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Continental Hockey League (KHL) -  Despite the offer coming from Montreal, Alexei Emelin (Montreal Canadiens) opted to sign a new 2 years deal with Ak Bars Kazan. Let's remember that Emelin scored only two points in this year's regular season and that in the playoffs he suffered a serious injury after a fight lost to Avangard's Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets). Montreal was really waiting for him for the 09-10 season but apparently he got a lucrative offer from his KHL team who at first wasn't too pleased with his play in the last couple of seasons.

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A number of Russian players have been disqualified from participating in the World Championships because of the manner in which they left their NHL clubs by flying back to Russia without permission and consequently being disqualified. While NHL could not prevent these players from signing in Russia (due to a lack of a transfer agreement between the two leagues), the league could prevent them from participating in IIHF competition. This likely hurts the players significantly, as it is highly prestigious to skate for the national team in Russia. The list of players includes Alexei Kaigorodov (Phoenix Coyotes), Vadim Khomitski (Dallas Stars), Andrei Taratukhin (Calgary Flames), Stanislav Chistov (Boston Bruins), Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets), and Maxim Kondratiev (Anaheim Mighty Ducks).

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Super League -  With a 3 – 1 series score, Dinamo Moscow kicked out Avangard Omsk from 2007/08 playoffs first round. Alexei Cherepanov (New York Rangers) was the last to abandon the ship as he managed to perform well in all the four games. He put his signature in the second game, with a great assist to Yakutsenya for the game winning goal in the overtime. But let’s see the games more in detail.

In the first game, won by Dynamo 4 – 3 in the overtime, Alexei opened the score only one minute and half after the first faceoff. He exploited a great ouverture by Titov from the defensive zone to go on a breakaway and put it in the top left corner. In the second game he decided the match as in the overtime he played a great puck in the right side of the rink, behind the red line, fooling a defenseman and then sending the puck back to rushing Yakutsenya who, with a beautiful one timer, won the game. Other Avangard prospect took a spot in the scoring sheet as Tertyshny deflected Kurbatov’s shot to tie it up at the 56th minute.

In the third match he was kept silent by Dynamo’s defense (and Kurbatov added another assist), but in the fourth match he scored again, making it 1 – 1 at the twenty-second. This goal was a beauty as he finalized with a great wrist shot a good pass by Popov from the left side.

This playoffs series has seen a very good Cherepanov, really improved from last season. He managed to carry his team on his shoulders like veterans of the calibre of Kalyuzhny and Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets), getting significant ice time skating for the second line.

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Blue Jackets right winger Nikolai Zherdev (Columbus Blue Jackets) wants to play for a Russian team. Not in an Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets) kind of way, mind you. Svitov left the Jackets in the offseason to return to Russian club hockey. Zherdev only longs for a chance to represent the national team in events such as the world championships and Olympics. (The Columbus Dispatch article by Tom Reed) READ MORE

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EuroTour Karjala Cup  - 

GOALIES: Alexander Eremenko ("Salavat Yulaev"), Semen Varlamov (Washington Capitals) ("Lokomotiv"), Yachanov (SKA), , Biryukov (KhK MVD),
DEFENSEMAN: Ilya Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers), Evgeni Medvedev, Alexei Emelin (Montreal Canadiens) (all - "Ak Bars"), Denis Kulyash (Nashville Predators), Konstantin Korneev (Montreal Canadiens), Anton Belov (all - CSKA), Vitaly Proshkin, Kuteykin (oba - "Salavat Yulaev"), Vitaly Atyushov ("Metallurg" Mg), Dmitri Bykov (Detroit Red Wings) ("Khimik"), Yakov Rylov "(Dynamo"), Peretyagin (SKA),
FORWARDS: Fedor Fedorov (New York Rangers), Alexander Kharitonov , Dmitri Afanasenkov , Badyukov (all - "Dynamo"), Vladimir Antipov (Toronto Maple Leafs), Alexander Perezhogin (Montreal Canadiens), Alexei Tereschenko (Dallas Stars) (all - "Salavat Yulaev"), Nikolai Kulemin (Toronto Maple Leafs), Alexei Kaigorodov (Phoenix Coyotes) (oba - "Metallurg" Mg), Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets), Anton Kuryanov (oba - "Avangard"), Oleg Saprykin (Ottawa Senators), Alexei Simakov (both - CSKA), Ivan Nepryaev, Alexei Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) (both - "Lokomotiv"), Sergei Zinovjev (Boston Bruins) ("Ak Bars"), Sergei Mozyakin (Columbus Blue Jackets) ("Khimik"), Igor Makarov (Chicago Blackhawks) (SKA), Pestushko ("Neftekhimik").

