When is the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic held. Where does the OC LAX tournament take place. What divisions are offered at the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic. How can players register for the tournament. What special events are part of the OC LAX Classic.
Overview of the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic
The Ocean City Lacrosse Classic, also known as OC LAX Classic, is a premier destination tournament held annually in Ocean City, Maryland. This exciting event brings together over 2,000 lacrosse players for a long weekend filled with competitive matches, beach fun, and vibrant nightlife. The 2023 edition is scheduled for August 10-13, promising an unforgettable experience for participants and spectators alike.
The tournament aims to provide a perfect blend of fun, social interaction, and competitive lacrosse for players of all skill levels. With its unique coastal setting, the OC LAX Classic offers more than just sports – it’s a complete summer getaway for lacrosse enthusiasts and their families.
Tournament Divisions and Team Registrations
The Ocean City Lacrosse Classic caters to a wide range of players by offering multiple divisions:
- Women’s Division
- Men’s A Division
- Men’s B Division
- Men’s 30+ Division
- Men’s 35+ Division
- Men’s 40+ Division
- Men’s 50+ Division
Each division has seen impressive team registrations for the 2023 tournament. Here’s a glimpse of some registered teams across various divisions:
Women’s Division
- Shamrocks
- Panthers
- The Original Greene Turtle
- Lady Bohs
Men’s A Division
- Dogfish Head
- Ryleigh’s Oyster
- Seacrets
- Bourbon Street on the Beach
- Beltway Lacrosse
- Shore Shooters
- Barley’s Backyard
Men’s B Division
- Shamrocks
- Barley’s Backyard
- Ryleigh’s Oyster
- Harry’s Bar
- Allman Brothers
- Beltway Lacrosse
- Jack Lingo
- Pelicans
- Jackson St.
- Bullets
- Blackwater LC
The tournament also offers divisions for older players, including Men’s 30+, 35+, 40+, and 50+, each with their own set of registered teams.
Special Events and Tournament Highlights
The Ocean City Lacrosse Classic is more than just a series of lacrosse matches. It features several special events that add to the overall experience:
“Sticking It to Cancer” Golf Tournament
This charity event benefits LaxFish and the HEADstrong Foundation. It takes place on August 10th at 9 am with a shotgun start at the Ocean Resorts Golf Club. The entry fee is $125 per golfer or $500 for a foursome.
Welcome Party
Held on Thursday from 4 PM to 9 PM at Bourbon Street on the Beach, this event features live music and special offers, setting the tone for an exciting tournament weekend.
Seacrets Tournament Party
The highlight of the social calendar, this party takes place on August 12th from 6:30-9:30 PM at Seacrets. For $70 (price increases after August 1st), attendees get access to an all-you-can-drink event, live music, and food. With a cap of 500 tickets, this event is sure to sell out quickly.
Military and First Responders Game
A special free game is organized for veterans, active duty military personnel, and first responders. This event, scheduled for August 10th at 6 PM, provides a unique opportunity for these communities to come together on the lacrosse field.
Player Registration and Free Agent Opportunities
How can individual players participate in the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic? The tournament offers a unique free agent signup option for all divisions. This initiative, partnered with the Maryland Lacrosse League, allows players of all skill levels and ages to join the tournament, even if they don’t have a full team.
For those looking to register, the process is straightforward. Players can visit the tournament’s official website and follow the registration links for their desired division. It’s important to note that registration deadlines may vary, so early sign-up is recommended to secure a spot in this popular event.
Tournament Rules and Format
Understanding the tournament format and rules is crucial for participants. Here’s an overview of the key points:
- Teams play 3 pool games, and all teams advance to playoffs (divided into A and B brackets)
- Games consist of 22-minute running time periods, including playoff and championship games
- In the last 3 minutes of the second half, the clock stops on all whistles if the score difference is within 3 goals
For a comprehensive understanding of the rules, players are encouraged to review the full rulebook provided by the tournament organizers. This ensures fair play and a consistent experience across all divisions.
Venue and Facilities
Where exactly does the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic take place? The tournament is held across various fields in Ocean City, Maryland. The primary venue is Northside Park, which serves as the tournament headquarters. This location offers excellent facilities for both players and spectators, including ample parking, concession stands, and space for vendor booths.
Ocean City itself provides a perfect backdrop for the tournament. With its beautiful beaches, boardwalk, and numerous attractions, participants and their families can enjoy a full vacation experience alongside the lacrosse action.
