06
Feature
RUSSIA NOW
BOOKMARKS www.khl.ru/statistics/?lang=en Official website of KHL
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http://english.sport-express.ru
Official website of popular Russian sports newspaper
WWW.RBTH.RU
www.mnweekly.ru/sport/ Sport news
Sports The Russian league is hoping to unify European hockey, bringing together
National cuisine
clubs from several countries in a similar fashion to the National Hockey League
Count
KHL: Growing
Stroganov’s
Bequest
Stronger
IRAKLI IOSEBASHVILI
GOURMAND
Every Day The origins of most Russian foods are lost
in the mists of time. When was the first pirozhok
invented, and by whom? Who decided beets,
potatoes and about 20 other vegetables would
Can KHL rival the NHL within make a tasty red soup that goes great with sour
a few years? Sponsors say cream, and why did they call it borscht?
the idea is no mere Most (though not all) sources, however, agree
pipedream. The league’s on the origins of beef stroganoff, one of the few
main trophy will be the Russian dishes that has crossed the cultural
Gagarin Cup. The creators divide and is served the world over. In the 19th
hope their brainchild will be century lived a certain Count Alexander Grigo-
a breakthrough in European rievich Stroganov, a man of no small accom-
hockey, just like Yuri plishments. The last of the ancient Stroganov line,
Gagarin’s spaceflight was a the count was a founder of banks and universi-
breakthrough into space. ties, the Governor-General of the Novorossiisk
region and a remarkably vigorous man – he
ILYA ZUBKO
SERGEY METELICA_ITAR-TASS lived to be 96 years old. He was also fond of
RUSSIA NOW living large, especially when it came to receiv-
ing guests. As the story goes, he ordered his
Still in its first season, Russia's servants to feed anyone setting foot on his terri-
new Continental Hockey tory, whether he was there or not. Faced with the
League (KHL in Russian) is al- need for a dish that was quickly prepared, filling
ready creating a buzz – even and tasty, the count’s chefs (who, if not French,
in Europe. It has come a long were likely to have been influenced by French
way since the start of 2008, gastronomy, like most Russian chefs at the time)
when Czech, Swedish and Finn- put their heads together and came up with what
ish clubs were in no hurry to eventually became known as beef stroganoff.
join KHL. Already, at least one have affected its After the fall of imperial Russia, immigrants
European candidate has
RN Dossier: KHL Budgets
performance, brought the dish to all corners of the world. It
emerged: The Czech Club En- meets a weaker was especially popular in China, which was a
ergy from Karlovy Vary, inspired one," says Alexei preferred destination for Russians fleeing the
by the successes of Dynamo In October, KHL published its CSKA (Moscow): $13.6 mil- Morozov, an Ak- Communist regime. Another version made it to
Riga, has signed an agreement clubs’ payrolls for the first lion a year Bars forward and the United States, and the dish also became
of intent with the league and time. Many experts note that According to unofficial data, captain of the prized in Australia, Portugal and Brazil, where it
is planning to play next sea- the figures are grossly un- the total annual budgets of Russian team that spawned a fast food chain. Here's a quick and
son. Others may soon follow derstated because the teams the league’s leading clubs run won the world easy recipe for a basic beef stroganoff.
suit: KHL has an ambition to want to dodge the cap on into $50-60 million, the av- championship in
unite the same number of 30 salaries set by the league. erage being $30-40 million. Canada last

clubs as the National Hockey In the 2008/09 season the The poorest teams cost their spring. "Of course
League (NHL). aggregate income of hock- owners $18-20 million. it is physically
Russian clubs have been lur- ey players for each club has The pay of KHL players is a more taxing. We
ing many notable players from been set at about $23 million: closely guarded secret and have to fly more
FOTOBANK STUDIO
across the Atlantic. Ray Emery, Avangard (Omsk): $29.2 mil- can only be assessed based frequently, which is
an excellent goal keeper, has lion a year on unofficial data. tiring. But I am not
joined the Atlant team from the Ak-Bars (Kazan): $22.5 mil- The highest paid player is grumbling because
Moscow Region to put his team lion a year Yaromir Yagr, who is rumored all the teams are in the
at the top of the league table. Atlant (Moscow Region): to earn $7 million a year af- same position."
"I have something to prove to $19.8 million a year ter tax. Among Russian play- "Russia is creat-
people from the NHL, and I'll Salavat-Yulayev (Ufa): ers the highest paid is Alexei ing good conditions for
do it in Russia," said Emery $19.5 million a year Morozov who is thought to the game," Brylin says.
