“We Need to Come Together Quickly, Roll Up Our Sleeves and Become a Team” — Dragons Coaches and Players Look Ahead to New Season

The Shanghai Dragons are beginning to assemble in St. Petersburg as preparations for the 2026–27 KHL season get underway.

The team will officially open preseason camp on August 1, with players and coaches arriving in the city ahead of the start of on-ice work.

Head coach Mitch Love and assistant coach Troy Ward arrived in St. Petersburg overnight, along with Nick Cicek, Brett Murray and David Chen, three of the Dragons’ offseason additions.

With a revamped roster and coaching staff preparing for their first camp together, the focus now shifts toward building chemistry and establishing the identity the Dragons want to carry into the new season.

“We need to come together as quickly as possible, roll up our sleeves and become a team,” Love said as the Dragons prepare to begin their preseason work.

MITCH LOVE

On returning to St. Petersburg and starting a new season

“It’s definitely a lot warmer than it was when I was last here in January! I’m really excited to be back. It’s a beautiful time of year, and there’s a lot of excitement around this new group.

There are plenty of new faces throughout the organization — players, coaches and management — so in many ways, it feels like a fresh start. We’re excited to get going and start building this team together.”

On the changes within the club and working with the new management

“Personally, I came in with about two months left in the season last year, and obviously things didn’t finish the way we wanted them to. The organization felt some changes were necessary, and now we have an opportunity to move forward.

I’m really excited to work with Ilya Kovalchuk and Evgeni Artyukhin. I have a tremendous amount of respect for both of them and for what they accomplished throughout their careers.

There are going to be a lot of moving parts at the beginning — new players, new coaches and new faces throughout the organization. It will take some time, but at the same time, we need to come together as a family quickly, get to work and become a competitive hockey team.

The biggest thing for us is to keep improving each and every day.”

On continuing to learn the KHL

“Nothing comes easy in this business. I had the opportunity to coach 21 games here last season, so I gained some experience and got a better understanding of the league. It’s a very good league, but I still have plenty to learn myself.

We’ve been fortunate to add some very experienced coaches to our staff for the upcoming season, and I’m looking forward to continuing to learn — from them, from our players and from the league itself.

At the same time, we want to establish our own identity, implement our style of play and develop an approach that gives us the best possible chance to be successful.”

On the identity of the new Shanghai team

“For us, it starts from day one of training camp. As soon as everybody gets off the plane and arrives here in St. Petersburg, it’s time to get to work.

One thing that stands out when you look at the roster we’ve put together is the combination of size, character and competitiveness. We have players who have won at different levels and understand what it takes to compete, and they’re excited to be here.

The expectation is to be competitive, and that process starts immediately when training camp begins.”

On playing in front of the fans again

“I’m just really excited to be back. Having two teams playing in the same building this season is going to make it a special environment.

I know our players are excited to play in front of the fans — both the new guys and those who are returning.

This is one of the best places to play hockey on this side of the world, and we’re really looking forward to being back on the ice in front of our fans.”

TROY WARD

On arriving in St. Petersburg

“I feel great. The travel went really smoothly, even though it took three different legs to get here.

Mitch and I met up in Seattle and traveled the rest of the way together, so it gave us a chance to spend some time together and talk. It’s always nice to make a long trip with somebody you know, and now I’m just excited to be here and get started.”

On his knowledge of the KHL and experience working abroad

“I already know quite a bit about the league because I’ve coached a lot of players who have played in the KHL, and I have a number of friends who coach here or have been involved with the league. There are quite a few people here who I know from professional hockey in North America as well.

I was also fortunate enough to spend a couple of years as a head coach in Austria, so I have some experience living and coaching abroad. That gives me a better understanding of what to expect and makes this transition a little more comfortable than the first time I moved overseas.

I’m really excited to work with this coaching staff, meet all of our players and get started.”

On his role on the coaching staff

“We’re all here for one reason: to make Shanghai the best team it can possibly be every single day.

We have players, coaches and management who understand high-level hockey, and collectively we know that our responsibility is to bring our best every day and focus on the things we can control.

For me, as an assistant coach working with Mitch, my role is to help our players develop and bring out the best version of themselves. We want them to feel comfortable, confident and prepared to play at their highest level every day.

That’s where I see my biggest responsibility.”