Merchandise and Souvenirs
Looking to commemorate your participation in the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic? The tournament offers a range of official merchandise for players and fans alike. Available items include:
- Hats
- Shirts
- Shorts
- Other lacrosse-related gear
These items can be purchased at the tournament, providing a perfect souvenir of the OC LAX experience. The merchandise tent is typically located near the tournament headquarters at Northside Park.
Impact on Ocean City and the Lacrosse Community
How does the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic impact the local community and the broader world of lacrosse? This tournament has become a significant event in the lacrosse calendar, drawing thousands of players and spectators to Ocean City each year. The economic impact on the local community is substantial, with hotels, restaurants, and attractions benefiting from the influx of visitors.
For the lacrosse community, the OC LAX Classic serves as a platform for players of all ages to showcase their skills, network with fellow enthusiasts, and enjoy the sport in a unique setting. The inclusion of charity events, like the “Sticking It to Cancer” golf tournament, also demonstrates the tournament’s commitment to giving back and making a positive impact beyond the playing field.
The tournament’s longevity and growing popularity have cemented its status as one of the premier lacrosse events on the East Coast. It continues to attract top talent and provides a model for how sports tournaments can successfully blend competition with vacation appeal.
Preparing for the Tournament: Tips for Participants
For players gearing up for the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic, proper preparation is key to making the most of the experience. Here are some essential tips:
- Review the tournament schedule and plan your games and activities accordingly
- Familiarize yourself with the tournament rules and any specific regulations for your division
- Pack appropriate gear, including extra equipment in case of damage or loss
- Stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun, as August in Ocean City can be hot
- Plan your accommodations early, as hotels fill up quickly during the tournament weekend
- Take advantage of the free time between games to explore Ocean City’s attractions
- Don’t forget to sign up for special events like the Seacrets party in advance to avoid missing out
By following these guidelines, players can ensure they’re well-prepared for both the competitive and social aspects of the tournament.
The Ocean City Lacrosse Classic continues to be a highlight of the summer lacrosse season, offering a unique blend of competitive play and vacation atmosphere. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a first-time participant, the OC LAX Classic promises an unforgettable lacrosse experience in one of the East Coast’s most popular beach destinations.
OC LAX CLASSIC
Register for 2023
Seacrets TOURNAMENT PARTY TICKETS
August 10-13th, 2023
Ocean City, MD
The Ocean City Lacrosse Classic is a destination tournament in Ocean City, Maryland. Each year over 2,000 players Come out for a long weekend of great lacrosse, beaches, amusement parks, shopping, family fun, and outstanding nightlife. Our goal is to provide a fun, social, and competitive lacrosse experience for everyone.
Women’s: Lady Shuckers
Men’s A: Barley’s Backyard
Men’s B: Jackson St.
Men’s 30+: Dogfish Head
Men’s 35+: Jack Lingo
Men’s 40+: Inner Circle
Men’s 50+: Providence Financial
Cost: Free
August 10th at 6 PM
To get rostered please fill out this form
Jersey included
This is open to veterans, active duty military personnel, and first responders.
The game is an opportunity for members of the military and first responder communities to come together and play lacrosse.
Thursday –
“Sticking It to Cancer” Golf Tournament, benefiting LaxFish and the HEADstrong Foundation
August 10th at 9 am for a shotgun start at the picturesque Ocean Resorts Golf Club.
🏌️♂️💲 Each golfer’s entry fee is $125, or gather your squad (foursome entry for $500).
Sign up here
4 PM – 9 PM Welcome party held at Bourbon Street on the Beach, featuring live music and special offers!
Saturday – Seacrets tournament party
August 12th, 2023, 6:30-9:30 PM at Seacrets. The ticket includes access to AYCD, live music, and food. The price is $70 and goes up on August 1st. Tickets can be picked up on August 10 or 11th at the headquarter tent at Northside Park. The event will sell out at 500 tickets.
All-you-can-drink event (limited tickets will be sold) Sign up here
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🏌️♂️DIVISIONS OFFERED
Teams Registered:
Dogfish Head
Ryleigh’s Oyster
Seacrets
Bourbon Street on the Beach
Beltway Lacrosse
Shore Shooters
Barley’s Backyard
Teams Registered:
Shamrocks
Panthers
The Original Greene Turtle
Lady Bohs
Teams Registered:
Shamrocks
Barley’s Backyard
Ryleigh’s Oyster
Harrys Bar
Allman Brothers
Beltway Lacrosse
Jack Lingo
Pelicans
Jackson st.