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Super League -  Avangard Omsk forward Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets) returned to Russia after several seasons in North America. Having an active contract with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, he still decided to return to the Super League. The return of the powerful 6’2 and 235lb forward did not go unnoticed by the coaching staff of the Russian national team. Svitov made it to the expanded training camp roster of the national squad prior to the first phase of the EuroTour – the Karjala Cup. A Noviye Izvestiya correspondent had a chance to chat with Svitov. READ MORE

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Super League -  Young 17 year old Kirill Petrov delivered a truly impressive performance for HC Ak Bars, assisting on three of the team’s five goals. HC CSKA continues to roll with an important victory over HC Avangard. Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets), Sergei Shirokov (Vancouver Canucks) and Nikita Nikitin (St. Louis Blues) all scored their first goals of the season in this contest. Alexander Perezhogin (Montreal Canadiens) finally gets on the board in Salavat’s victory over SKA. Semen Varlamov (Washington Capitals) continues to be the back up, as Yegor Podomatsky delivers another impressive outing and a victory for HC Lokomotiv. READ MORE

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Russian Super League -  Yesterday HC Avangard’s management announced the signing of a three year contract with forward Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets).  The 24 year old forward, who was selected 3rd overall during the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, became another Russian who returned home this summer. Last season he spent with the Columbus Blue Jackets and he still had a contract with the club for two more years.  This news has noticeably motivated Omsk fans.  With the arrival of Svitov and the transfer of Evgeny Artyukhin (Tampa Bay Lightning) during the offseason, Avangard’s offense has noticeable gained in power and athleticism. (Sport Express Interview) READ MORE

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Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets)'s game worn HC Avangard jersey added READ MORE

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Alexander Svitov has left Russia and is on his way to Columbus. The former 3rd overall selection in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft has spent the last few weeks practicing with his home club HC Avangard’s junior farm team. He spent the 2005-06 season with Avangard before resigning with the Columbus Blue Jackets over the summer.

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Russian Super League -  Alexander Svitov signed a 1 year deal and will skate for the Columbus Blue Jackets during the upcoming 2006-07 season. The young former #3 selection in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft has spent the past season with his former Russian club Avangard (Omsk). There, he was one of the club’s top six forwards, though he did not establish himself as a preeminent force in the Super League. Svitov has stated in the past that he returned to Russia for the season due to family reasons, as his wife was with child.

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Russian Super League -  Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets): I want to play in front of Russian fans! (Sport Express Interview) READ MORE

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Ceska Poistovna (EuroTour) -  Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets) was called up to Russia’s national team today to help replace a number of forwards who have recently signed NHL deals and returned to North America. It is unclear whether Svitov will remain in Russia much longer, but he will likely at least compete in the Ceska Poistovna international tournament even if a deal is reached between his representation and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets) signed a one year deal with RSL club Avangard (Omsk). Svitov got his start with Avangard, before signing a deal with Tampa Bay and moving over to North America. The young forward has spent the past three seasons in the NHL and AHL not yet fulfilling the expectations of a 3rd overall pick. Sport Express newspaper reported that Svitov’s contract does not have a NHL escape clause, but it is unclear what would happen with the young forward if the lockout concludes this summer.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired defenseman Darryl Sydor and a 2004 fourth-round draft pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Alexander Svitov and a 2004 third-round pick. Svitov, Tampa's 2001 first round pick, spent the majority of the 2003-04 season skating with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, recording 18 points (9+9) in 30 games. He also lead the team with 79 PIM.