upon arriving at the KHL club. SKA (St. Petersburg): $18.5 have earned $4 million last "I think such a league
So far he has kept his prom- million a year year. could use Yagr, Yashin WWW.KHL.RU
ise. Lokomotiv (Yaroslavl): Alexei Yashin of Lokomo- and Radulov to boost Beef stroganoff: not just for counts
Russia is full of people who $18.5 million a year tiv earns about $2.5 mil- its authority and lift its
have played in the NHL. Ser- Metallurg (Magnitogorsk): lion a year. Leading play- play," he added. Ingredients
gei Brylin from New Jersey has $17.9 million a year ers in strong clubs routinely Another player who The KHL’s main trophy is the Gagarin • 1 pound of beef • 2 tablespoons tomato
joined SKA, which is coached Dynamo (Moscow): $16.8 earn $2.3 million. Medium- has returned is Igor Cup. Gagain, the first astronaut, is asso- • 2 onions sauce
by Barry Smith. After playing million a year level players earn between Larionov. He has re- ciated with top achievements among • 3/4 cup sour cream • salt, pepper (to taste)
in North America for many Seversatl (Cherepovets): $500,000 and $1 million a tired and is now SKA’s Russians. • 1 tablespoon flour
years, he says he is happy to $15.5 million a year year. director of hockey op-
be back in his home country. erations. Alexander Preparation
At present the KHL is practi- Radulov’s transfer provoked Radulov episode has shown 1. Wash the meat, lay on a cutting board, then beat with a
cally a remake of the U.S.S.R. some conflict. The player that good hockey players are meat tenderizer
Championship. It includes clubs of foreign players. On the other clubs twice. The calendar has moved to Russia while still not loath to exchange Ameri- 2. Once beef is tender, cut into strips
from Latvia, Kazakhstan and hand, four or five KHL teams also been changed around. Pre- under contract with an NHL ca for Russia. Young KHL play- 3. Finely dice onion, place in a pan and saute in oil for 2-3
Belarus. "Guests" are exempt can already hold their own viously, matches took place two club, Nashville. It happened at ers can earn several times more minutes
from the harsh limit on foreign against NHL teams," says or three times a week on fixed a time when the leagues had than at NHL, which is increas- 4. When onions turn a golden brown, add meat, salt and
players, which causes resent- Yaromir Yagr, a top star in the days; now, like NHL, the games concluded a long-awaited gen- ingly emerging as the decisive pepper
ment among other teams. new league, who has returned go on non-stop. Fans hailed tlemen's agreement regarding factor. 5. Fry meat over a high flame for 5-6 minutes, stirring peri-
While Dynamo Riga can recruit to Avangard Omsk. the new arrangement, and contracts. Radulov’s symbol- What has become clear in Eu- odically
top players from Europe and This season, there are 24 KHL hockey players also like the new ic defection was very reminis- rope is that the Russian league 6. Lower flame, cover pan and let simmer for 5-7 minutes
North America, Russian clubs member teams. They form four calendar. cent of Ovechkin and Malkin’s is the best on the conti- 7. After turning up heat once again, add flour, stir, and fry
have fewer options as KHL rules divisions selected on the basis "I think play has become defections in the opposite di- nent. Hockey observers note another 2-3 minutes
limit the number of foreign of a draw, rather than region, more interesting. The timetable rection to America. While the that, if handled properly, the Ga- 8. Add sour cream, stir and bring to a boil
players in Russian teams. because there are far fewer is so structured that every game NHL has a history of not tak- garin Cup named for the 9. Add tomato sauce, lower flame, cover pan and let sim-
"If the KHL wants to serious- strong teams in the East. Teams has an element of suspense, re- ing the European League seri- U.S.S.R.'s beloved astronaut, and mer for 2-3 minutes until ready
ly compete with the NHL it from the same division play gardless of different abilities. ously and has had no problems the first man in space – could
would be a good idea to abol- each other four times a season Often, a stronger team that has recruiting the best players re- rival the legendary Stanley Cup Serve over noodles or rice, or with fried potatoes on the
ish restrictions on the number and those from other league been on a long tour, which may gardless of transfer fees, the within a few years.
-
side.
Global
A Russian Artist Guides You Through Modern Russian Art in Kiev Evgeny Kissin at Kennedy Center Musical Olympus Foundation Concert
the Italian Renaissance Until March 1, PinchukArtCentre, Kiev, March 1, Washington, D.C. March 22, Carnegie Hall, New York
March 1, National Gallery of Art, Ukraine Prokofiev: 3 Pieces from “Romeo and Juliet” The third concert of the Carnegie Hall’s
Russia
Washington, D.C. “21 RUSSIA” will include works by 21 Rus- and Sonata No. 8. Chopin: Polonaise-Fanta- international festival, Musical Olympus,
The Ekaterina Moskovskaya Artist Union of sian artists of the post-millennium era, sie, Mazurkas, Etudes. will feature the 2008 winners of the Music
Russia in the U.S. offers another guided tour hailing not only from Moscow but also else- www.kissin.dk/concerts.html Olymp festival in St. Petersburg. Accompa-
Cultural
to the National Gallery of Art. Alexey Zoob where in Russia. The large-scale projects, nied by the Olympus Chamber Players and
has picked Italian Renaissance masterpiec- pictures and installations have been delib- The Bolshoi Visits the Arab Emirates conductor Joshua Tan, the performance will
es from Florence and Venice. erately selected to be compared or even to 19-27 March Abu-Dhabi (UAE) include works by Borne, Ravel, Schumann,
Calendar
Zoob's works have been displayed in Mos- contrast with one another – young artists The program consists of: a gala concert Verdi, Massenet, Strauss, Globokar and
cow, Stockholm, Tokyo, Venice, Jerusalem are shown side-by-side with famous ones; from the company’s leading singers, Angela Shostakovich. Featuring: Hyrapet Arakelyan
and Tel-Aviv. He offers trilingual tours – in new works jostle with the established. The Gueorguiou and Jonas Kaufman (21 March); (saxophone), Marcin Zdunik (cello), Ben-
Find more on
Russian, English and Hebrew. exhibition takes place at a private museum a performance from premier ballet dancers jamin Kim (piano), Yoon Jong Kook (tenor),
To book your tour please call owned by Victor Pinchuk, a Ukrainian busi- (23 March); two performances of Grigoro- Ekaterina Godovanets (soprano), Johannes
the Global Calendar
(703) 658-9559 nessman and patron of the arts. vich’s “Giselle” (March 25 and 26). Fischer (percussion).
at www.rbth.ru www.moscowskaya.com http://pinchukartcentre.org/en/ www.bolshoi.ru/en www.carnegiehall.org
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