watch the first champions in 3×3 hockey?
It`s certainly interesting – after all, it`s the first experience of its kind. The 3×3 game format is completely different, non-traditional. Looking at the first games of the season compared to the Super Final matches, you can see that teams already have their own systems, strategies are developing, stars are emerging, shootout specialists who score on penalty shots, veterans clinching victories in shootouts (referring to Ilya Krikunov`s winning attempt in the final shootout). It was very interesting; for me, it`s a very exciting type of hockey, completely unlike classic hockey, which is why it attracts a completely different audience.
Based on this experience, what do you expect from the KHL 3×3 Championship next season?
We want to develop this sport, this direction, because it attracts viewers and already has its own fan base, which I`m sure will grow. We also hope this tournament won`t be held only in Moscow. Of course, we have difficulties with arenas because this ice size isn`t available everywhere. But we hope it will appear in the regions too, so we can host games and tours for fans there as well. And, of course, there are things to consider – we`ve already drawn conclusions, the Officiating Department is making suggestions on how to make the game even more dynamic, because there are nuances we`ll work on this summer and make targeted changes.
Players standing behind the net?
That`s one of the points, yes. There are also discussions about line changes; we are analyzing all of this, communicating with both coaching staffs and players, gathering all the information, which we will analyze and make changes for next year.
If you were to describe this KHL offseason in one word, what would it be?
Unpredictable, just like last season (smiles).
Did you think it would be this unpredictable? So many events happened in one month.
Frankly, I didn`t expect it; some events were quite a shock, a blow for me too. Even Vityaz, withdrawing from the championship – in March, we received all financial guarantees from the club, we were in touch, everything was going well. But then, unexpectedly, they announced that the club wouldn`t exist for the next season, wouldn`t participate [in the Fonbet KHL Championship]. For us, of course, this was also a shock.
There was a lot of talk about finding a sponsor for Vityaz. Did the League assist, and were you informed if Vityaz had any options to be saved?
There were options, yes, we spoke with the management. We gave them an extension, time to negotiate with new sponsors and partners to save the club. Unfortunately, it wasn`t successful. And we had to make a decision; we had already drafted the calendar for all teams including Vityaz, but we had to completely redo it. Of course, we specifically gave them time now so the club can utilize its assets – the players: until July 15th, they remain under contract, and Vityaz retains the rights to them so they can use this to cover debts. After all, we know the club has debts to partners and players, which we don`t want, so we are giving them time to try and clear all debts to the players.
How is that possible? They are no longer KHL participants, how do transactions work?
They still retain the rights; if they want to sell someone now, it`s permissible. Any club can acquire the rights to a player or the player himself for some monetary compensation.
The League announced that Vityaz will not participate in the KHL until the end of the 2029/2030 season. If the club does find investors, sponsors, do you allow for the possibility that they could return before the set deadline?
Anything is possible, you know, we will talk. First, let a sponsor appear, and Vityaz`s desire, and where they will be based. We will thoroughly work all of this out to avoid similar situations in the future like the one that happened this summer.
Doesn`t this whole situation discredit the concept of “financial guarantees,” and perhaps the League will approach this more seriously from a different angle?
We try; we take financial guarantees, receive them from clubs, verify them – we meticulously check all guarantee letters from companies vouching for a particular club. So, you know, here everything aligned in such a way that things changed very quickly, and funding completely stopped. You don`t have to look far; a similar situation happened with a VHL club the other day, and what can be done about it? We have already moved past this situation, created a new calendar, and sent it to the clubs. The composition of participants by divisions and conferences has slightly changed, as you know – Lada moved [to the West]. Therefore, clubs enter the next season on equal terms.
How was the decision made to transfer Lada specifically to the Western Conference? Was the club`s opinion asked, and did the sporting principle play a role?
Sporting and geographical principles, of course, contributed. We communicated with the club, informed them that we were considering [this option], and the club had no objections to this decision; everyone understood. This was put to a vote by the Board, then approved by the Board of Directors. Everyone knew, understood, and agreed with this because, from a sporting principle perspective, it`s an equivalent replacement in the West; Vityaz and Lada are in a similar ranking according to our calculations from a sporting point of view, as well as geographically.
A couple of questions about the KHL 3×3 Championship. Is it true that the number of participants will increase from eight to 12 teams next season?
