EHL Stronger Than Ever After Lugano

When Andrei Gomoliako raised the EHL Silver Stone to the sky on Sunday night in the Resega Arena, the fourth EHL season reached its highlight. For the second consecutive season Metallurg Magnitogorsk were crowned EHL Champions in a successful defence of the title which represents a first time in the EHL history. TPS Turku, 1996/97 EHL Champions and VEU Feldkirch, 1997/98 EHL Champions, not only did not manage to defend their title in the following season, but both suffered an early elimination in the Division Round. We always knew that it was going to be hard to repeat what we did last season in Moscow, but the harder it became, the harder we worked" said after the win Valeri Beloussov, Metallurg's head coach. The win confirmed the leadership of Russian ice hockey in club tournaments: in four EHL seasons, the Russian clubs have won two EHL titles (both Metallurg) and three silver medals (Dynamo Moscow from 1996/97 until 1998/99), plus two bronze medals in the Continental Cup (Avangard Omsk in 1998 and AK Bars Kazan in 1999). With Metallurg's win, the fourth EHL season was completed in a triumphal way. More than 150 media attended the Top Four Final in Lugano and the four weekend games were broadcast in 13 European countries. More than 25.000 spectators cheered Lugano and the other three qualified clubs for what turned out to be an incredible ice hockey party. Amongst them, on Sunday's gold medal game also Andriy Shevchenko, the Ukrainian star of AC Milan: "Ice hockey is part of my life -said Shevchenko. - When I was younger I was playing both football and ice hockey but unfortunately, or fortunately, who knows?, I was not good enough at it, so I concentrated on football. But ice hockey runs in my blood and whenever I have the chance I run to watch a game. I am happy for Metallurg's win, they played great hockey. I also have to say that it was beautiful to come in this arena and see these fantastic fans. It felt like at home". The day after the end of the EHL season, IIHF President Fasel commented very positively on the Top Four Final weekend. "That was a great conclusion for the EHL. I have received from all over Europe enthusiastic comments about the organisation, the level of the games, the presence of the spectators, the attendance of the media and their reports on TV, radio and in newspapers. I would say that with the Top Four Final in Lugano we have showed once and for all that the EHL has left the introductory stage to become an established product within the European ice hockey system. The EHL is now a mature product and if somebody still had any doubts about the validity of the EHL product they will now be forced to change his idea. The plebiscite of appreciation for the quality of the product can be considered as an unspoken mandate to continue with the League also in the future". The IIHF President's comment is not an isolate one "What Lugano fans offered us was a show that is not easy to find anywhere else in Europe" said Hannu Jortikka, TPS Turku head coach, after his team won the EHL bronze medal in the 6-1 victory over Lugano. "Of course the fans came here hoping in Lugano's win, but they also came here to see great ice hockey and I think they were very well rewarded. We had four great games between four great clubs and I think this was the best possible promotion for the EHL. I really hope that the position of the Finnish League towards the EHL will change because I consider it a great League. I am really very surprised by their position". Also TPS Turku's President Hannu Ansas is fully supporting the EHL: "We like to play in the EHL and if we win the championship we want to come back" said Ansas in the Top Four Final opening press conference. In the past few weeks there have been rumours regarding the future of the EHL, with news related to the participation of the Swedish, Finnish, Russians and Czechs. "These rumours never came from the IIHF and I can guarantee that the intention of the IIHF is to run the EHL in the future - says Jan Ake Edvinsson, IIHF General Secretary. - The problems with the Swedish have arisen due to a conflict of dates with the Junior World Championships and this conflict will be solved in the future. As for the doubts of the Czechs and Russians, this is something we have never been aware of, and I think they are only rumours without any base". The IIHF President is more explicit: "We never had the intention to stop the League. On the contrary, our intention is to strengthen it in the future. And we will not accept any interference from people outside of our system coming in and trying to jeopardize it". Alexander Steblin, President of the Russian National Association and EHL Executive Board member confirms: "We like the EHL and I can confirm to you that the Russian clubs will take the place in the EHL next season. There was never any doubt we could withdraw from the tournament. We might adopt some changes to improve the format and the system of the EHL but from our side there has never been an idea of non-participation". Victor Rashnikov, President of Metallurg Magnitogorsk, goes even further: "We are ready to host the EHL Top Four Final next season. The EHL represented an incredible and unique experience for us, it was also thanks to the EHL participation that Magnitogorsk opened an international airport". And Gennadij Velitchkin, Metallurg's general manager appears very surprised about the rumours concerning Russia: "I think that those spreading this news just want to hurt the EHL. We had a meeting of the Russian League a few weeks ago and all the clubs agreed on the participation to the EHL". Also on the Czech side the participation to the EHL next season is not questioned: "This was our fourth EHL season and things are improving more and more, year after year - says Martin Urban, General Director of HC Sparta Praha. - The first seasons the EHL represented a financial loss, but now the League no longer represents a financial risk, all the costs are covered and those clubs who work well can also make a big profit. At Sparta Praha, we feel it is important for our club to be part of this competition and we want to work hard in the future to improve the image and content of the EHL". Jan Ake Edvinsson continues: "In the next weeks the EHL Director Federico Saviozzi will travel to Sweden and Finland to discuss with the two National Associations and we feel quite positive that we are going to find a solution. As I have already said, the EHL will continue in the future". For further information Paolo Ianieri EHL Media and Communication Manager Tel: +41 1 289 86 07 Mobile: +41.79 200 8829 E-Mail: ianieri@iihf.com