The disciplinary arm of the Continental Hockey League, known as the sports and disciplinary committee, handed fines to several players from Khabarovsk Amur and Omsk Avangard after a pregame confrontation that marked the leadup to a head-to-head matchup. Kirill Spitsenko and Evgeny Grachev of Amur, along with Semyon Chistyakov of Avangard, faced penalties for their roles in the clash that occurred before the puck dropped, as reported by the league’s official site. The ruling underscored the league’s commitment to maintaining order on and off the ice, signaling that incidents in the buildup to a game are treated with the same seriousness as those during play.
In addition to the players receiving fines for the incident, Omsk’s Artem Chmykhov and Mark Verba, and Amur’s Sergei Kolesnikov, were punished with a one-game suspension. The decision was delivered following a formal review, which considered on-ice conduct, exchanges between players, and any surrounding events that could impact the integrity of competition. This sequence of sanctions demonstrates the league’s emphasis on fair play and accountability across teams that meet in the Eastern Conference.
The disciplinary session occurred on January 13, and the game itself concluded with Omsk earning a 3-1 victory. The result not only reflected the on-ice performance but also carried the weight of the day’s broader dynamics, including disciplinary outcomes that can influence team morale and future preparation.
At the standings moment, Avangard sits in second place in the Eastern Conference with 71 points after fifty league games. The leading team Magnitogorsk Metallurg holds a one-point edge, underscoring how tightly packed the conference race remains. Amur, meanwhile, sits in the tenth position with 50 points, illustrating a significant gap to the top but still within striking distance of key playoff positioning as the schedule moves forward.
The upcoming schedule has Avangard returning to action against CSKA Moscow in Omsk, a marquee matchup expected to attract strong crowds and intense play. The game is scheduled for January 17, with the puck drop set for 16:30 Moscow time. For Amur, the next challenge comes on the same day, January 17, at 19:30 Moscow time, when they will host SKA Saint Petersburg at the home arena, a fixture that presents another test of consistency and resilience for the team.
A former KHL referee issued an apology following the incident, and it was noted that there had been a consultative exchange with Avangard’s coach about using inappropriate language during the broader context of the game’s events. The league’s communications emphasize that players, coaches, and officials are all held to standards of conduct, with accountability reinforced through formal processes when lines are crossed.