Russian Legends To Turn Back The Clock For Kharlamov Ice Hockey Cup

Russian legends to turn back the clock for Kharlamov Ice Hockey Cup

Dubai Sports Council to support the biggest ice hockey tournament to be held in the UAE

DUBAI (Pakistan Point News - 29th October, 2018) Some of the world’s top ice hockey players will be in action at the Dubai Mall this week, competing for the top honours in the inaugural Kharlamov Ice Hockey Cup. The tournament, being organised under the aegis of Dubai Sports Council, will see four teams - Russia, Canada, UAE and the Northern Stars representing Latvia and Sweden – go head-to-head at Dubai Mall’s Ice Rink from October 31 to November 2.

Russia legends Valeri Kamensky, who boasts three Ice Hockey World Championship titles on his resume and a Winter Olympics gold, and Andrei Nikolishin, who struck the winning goal for Russia at the 1993 World Championships, will be in action at the tournament along with stars like Alexander Kharlamov, Maxim Petrov and Egor Mikhailov. The tournament is organised by the Russian brand ‘Legends of CSKA’ and the media holding company Art Media, and named after the great Soviet hockey player Valeri Kharlamov, who is an eight-time World champion, seven-time European champion and a two-time Olympic champion. “The Kharlamov Ice Hockey Cup is the biggest ice hockey tournament to be organised in the United Arab Emirates, and it is being held under the auspices of Dubai Sports Council and the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Dubai and Northern Emirates,” said Vladimir Burdun, the President of Emirates Hockey League and CEO of Art Media, at Monday’s press conference to announce the details of the tournament. Hamel Al Qubaisi, the Vice President of UAE Ice Sports Federation, was also present at the press conference, which was held at Dubai Sports Council, along with Ilya Raevskiy, Vice Consul at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Dubai and Northern Emirates; Ghazi Al Madani, Acting Director of the Sports Event Department at Dubai Sports Council; Fraser Matthews, Team Manager of Mighty Camels Canada; and Alexey Deev, a player with Russia’s Sportima Hockey Club. “The Kharlamov Ice Hockey Cup is a welcome addition to Dubai’s sporting calendar,” said Al Madani. “It confirms Dubai’s position as a sporting hub that caters to people from around the globe. We are in the desert, but we also have a very active ice hockey league and a ski slope as well. “So we have got something for everyone – no matter which part of the world you come from, or what language you speak. We have got sports happening all through the year, with no off-season.” “We have received the full support of EHL and the UAE Ice Sports Federation of Winter Sports,” added Burdun, whose main goal is to create a UAE team that can take part in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and other premier ice hockey tournaments around the world. “That is our dream at Emirates Hockey League and that is why we are encouraging kids by allowing them to play a match on the first two days of the tournament, from 6pm to 7pm, before the seniors take to the rink from 7pm. We want to promote the sport of ice hockey among the younger generation and allow more and more kids to take up this fascinating sport.” Fans at Dubai Mall will be treated to two games every day in the Kharlamov Ice Hockey Cup, with the first match starting at 7pm on the first two days and at 6pm on Friday. On the first day, the four teams will be divided into two groups following a draw and will play each other. On the second day, the winner of the first group will play against the loser from the second and vice versa. On the third day, the teams will play for third place and the title.