BulletsBlackwater LC
Teams Registered:
Glue Factory
Rec Room
Seacrets
Ace Lacrosse
Blue Dogs Lacrosse
The County Bomberz
Beltway Lacrosse
Captains
Italia Lacrosse
Orange Smash
Norrisville open
Bulls LC
Das Ducks
Get Lost LC
Howler Head
Tequilla Mockingbird
Green Dragons
More Dudes
Team Really Good Friends
Black Eyed Suzies LC
WaterBucks
Gennies
The Farm
Teams Registered:
Dogfish Head Brewery
Maryland Mallards
ECD Lacrosse
Stray Catz
SAR Hounds
The Crew (Connecticut)
Steam Lacrosse Club
Das Ducks
Seacrets LC
Beltway Lacrosse
RAR Brewing
Shamrocks
Jack Lingo
HD elite
The Original Greene Turtle
Teams Registered:
Tether Marketing
Inner Circle
Team Cools
Touch of Grey
HEADstrong
Teams Registered:
Tequila Mockingbird
Mr.
BohShore Steamers
Burley Oak
LaxFish
ProMD Health
Providence Financial – EL Diablo
Free agent signup is available for all divisions (partnered with the Maryland Lacrosse League). This partnership allows players of all skills and ages an opportunity to play in the tournament.
Bullets
BohTourney Machine Link will be live by 8.
1.23Players and fans of the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic will be about to buy Hats, Shirts, Shorts, and more at the tournament.
OC Lax Classic Waiver Form
MEN’S RULES
Format – Teams play 3 pool games and everyone makes playoffs (A and B brackets)
Time Factors: 22-minute running time periods, including playoff and championship games. Exceptions are: the clock stops on all whistles during the last 3 minutes of the second half if within a 3-goal margin.
Time-outs: One time-out per half.
Live ball time-outs can be called with the ball ANYWHERE on the field.Overtime: sudden death until a team scores. No timeouts in overtime.
Clearing counts: 20 seconds to get the ball over the midline.
Long sticks: The allowable number of long sticks on the field is 4.
Expulsion from game: Ejected players will be excluded from participating in the next game.
Alcohol is NOT allowed at any of our fields, including Northside Park.
Proof of age/Illegal Players: The Team Manager is responsible for ensuring that all age requirements are met prior to each game. All players should have a legal ID to verify if needed.
Turning the division minimum age in the year of the event. (Example: I turn 30 in 2023 in December I can play 30+ this year)
No player is allowed to play for more than one team in each division. Rosters will be checked at random and before some playoff games to ensure compliance with these rules.
Delay of game: If a team is not ready to begin their scheduled game within 5 minutes of official game time then a delay of game penalty is assessed and the opposing team is awarded the first possession. A team may elect to begin play with 8 or 9 players without a delay of game penalty.
Tournament Tiebreakers
1. Record in Pool
2. Head-to-Head Play (if applicable)
3. Goals against
4. All teams make playoffs with the top half of the teams moving to the A bracket, while the bottom half moves to the B bracket of their division. (I.e. if 12 teams are in a bracket 6 make the A bracket, 6 make the B bracket)
Men’s “A” Division Rules & Men’s “B” playoffs
Shot Clock: 60-second Shot Clock – Starts at the time of possession of the ball. The ball must hit the front of the goal pipes or crossbar or the goalie (be saved) to be reset off of a shot.
Format – Teams play 3 pool games and everyone makes playoffs (A and B brackets)
Time Factors: 20-minute running time periods, including playoff and championship games.
Exceptions are: the clock stops on all whistles during the last 3 minutes of the second half if within a 3-goal margin.Time-outs: One time out per half.
Overtime: sudden death until a team scores. No timeouts in overtime.
Goggles and mouth guards are mandatory
Tournament Tiebreakers
1. Record in Pool
2. Head-to-Head Play (if applicable)
3. Goals against
4. All teams make playoffs with the top half of the teams moving to the A bracket, while the bottom half moves to the B bracket of their division (I.e. if 12 teams are in a bracket 6 make the A bracket, 6 make the B bracket)
If your business is interested in sponsorship or vending opportunities please email [email protected]
1.23
Live ball time-outs can be called with the ball ANYWHERE on the field.
