China’s only KHL team, Kunlun Red Star, are set to hit the ice tonight at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki against Jokerit in their season opener. The puck drops at 11.30pm Beijing Time. (You can stream tonight's game online by clicking here).
Having finished 12th in the KHL’s Eastern Conference last season with 61 points, Kunlun Red Star will have their work cut out for them this evening as they battle for a win against Jokerit. Their Helsinki-based opponents finished third in the Western Conference last season with 103 points.
Image via Joseph Hu
According to Mark Simon, hockey aficionado and occasional consultant for the Kunlun Red Star, fans can look forward to some fresh faces in this year’s roster.
“The additions of Taylor Beck, Michael Latta, Justin Fontaine, Alexandre Picard, Olli Palola and Patrik Lundh will be counted on to provide more strength and scoring up front,” Simon told That’s. “On defense, newcomers Marc-André Gragnani, Tomas Kundratek and Ville Lajunen should give the team a solid, veteran, two-way defense corps.”
After the departure of Mike Keenan last season, Jussi Tapola is behind the Kunlun bench to take on head coaching duties this season. Tonight will be his first game in the boss’ chair of a KHL team. Previously, Tapola guided Tappara in the Finnish Liiga for five seaons, according to Simon.
Image via Nathan Osborn
Tonight’s game is the first of a four-game road trip for Kunlun Red Star. After Helsinki, the team will travel to Sochi to play HC Sochi, and then to Moscow to play HC Spartak Moscow. The team will end their away stint with a game against Metallurg in Magnitogorsk, in Russia’s Chelyabinsk Oblast.
Kunlun Red Star will play their first home game at Feiyang Skating Center in Shanghai on September 16 against HC Dynamo Moscow. That’s has it on good authority that hockey legend Wayne Gretzky will be in attendance for the team’s first home match of the season.
Early last month, Gretzky was announced as the club’s global ambassador, with a mission to promote the game of ice hockey in China.
Kunlun Red Star are expected to play at least the first 14 home games of the season at Feiyang Skating Center in Shanghai, before likely moving to Cadillac Arena in Beijing mid-way through the season.
READ MORE: Tickets on Sale Now to NHL China Games!
[Cover image via Mark Simon]
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