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Chris Wideman’s KHL RUSSIA Experience



Hully, Chris Wideman, Basil McRae, and Philip McRae talk about each other’s experiences playing in the KHL in Russia versus the NHL.

Clip from episode 11 of the Ice Guardians Podcast with special guests Basil McRae, Chris Wideman, & Philip McRae.

22 Comments

  1. I don’t know what this guy is on, but in the last 5 years there were 4 different champions and none of them was SKA. In fact, SKA didn’t even make it to the finals any of these seasons.

    Finally, in all those 5 finals, there have been 6 different teams so I have no clue where he got “the same 4 teams playing in the conference finals every year”

  2. tell you right now, Wideman is talking out his a@@…… Hey Chris I guess you were in the KHL pre 2015 obviously???? 2020 the KHL was cleaned up for yrs!!! They got rid of those owners and you said yourself it is now helped funded by the govt…. But that wouldnt make good stories would it???? Btw, Omsk won the Championship for their 1st time the year you played…..Only other trip to finals was 8 yrs previous in 2012 where they lost So pls tell us again that the same 4 teams keep winning Mr tell no truth…….

  3. I know a couple guys in the league and I’ve often heard that Widesy’s the funniest and best teammate they’ve ever had. Locker room glue guy that rallies the boys on and off the ice. It’s rare for a guy to bounce around a couple teams but still manage to be respected by all.

  4. Fixed? Like 5 different teams winning the cup last 5 years? "Putins" SKA 8th in standings? Maybe biased by the refs, but its not fixed. The NBA is fixed.

  5. The comment about same 4 teams winning is off the mark. The KHL doesn't work on strict franchising as a number of the clubs are linked to historic sports clubs like Dynamo, Spartak, CSKA and others have investment from companies from mining and railways. Apart from CSKA who are the main dominant team in Moscow, it's pretty spread on winners.

    Gagarin Cup Winners
    2015–16 Metallurg Magnitogorsk
    2016–17 SKA Saint Petersburg
    2017–18 Ak Bars Kazan
    2018–19 CSKA Moscow
    2019–20 Not awarded (COVID-19)
    2020–21 Avangard Omsk
    2021–22 CSKA Moscow
    2022–23 CSKA Moscow
    2023–24 Metallurg Magnitogorsk
    2024-25 Lockomotiv Yaroslavl

  6. Everything is just so ridiculously corrupt over there. That's what makes it hilarious how Putin and all the ppl in charge are so serious about acting like they're the greatest country in the world when they're all just lying to themselves and everyone else, and they fully know it, but they'll want to kill you for saying otherwise. The irony is just insane.

  7. Wideman это тот венгр который главный по снятию порнухи в россии?

  8. Привет Крис. Привет тебе от болельщиков Торпедо. Помним тебя. 😉👍

  9. I've been to Russia multiple times (speak fluent Russian) and it's pretty much still the Wild East, especially outside the 2 major cities — Moscow and St Pete. Also, the KHL isn't a business like the NHL. It doesn't even break even and just keeps losing a ton of money every year. Originally, it was created with the delusional grandeur idea (in typical Russian style) of competing with the NHL as the world's number one league. They just forgot to put a business plan behind it and also the fact that the Russian population is very poor, on average, compared to the US and Canada, so the proceeds from the tickets, merch and all related stuff would be a pittance compared to the NHL. The league survives as a prideful pet project of oligarchs and the gov. It would fold as soon as it stopped being heavily subsidized. It's a very good level league purely in hockey terms but everything I just said is also true.

  10. I actually have real counter proof , SKA St Petersburg have only won 2 times 2015 and 2017 , where is your proof of any of this hate storys against Russia??? I can easily prove that USA is the most corrupt country in the entire world, and NHL almost as corrupt, Let's talk about that? 😢

  11. I thought the guy looking through the glass behind them was a cardboard cut out. He didn’t move for several minutes 😂

  12. The salary cap apparently is working. There is a LOT more parity now compared to 2020-21 when Chris played in KHL.

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