Exceptions are: the clock stops on all whistles during the last 3 minutes of the second half if within a 3-goal margin.Join our email list
Contact us
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR:
COLIN FAGAN
📞 410-714-3248
📧 OCLAXCLASSIC@GMAIL.
COM
Ocean City beats Holy Spirit to repeat as CAL girls lacrosse champions
Patrick Mulranen
OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City High School girls lacrosse team captured its second straight Cape-Atlantic League Tournament title Friday.
In a rematch of last season’s final, Madi Wenner scored four goals to lead the top-seeded Red Raiders to a 15-6 victory over second-seeded Holy Spirit at Carey Stadium. Ocean City had seven goal scorers. Wenner also contributed five draw controls.
“It’s awesome,” said Wenner, 18, of Upper Township. “I feel like we came out here and we really played together as a team, and we put our best effort out there. It’s great to be back-to-back champions.”
Ocean City (14-4), ranked fourth in The Press Elite 11, also beat the Spartans 19-11 on March 24 and 17-11 on May 11. Both teams compete in the CAL American Division, and the Red Raiders are undefeated against conference opponents.
Holy Spirit, No. 9 in the Elite 11, fell to 11-3.
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Ocean City led 8-3 at halftime Friday.
“It’s nice for the kids,” Ocean City coach Lesley Graham said of the repeat. “The kids really work hard for it. They grind every day at practice from March 16 to now. It gives a good motivating and confident boost heading into state playoffs, which are seeded on Monday. So, it’s a nice little exclamation point on the regular season.”
Kendall Murphy scored early in the first half to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. Ocean City quickly responded, and Gracie Pierce, Brynn Culmone, Madison Wenner, Katie Pierce, Delainey Sutley and Breanna Fabi each scored to give the Red Raiders a 6-1 lead.
With 10 minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the first half, Hanna Watson scored to cut Holy Spirit’s deficit to 6-2. Ocean City’s Ryan Cooke scored five later minutes to make the score 7-2. With 1:09 left, Ocean City’s Aliza Otton made an incredible save, but the Spartans’ Maddie Abbott grabbed the rebound and scored to cut the deficit to 7-3.
With eight seconds remaining, Wenner scored to make it 8-3.
Sutley scored a game-high five Friday.
“It was very helpful to get the big (early) lead, and then coming out in the second half we came out pretty strong,” said Wenner, a midfielder with 46 goals and 64 draw controls on the year. “We really just tried and put all our effort into (Friday). It was really good.”
Sutley scored twice to start the second half, extending the lead to 10-3. Abbott scored for Holy Spirit, but the Red Raiders’ Gracie Pierce, Wenner and Sutley scored three straight to make the score 13-4 with 14:12 left. Ocean City controlled the time of possession for most of the remainder of the game, and Wenner added another goal with 4:15 left to make it 14-4. Abbott and Taylor Lyons scored in the final two minutes to make Holy Spirit’s deficit 14-6. With two seconds left, Sutley scored her fifth goal to cap the scoring.
Sutley now has 58 goals on the season. She had 10 draw controls Friday, bringing her season total to 127.
Gracie Pierce scored twice and added an assist, and Culmone and Fabi each scored once and had an assist. Katie Pierce and Cooke each scored once, and Grace McAfee had an assist. Sutley and Andi Helphenstine each had two ground balls.
Gracie Pierce has 31 goals this season, and Cooke, Fabi and Culmone eachhave at least 22. On Friday, Abbott and Murphy each scored twice for Holy Spirit, and Lyons and Watson each had one to go with an assist. Marissa Jones made four saves.
“We really pride ourselves on that diverse offense we have, where it’s not just one person or two people,” Graham said. “We have a ton of talent and a ton of depth that allow us to have all these options. If someone is having a bad day, it’s OK. We are going to pick you up.”
Holy Spirit still has Lower Cape May Regional on Monday and Notre Dame on Wednesday before its regular season ends. The Spartans reached the state Non-Public B finals in 2022 and should be contenders in that bracket again this spring.
Ocean City will now await its seeding in the South Jersey Group III bracket. The Red Raiders lost in the sectional semifinal last season. Ocean City has its prom this weekend, so the team will have some time to be off and reset, Graham said.
“Come Monday, we will go after it,” the coach added.
“We are going for states, and hopefully a state championship,” said Wenner.
