Photo: khl.ru
The KHL's fight against Covid-19 – double standards, "nowhere" and political influence”>Continental Hockey League has announced the premature end of the base season. The decision on the website was confirmed by the president of the competition, Alexei Morozov.
The main reasons are two – the Olympic Games in Beijing and the current epidemiological situation.
A total of 120 people from 22 KHL clubs are going to fight for precious metals under five circles, and the national teams of Russia and China then consist exclusively of international competition players.
And while we are anxiously waiting for the start of the men’s Olympic hockey tournament, the KHL management is working hard to prepare for the elimination round.
“We have considered various options for determining the results of the main part and identifying the participants in the playoffs.”
“The league will submit for approval a decision not to play the remaining matches of the basic part and approve a new procedure for determining the results of the basic part this season,” said President Morozov in a statement.
The proposal must now pass through the KHL board of directors and the Russian hockey federation.
“We considered various options for determining the results of the basic part and determining the participants in the playoffs. It was important to find a fair formula and guarantee fair conditions for all clubs, including taking into account the different number of matches played, “he explains.
“As a result, the most objective option was chosen – to divide the sixteen teams according to the percentage of points obtained from the maximum possible number,” adds Morozov.
“Under the circumstances, this is the only optimal solution that will allow us to finish the season and determine the champion.”
Most clubs have managed to play 45 to 50 matches in the basic part so far. The long-term phase of the season was to end on the first day of March, and the end of the Olympics is scheduled for February 20.
The league originally expected that some previously postponed duels would be completed during the Olympic break. However, most clubs were against this option.
“Some teams that applied for promotion to the playoffs until the last minute will not get into the cup eight in their conferences. But under the circumstances, this is the only optimal solution that will allow us to finish the season and determine the champion, “believes Morozov.
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