Kovalchuk and Fedorov will be general managers in the match between NHL and KHL players

Olympic champion Ilya Kovalchuk and three-time Stanley Cup winner Sergey Fedorov have been appointed general managers of the teams of the Match of the Year between the Russian players of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The press service of the event reported on June 10.

In the two previous meetings, Kovalchuk took part in the quality of the player. That's why I was happy with my new role.

"I have completely different tasks ahead of me, no less interesting and ambitious. I am sure that together we will make every effort to ensure that the audience remembers this match as one of the brightest and most interesting sporting events," he said in a comment on the Match of the Year Telegram channel.

The second general manager indicated that he had closely followed the past season in both the NHL and the KHL, and had already formed his own proposal on how to make the game of the Year even more spectacular.

"What is especially important is that together with Ilya and the two captains, we will strive to put both teams together so that there will be an equal confrontation between two equally strong teams in the match. In St. Petersburg, the audience will see truly spectacular hockey," said Fedorov.

The meeting will take place on July 25 at the SKA Arena in St. Petersburg, Sport-Express added.

Moscow will host a hockey match between the national teams of Russia and the USA. History of confrontations

The head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia (AmCham), Robert Agee, announced on June 4 that the hockey match between Russian and US players will be held on July 1 in Moscow. Agee expressed hope that this match will contribute to the "melting of ice" between the countries.

On March 26, 2026, Olympic speed skating champion, State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova announced that the United States was considering the possibility of holding friendly matches between the American and Russian national hockey and football teams. The idea to hold hockey matches in both countries between Russian and American players playing in the KHL and NHL was proposed in March 2025 by Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks with American leader Donald Trump.