Contact Patrick Mulranen: 609-272-7217
Twitter @ACPressMulranen
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90,000 The KHL refuses to cut all ties with the NHL.
A wise decision!
Now Ivan Fedotov will have to choose which of the existing contracts to ignore.
Photo: © KHL / Yury Kuzmin
Almost immediately after the demobilization of Ivan Fedotov, information appeared that the goalkeeper had signed a two-year agreement with CSKA. However, the KHL went against the goalkeeper’s new contract, refusing to register him with the Army Men, since Ivan has obligations to Philadelphia. The league’s decision is the only correct one, because otherwise it will allow NHL clubs to take players from Russian teams at any time.
Among other things, the KHL may lose its main young talent, Matvey Michkov, who was recently selected in the draft. Therefore, Fedotov has only two options, and each of them will drastically affect his future career.
Philadelphia promised to wait for Fedotov
The story with Fedotov began last May, when the goalkeeper of the Russian national team, against the backdrop of a breakthrough season, signed a contract with Philadelphia.
It seemed that the silver medalist of the Olympics and the winner of the Gagarin Cup would compete in the NHL with the Russian goalkeeping superstars. However, Fedotov did not stay as a “pilot” for long: almost a month later, in St. Petersburg, the goalkeeper was detained by the military registration and enlistment office due to suspicions of evading the army. The unexpected news gave rise to a huge number of questions and rumors.
Soon Fedotov ended up in Severodvinsk, where he began his service in the army. The situation around the goalkeeper caused a mixed reaction from Russian fans. Across the ocean, this topic was discussed no less vigorously, and not only among the fans of Philadelphia, which lost its goalkeeper before the start of the season.
Ivan Fedotov / Photo: © KHL / Yury Kuzmin
Other NHL clubs were afraid that their Russian players, who are on vacation at home, would not come back. A striking example is the story of Kirill Kaprizov. First, information appeared that the leader of Minnesota allegedly had a purchased military ID, and then the forward had problems with entering the United States.
All this made the owner of the “savages” Craig Leipold very nervous. But in the end, Kaprizov returned to the club, so the Wild boss got off with a slight fright.
“Philadelphia” in this regard, although less fortunate, but the “pilots” reconciled and waited for Fedotov in the next season.
The KHL keeps their word
Then the Russian goalkeeper disappeared from the information space and reappeared in it only recently. All this time, Fedotov did not break his connection with hockey and during his service he actively worked on the ice. And last month, as part of the Navy team, he took part in the championship of the Russian Armed Forces and played several official matches. Then, a photo of the composition of the Navy national team circulated on social networks, on which one could see the title of Fedotov – senior sailor, as well as a lacrosse goal performed by a player from the CVO team against the ex-keeper of CSKA.
17 days before his demobilization, Philadelphia announced that the contract with the Russian would also be valid in the 2023/24 season, because last year the Pilots prudently froze the agreement.
It seemed that there would be no more new plot twists in this story, and Fedotov would quietly join the Flyers. But the day before, information appeared that CSKA signed Fedotov for two years. The decision of the Moscow club to strengthen the goalkeeper line with a senior sailor means the final break in all relations between the NHL and the KHL.
Ivan Fedotov / Photo: © KHL / Yury Kuzmin
Last spring, the North American League already announced the suspension of the Memorandum of Understanding. However, its essence of mutual respect for contracts did not cease to operate, although it rested solely on a gentleman’s handshake.
The KHL may lose Michkov because of CSKA
If this fragile agreement ceases to exist, then our hockey will roll back to a time when Russian players could leave their club at any moment and go overseas. That is why the KHL refused CSKA to immediately register Fedotov in the register. Before that, the domestic league sent a request to the NHL to find out about the status of the contract of the Russian goalkeeper, although Philadelphia had already indicated its position .
..
As a result, overseas, it was expectedly confirmed that Fedotov is a Flyers hockey player and he should spend the 2023/24 season in this club. If the KHL registers the contract of the “soldiers”, then this will create a precedent. The Fedotov case will allow the same “pilots” to invite forward Matvey Michkov, recently drafted under the 7th number, to the team right now, and not wait until his contract ends in 2026. And Dmitry Simashev and Daniil But, who were selected by the Coyotes in the last draft, may leave Lokomotiv for Arizona. The same applies to any hockey player from the KHL, so the gentleman’s agreement will be followed in the league.
