The Russia-based KHL is to challenge the NHL on its home territory for the first time by playing two regular-season games in N.Y., according to RIA NOVOSTI. Reigning champion Dynamo Moscow will face off against "big-spending" SKA St. Petersburg at the newly built Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Jan. 19-20. KHL VP Vladimir Shalaev said that the Barclays Center is superior to the N.Y. Rangers' home at Madison Square Garden as a hockey venue. Shalaev: "There's nothing good about the Madison. Anyone who's been there understands that arena is no longer suited to modern hockey." The Barclays Center already has a strong Russian connection
because it will serve as the new home for the NBA’s relocated Brooklyn Nets,
owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov since '10
(RIA NOVOSTI, 6/26).
HITTING THE ROAD: AS reported ACB Real Madrid Baloncesto will make its first trip to North America to face two NBA teams. On Oct. 6, the team will travel to Memphis to play against fellow Spaniard Marc Gasol and his Grizzlies teammates. On Oct. 8, they will fly north to Toronto for a meeting with Jose Calderon and the Raptors (AS, 6/26).