That option is being considered. We just finished the season; we will talk with our partners Fonbet and Winline; we are grateful to them for conducting this experimental season. We understand everything now and are satisfied with the Super Final, moving here (to CSKA Arena) from Shcherbinka, creating a good arena and fan zone for the fans so it would truly be a festival, and our KHL guys participated in a mini-tournament, receiving very positive feedback from them. After the experience they gained in Mytishchi (the first KHL 3×3 tournament was held there in 2022), they said they were upset that 3×3 hockey no longer existed, thanking us for holding the tournament, saying it`s very interesting and important for them.
Which teams might be added? The West practically ignored the first championship; only the East played.
Here we proceed from the KHL – we will, of course, consider the club`s desire. We will invite clubs to consider participating next season, inform them when it will start, what rules we will play by if any changes occur. Without a club`s desire, we won`t do anything and won`t force anyone. Those who want to will join us to fully participate in the 3×3 Championship and achieve high results.
This is, in principle, a low-budget format. Could Vityaz say: “We don`t have money for KHL and VHL, but we are ready to play in 3×3”?
Currently, only teams from KHL clubs are being considered; we want to utilize this vertical structure and professionalism, the developments that exist in clubs now, so that our players from MHL and KHL can participate in this tournament.
Speaking of rules, how appropriate is the idea that the championship was decided in a shootout? Perhaps a “golden goal” overtime should have been introduced?
In principle, it`s a completely different format here. A “golden goal” overtime, you know, could go on for a very long time. Shootouts? Here, a penalty results in a shootout attempt. In this game, a shootout is quite normal.
Honestly, did you smile when you saw Ak Bars in the final? The first championship could have been Ak Bars` again.
Anything could have happened (smiles), but you see – Ufa [won]. The “Green Derby” is already developing here in 3×3, in the first final – an interesting confrontation where everything was decided in a shootout.
KHL attendance is growing every year; it`s very nice to see the statistics. How do you assess the upcoming season, considering Vityaz`s arena is out, but SKA moved out of SKA Arena, and Kunlun Red Star will be there now?
Of course, we hope so. We know that Kunlun Red Star has new, ambitious management that knows how to work. They have already shown their work with another club, and high tasks and goals have been set for the club`s management. We hope they will fulfill them and that SKA Arena will be filled. And we want to perhaps fine-tune things a bit more; there are a few overlapping games with the SKA team, so we can space out these teams on game days, so they don`t play on the same day. We hope SKA Arena will be filled. Attendance is growing, and you know, perhaps after such an unpredictable summer, the next season will be even more unpredictable. We hope for this, and it attracts fans, which is why they will attend [matches].
Alexander Krylov is returning to the KHL. Have you spoken with him? How good is it for the League that someone with extensive experience in hockey and business is returning?
Of course, we have spoken, we know about the move. Everything I said earlier – spacing out game days, and the first game not accidentally coinciding: Kunlun Red Star against SKA so that SKA Arena is filled, SKA fans come to cheer, this will all take place in St. Petersburg. Work will be done; there are ambitious plans for the development of Kunlun Red Star, which pleases us, because, as you know, Alexander showed his high level of good work with another club. We hope that now too he will prove himself in the best possible light to develop and popularize Kunlun Red Star with the goal of eventually relocating the team to China.
We hear nothing about Barys: about their sponsor, management, no new players. Are there any financial guarantees from them?
There are, but specifically, we are meeting with the club`s management on July 16th; they are coming here. We will sit down and discuss absolutely everything in detail, so only after this meeting can I tell you something more specific.
Are there any doubts or concerns about them entering the season only with Kazakh players, which is not the KHL level? Do you have such worries?
We hope that everything will sort itself out and be rectified. After all, there`s a different law there – state budget money cannot be spent on foreign players. Let`s meet, talk in detail, discuss everything, and then… According to our information, there is an additional sponsor who wants to bring in coaches from another country. Let`s wait for the meeting.
Unexpectedly for everyone, Roman Rotenberg lost his position as SKA head coach. Many noted that this could be a blow to the League`s popularity because he is remembered for his behavior at press conferences, which attracted viewers, not just hockey fans. What does Rotenberg`s departure from the coaching position mean for you, and do you expect his return to the KHL specifically as a coach?
This is hockey life, you know – players are also changed. SKA management decided to change the direction of development. We are pleased that Roman Borisovich didn`t leave hockey entirely; he did change clubs, and now at Dynamo Moscow, he is actively involved in developing the children`s school, where changes are already happening, and the youth team. I think Roman Borisovich still has the ambition and desire to develop a club, and he will apply all of this to a KHL club, he will help – I think in the near future we will hear his interview regarding the club`s development, and he will tell us many interesting things.
Gareth Tenby