In this situation, it is not clear why the goalkeeper signed a contract with CSKA, because it was already known that he had active obligations to the “pilots”. Thus, Ivan put himself in a difficult position. He has two options: refuse Philadelphia and close his path to the NHL, or give a damn about the agreement with the Army Men and question the possibility of returning to the KHL.
In the meantime, only one thing is clear – the story of Fedotov will soon get its finale, because the regular season of the domestic league starts on September 1st.
Read also:
- “Fedotov has a contract with Philadelphia next season – NHL Deputy Commissioner
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CSKA
Philadelphia Flyers
Kirill Kaprizov
Ivan Fedotov
Matvey Michkov
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Malkin spoke about Tarasenko’s chances to move to Pittsburgh0003
Change of legionnaires in Dynamo (except Russians): best scorers and “new Belarussians” left, newcomers didn’t go to the NHL (one was considered predictable in the KHL)
In 2020, many Belarusians looked at hockey Minsk “ Dynamo from a different point of view: the participation of players in early voting in the presidential election, the departure of several key employees from the club due to refusal to cover this event, the cadets of the Ministry of Emergencies in the fan sector instead of the ultras who announced the boycott, the position and actions of Dmitry Baskov, who replaced the post of general director with position of the head of the supervisory board of the club, and other factors.
As a result, many people who previously worried about the team began to treat it with indifference at best. Although, in terms of sports, the 2020/21 season turned out to be very solid for Dynamo: after three flights past the playoffs in a row, the Minskers finally made it to the knockout round, where they even caught one match in the series with SKA St. Petersburg.
At the same time, before the start of the regular season, there was talk that the Zubrs might stop participating in the KHL due to funding problems – Belaruskali was in no hurry to renew the sponsorship contract that expired at the end of 2019, which is why the club accumulated debts to hockey players . However, the potash enterprise still continued to keep Dynamo afloat, and in addition to this, an agreement was signed with the A-100 group of companies. Nevertheless, Baskov spoke about very modest opportunities before the start of the season: at first he said that after receiving state funding, the Minskers would try to reach half the salaries in the KHL ($ 3.
8 million), and soon after that he completely assured that the club’s budget “would be about comparable to the budget of the Extraleague teams” (and in the BW, the total – not only for settlements with the players – the cost of $ 2 million is enough to be an iron contender for the title). It seems that Lukashenka’s team coach was still crying: the insider telegram channel Nick and Mike reported that Dynamo received $8 million from Belaruskali for the season, $3 million from A-100, and another 2.7 million earned independently. For the season, the club needed 13.5 million in the same currency – of which 2.5 million went to cover the debts of the previous year, and 5.5 million were allocated to hockey players’ salaries.
However, by the standards of the KHL these are still modest figures, so the coincidence of several other factors helped the Bison achieve a decent result. Firstly, due to the fact that the pandemic paused the junior leagues in North America, they managed to recruit a bunch of promising Belarusians from there.
And secondly, the salary cap introduced in the KHL slightly equalized the possibilities of the clubs and made it possible to lure good legionnaires to Minsk. It is especially interesting to watch the transitions of the latter – after all, they are traditionally invited to make a result and write out the most generous contracts for them, and foreigners are clearly brave if they agree to come to present-day Belarus. We recall how hockey players from abroad played in Dynamo last season, and find out who the Minskers are counting on in the season that started.
In total, 16 legionnaires played for Dynamo in the 2020/21 campaign, 14 of which were in the squad at the same time from the end of December until the end of the season. At the same time, the leaders claimed that they were observing their own (officially for the club in the KHL it is not) limit on legionnaires “7 field + 1 goalkeeper” – the club bosses refused to include not only three North Americans who were preparing to obtain citizenship, but also four Russians as foreigners.
Chiefs of Dynamo for years bypass the formula that they themselves come up with. Is this not absurd?
Now for personalities. Czech keeper Dominik Furch moved to Minsk from Swedish Orebro. According to Hockey Bulbash, he was the highest paid Dynamo hockey player last season ($481,000 per year). In November, Furch was recognized as the player of the month in the KHL, but he failed to fully concrete the gates of the Zubrs – in total he played 41 matches and on average reflected only 90.3 percent of shots (according to this key indicator, he did not even get into the top 50 of the league) . Now the Czech is on the free agent market. Furh’s main backup was Canadian Danny Taylor who received Belarusian citizenship. He played 12 games and showed even more depressing numbers – only 87.7 percent of neutralized threats to the goal. Now Taylor, who went with the national team of Belarus to the disastrous World Cup, remains without a club, but, according to Fan Zone, in early August he was at the location of Dynamo, and now he is preparing for the Olympic qualification with the national team.
