HELSINKI, May 16 (R-Sport) - The KHL has shelved plans to extend the regular hockey season by 14 games because of pressure on the calendar caused by next year’s Winter Olympics, league president Alexander Medvedev told R-Sport on Thursday.
The regular season will stay at 52 games per team despite the addition of new teams in Croatia and Vladivostok. Medvedev had previously proposed a 66-game season with more games between teams in the same division.
“There will be 52 games in the championship. Yes, that’s low, but in an Olympic season we are required to adjust because of the calendar,” he said. “After the Olympics a lot will change.”
He did not explain how the two new teams would be fitted into the schedule with no extra games. A final calendar will be published next month, Medvedev added.
By comparison, the NHL scheduled an 82-game regular season for 2012-13, which was reduced to 48 games because of the lockout.
