Team expelled from KHL twice applies for re-entry to the league
A team that was expelled from Russia's KHL twice is hoping to make it back to the league. Reports out of Russia state HC Lada Togliatti has filed an official application to return to the KHL. If approved, the club would be ready for the start of the 2023-24 season.
Togliatti (also known as Tolyatti) played in the KHL from 2008 to 2010, but was then expelled for not having a satisfactory arena. After the opening of Lada Arena in 2014, the team returned to the KHL, but was expelled again in 2018. Since then, Togliatti has been playing in Russia's Supreme Hockey League, also known as the VHL.
The KHL lost two teams after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Helsinki Jokerit (Finland) and Dinamo Riga (Latvia) both left as a sign of protest against the actions of the Russian government. It appears neither team has any plans to return.
Lada is a car manufactured in the Togliatti area of Russia. Togliatti is Russia's 19th largest city, with a population of just under 700,000. Players for previous iterations of the team include recognizable names like Alexei Emelin, Sergei Gonchar, Alexei Kovalev, Viktor Kozlov, and several others.
Source: Sport24.ru
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