Three foreigners played in Dynamo defense. The most important role was played by the American Brennan Menell – this def skillfully connected to the attack and scored chic 38 (5 + 33) points in 47 matches. There was talk that a Belarusian passport could be offered to him, but Menell’s paths with Dynamo seem to diverge – Minnesota, which owned the hockey player’s contract in the NHL, exchanged him for Toronto, where he will try to gain a foothold. Canadian Ryan Murphy played only 12 games in Minsk, but he also scored 8 (2+6) points. Three weeks ago, he signed with Detroit. From Swede Adam Almqvist was also expected to score goalscoring exploits – in the 2019/20 season for Admiral, he scored 26 (8 + 18) points in 58 games. But at Dynamo, he had a more defensive role and modest statistics (only four assists). Almqvist remains at the club – for the new season he can earn up to 275 thousand dollars.
For the Canadian Ryan Spooner and the North American Belarusians Shane Prince and Francis Pare last season was the second in Dynamo.
Spooner and Prince succeeded: the first scored a little, but clearly showed himself as an assistant (33 assists and 6 goals in 36 games), and the second scored points regularly and evenly – 49(25+24) in 52 matches (moreover, he earned a pretty plus-minus +14). In the off-season, the forwards moved in tandem to Avtomobilist, where they probably received a solid salary increase – in Minsk, both earned around $400,000 in a year. Pare’s statistics turned out to be much worse – 10 (3+7) points in 35 games. But he also went on an increase – the Canadian signed with the current owner of the Gagarin Cup Avangard.
Among last year’s Dynamo forwards there were four more representatives of North America. Young American Ivan Lodnya did not become a prominent figure – a hockey player with Belarusian roots came as another candidate for naturalization, but in the end scored only one goal (six more assists) and returned to the USA at the beginning of 2021. Canadian Zach Mitchell joined the team a couple of days before the departure of Lodney and made a solid contribution to the end of the season – 17 (5+12) points in 21 games.
But after the season, the striker seemed to dissolve – there is no news either about his negotiations with Dynamo or about other career options. Now Mitchell is absent from the roster of the Minskers. Also left Minsk Brandon Kozun and Rob Klinkhammer : the first moved to the Swiss “Ambri-Piotta”, the second – to the Moscow “Dynamo”. Last season, both were very important for the Zubrs – in the regular season Kozun became the club’s fourth scorer with 32 (17+15) points, and Clinkhammer followed right behind him with 26 (15+11) points. Rob also wore a captain’s patch. During the year, both North Americans at Dynamo earned around $400,000.
And finally, the already mentioned four Russians. Roman Gorbunov and Kirill Voronin have been playing in Dynamo since the beginning of the season – both have a total of 47 matches and around a dozen points. Pavel Varfolomeev and Denis Mosalev moved at the end of December – and did not give a very powerful performance: the first one had 5 (4 + 1) points in 14 meetings, the second – 8 (5 + 3) in 20.
Nevertheless , all four forwards for the 2021/22 campaign remained in Minsk, and quite young Gorbunov, Varfalomeev and Voronin (24, 26 and 27 years old respectively) can get Belarusian passports – Zubr general manager Andrei Parfimovich said that an oral agreement on this with hockey players was achieved at the initial signing of contracts.
Thus, of the foreign players who played in Minsk last season, only a quartet of Russians and Almqvist remained in the roster. A new batch of foreigners has already been prepared to replace the rest – it is interesting that they are all at least 27 years old.
27-year-old Slovak Patrik Rybar will try to close the goalkeeper position. The rights to him belong to Detroit, but he has not yet played in the NHL. Overseas, Rybar played a season in the AHL – he played 37 matches for Grand Rapids, in which he reflected 90.8 percent shooting. For the last two years, the keeper has defended the colors of the Finnish Kärpyat and has shown more solid numbers there: 64 games in total, 92.
4 percent in the first season, 91.2 in the second. Patrik also has experience in the Slovak national team – he played six times at two world championships and got into the application for the upcoming Olympic qualification, where one of the rivals of his team will be the Belarusian team. It is interesting that the father of the Dynamo keeper, Pavol Rybar, was also a hockey goalie and looked into Belarus – he played the 2006/07 season for Gomel and, following the results of the championship, entered the symbolic team “B”.