On familiarity with the roster

“I’m familiar with quite a few of our North American players. I haven’t necessarily coached all of them myself, but in many cases I know coaches who have worked with them, so I already have a pretty good understanding of their games.

Brennan Menell, who just signed with the team, is someone I actually coached in the Western Hockey League back in 2015, so that goes back more than a decade.

Obviously, I don’t know our Russian players as well yet, but I’m familiar with many of the North American and import players. Now I’m really looking forward to getting to know everybody else and seeing how the group comes together.”

On the fans

“I’m incredibly excited. I’ve been fortunate enough to coach for more than 40 years and in some wonderful places around the world, and you learn how important the supporters are to any organization.

Everybody who wears our colors and our logo should be excited about what’s ahead. As coaches and players, we want to make sure we give our best every day because we appreciate the time, effort and money that fans invest in supporting this team.

We want to represent the organization the right way, both on and off the ice, and I’m really looking forward to meeting the fans and experiencing that relationship throughout the season.”

BRETT MURRAY

On his expectations after joining Shanghai

“My expectations are pretty high, to be honest. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the city, the arena and the organization.

There are a lot of new players joining the team, so it will be exciting for all of us to get to know each other, form our own impressions and start building something together.

Everything I’ve heard so far has set the bar pretty high, so I’m really looking forward to experiencing it for myself and getting to work.”

On his decision to come to the KHL

“There were a lot of things that went into the decision.

Making the jump directly from North American hockey would have been difficult for me a year ago, but spending last season in Germany really helped. It gave me an opportunity to adjust to the differences — not only in hockey, but in everyday life as well — and that made the decision to come here this year much easier.

I also had a friend on the team last season, and I asked him just about everything I possibly could about the club and the league. Having that information definitely helped.

Then I spoke with Mitch, the coaching staff and the general manager. They explained their goals and ambitions for the season, and those lined up with what I want as a player.

I want to play good hockey, compete and be part of something that’s moving in the right direction. Once we had those conversations, it was really a no-brainer for me.”

NICK CICEK

On joining Shanghai and expectations for the season

“I’m excited. Looking at the group we’ve put together — the coaching staff, the players, everything around the team — I think we have the potential to have a really good season.

Personally, my focus is to come to the rink every day, continue getting better and do everything I can to help the team win hockey games.

Expectations should always be high when you enter a new season. The goal is to compete, improve and be successful.”

On his style of play

“I’m a bigger defenseman and I like to play a physical game. I take a lot of pride in defending and being reliable in my own end.
At the same time, I think I skate well for my size, I can move the puck and I have a big shot from the blue line.

I’d probably describe myself as a defensive two-way defenseman. I’ll try to contribute offensively whenever I can, but my main responsibility and my biggest focus is being strong defensively.”

On his expectations of the KHL

“I’ve heard a lot of great things about the league. It’s a very skilled league with a lot of high-level players.

I know several guys personally from North America who have come over here, and they’ve had nothing but positive things to say about the experience.

I’m expecting a very competitive league and some really good hockey. I’m excited to get started and see how the season unfolds.”

DAVID CHEN

On getting the opportunity to join Shanghai

“It was an unbelievable moment. I was actually on my graduation trip with some of my Yale classmates when I got the call from my dad and my agent telling me this opportunity was available.

I was incredibly grateful. Getting the chance to play hockey at this level is something you dream about, so for me, it really is a dream come true.

I’m very thankful to be here and excited to get started.”

On his goals entering his first professional season

“My first goal is to establish myself as a professional player.

I know I’m a young player coming into this league, and I want to show that I can compete at this level and play alongside some of the best players out there.

Ultimately, I want to do whatever I can to help this team win hockey games.”

On his personal and team goals

“Personally, I want to establish a clear role on the team and learn what kind of player I can be at this level.

It’s a new stage in my career, so part of the process will be understanding where I can have the biggest impact and continuing to develop from there.

As a team, our goal is to make the playoffs. I think that would be a great accomplishment for this group, and it’s something we’ve already talked about. That’s what we’re going to work toward.”

On his playing style

“I’d describe myself as a creative player. I like to use my speed, I think I see the ice well and I try to make plays when opportunities are there.

At the same time, playing a strong 200-foot game is important to me. I want to contribute at both ends of the ice and help the team in whatever way I can.”

Shanghai Dragons Media Relations