In defense, the Bison signed his compatriot Lukas Bengtsson in company with Almqvist. The 27-year-old def was traded from SKA for Stepan Falkovsky. The Swede began his professional career in his homeland and in 2016 achieved a golden double with Frölunda, winning the championship and the Champions League. After that, Bengtsson signed Pittsburgh and sent him to break into the strongest league in the world through the AHL. There, Lucas spent two years blurred with health problems: he was initially misdiagnosed with Lyme disease (it is caused by tick bites) – as it turned out later, in fact, the hockey player had postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (that is, a steady increase in heart rate by more than 30 beats per day).
minute). The Swede managed to recover, returned home and had a great season at Linköping – 42 matches, 24 (7+17) points. From there, Bengtsson signed SKA – in two years the defender played 65 matches and earned 33 (6+27) points. In Dynamo, the defender will earn money that no one in the team received last season – about 620 thousand dollars a year.
The Swede will also appear in the attack of Minskers. 31-year-old Mattias Thedenby was once a very promising forward – in 2008, New Jersey drafted him in the first round with the 24th overall number. Two years later, the Scandinavian moved across the ocean, but failed to gain a foothold in the “devils” – he constantly shuttled between the AHL and the NHL. As a result, Tedenby played 120 matches for the “devils”, scored 30 (10 + 20) points, and also managed to become the silver medalist of the 2011 World Cup. After the USA, there were five years in the Swedish “HB-71” and a year in the Swiss “Davos” and the Russian “Vityaz”.
In the KHL, Mattias played 52 matches, in which he scored 35 (17 + 18) points.
But Dynamo will not do without the North Americans. One of them was 30-year-old Taylor Beck . At one time in the junior leagues, this striker showed great statistics (he scored around 100 points for two seasons in a row), but in the NHL draft he was selected only in the third round under the 70th number, and he really failed to gain a foothold in the league. Beck played for the Nashville, Islanders, Edmonton and Rangers – in six years he collected only 97 games and 33 (17 + 18) points. Taylor played much more often and brighter in the AHL – there he scored more than 40 assists four times and once even participated in the All-Star Game. In 2017, the Canadian moved to the KHL, where he shows himself well – in the Avtomobilist, Kunlun, Avangard and Magnitogorsk he played a total of 243 games and scored 170 (64 + 106) points in them. True, Beck was released from Magnitogorsk to Minsk quite calmly.
“Taylor became predictable, he repeated the same mistakes over and over again. For rivals, the striker was no longer a problem, “- this is how the director of Metallurg, Sergey Laskov, explained the reasons for the breakup. A hockey player with such a resume in Minsk will be paid about 620 thousand dollars a year.
The only Dynamo rookie to date who played in the NHL last season is 28-year-old Canadian Tyler Grayowack who played for Vancouver. However, the center forward’s contribution was quite modest – 14 matches, three goals, one assist. Before Dynamo, Greyovac played only in North America and generally moved along the same path as his current teammate Beck – occasionally played in the NHL (15 (12 + 3) points in 84 games over seven seasons), but much more practice received in the AHL (where he scored 40+ points twice).
Thus, at the moment Dynamo has ten legionnaires – but the club’s bosses probably exclude Russians from this list, so the Minskers have two more slots for the 7+1 formula.
One of them will probably be taken by 26-year-old Swedish homebody defender Anton Lindholm , who has mainly played in the AHL for the past five years, periodically being called up to a higher level (he has 66 games in the NHL, while 48 of them he played in the season- 2017/18). Last season, only 16 times he went on the ice as part of Rockford, the Chicago Chicago farm club. There is still no clarity on another acceptable foreigner in Dynamo.
The club, meanwhile, has already started the new season by winning the Salei Cup – in the final four, the Zubrs first defeated Shakhtar (7:1), and then at the very end of the decisive match put the squeeze on Yunost (4:2). The newcomers showed themselves in the first of these matches: Rybar spent the whole game in goal, Bengtsson scored 1 + 1, and Grejovac and Beck organized a goal for Artem Demkov. In the final, it turned out more modestly: Ivan Kulbakov came out in the frame, and only Beck scored a score, throwing into an empty net in the last seconds.
