Red Bull Salzburg are the Austrian champion for the third time in the last four years. The 2007 and 2008 champions beat Linz in the second overtime of the sixth game 4:3 in Linz and won the final series 4:2. The winning goal was scored by Canadian defenceman Doug Lynch, which decided the game, series, and season in the third minute of the second overtime. Salzburg lost the first two games of the final but turned the series around and ended up winning the championship.

Russian KHL play off semifinal result - 4th game: Kazan - Ufa 2:4, series 3:1.
Finnish SM-Liiga relegation result - 4th game: Jokipojat Joensuu - Ilves Tampere 2:1, series 1:3.
Swedish Elitserien relegation results - 8th round: Almtuna - Växjö 4:0, Leksand - Södertälje 3:2 in OT, Rögle - AIK Stockholm 4:5.

Swiss paper Tages Anzeiger published a report stating that Zurych is keenly interest in defenceman Timo Helbling, who's reported about to be let go by Lugano. The 28-year old former Tampa Bay and Washington defender spent last three seasons in Lugano. This season he scored one goal and six assists in 46 game and was the most penalized player of the regular season in the Swiss NLA (168 penalty minutes).

Finnish coach Jarmo Tolvanen is leaving his Hungarian team Alba Volan Szekesfehervar after only one season even though the team made it to the quarterfinals of the Austrian league where his team got eliminated by the Vienna Capitals. The team management and the coach couldn't agree on the team's future and therefore decided to end the coach's contract.

Swiss goalie Lars Weibel's first international contract is ending right after the first season. Coach of the German team Kölner Haie Bill Stewart confirmed to website Eishockey News, that the former Swiss national team member is finished with his team. "I told him on Friday before Easter," the coach stated regarding the former team starter, who didn't see any ice time during the play offs.

Canadian forward Graig MacDonald is changing teams after his first season in Europe; he is moving with the German league. The 33-year old Nova Scotian is leaving Düsseldorf for Mannheim, where he signed one year contract. The former NHL player (Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay), scored two goals in the German league play offs, in the regular season he accumulated 42 points (19+32).

After Linus Ömark his team mate in Dynamo Moscow Johan Harju is leaving for the NHL. The Swedish forward signed one-year contract with Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa drafted Harju in 2007 167th overall.

The Vancouver Olympic Committee has started auctioning off valuable Olympic souvenirs and sparked quite a bit of interest. The most valuable was the Sidney Crosby jersey from the Switzerland game which brought in $35,034. One of the pucks from the overtime of the final game against the US fetched over $13,000.

Third Canadian coach might be joining the Swiss national team. The head coach Sean Simpson is working with Andy Murray, and now there are speculations that Doug Shedden could become another assistant coach. The former Finnish national team coach was coaching this season Swiss team Zug which was eliminated in the league play off semifinals on Sunday.

Canadian forward Martin Kariya might be returning to the Swiss National League A. Brother of Paul Kariya played in Switzerland during the 2008-09 season, when he played for Langnau. After that he signe with Dynamo Riga in Latvia, and now HC Ambri-Piotta Quinto has expressed interested in his services.

The general manager of the Slovak national team Peter Bondra has received some exciting news before the next month's World Championship in Germany. In case of his team's elimination in the NHL play offs Zdeno Chara will join the team. The Boston Bruins defender and one of the best defencemen in the NHL promised his participation at the championship should his Bruins be eliminated from the Stanley Cup play offs. This has been reported by the official website of the Slovak hockey federation.

Jonathan Bernier of Manchester was selected as the top goalie of the year in the American Hockey League. At 21 years he is the youngest recipient of the Baz Bastien Award since 1999 when Martin Biron won at 21. Bernier leads the league statistics in save percentage (.937), shutouts (9) and number of saves (1807).

NHL announced the nominations for the Mark Messier Award, which is awarded to NHL team leaders. The selections, out of which the three finalists will be selected later, are Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey), Nicklas Lidström (Detroit), Ryan Miller (Buffalo), Alexander Ovechkin (Washington) and Mike Richards (Philadelphia).

It looks like none of the players that represented Canada at the Vancouver Olympics will be available for the World Championships in Germany in May. However, general manager Mark Messier does have some other options available to him. He reached tentative agreement with Steven Stamkos and Steve Downie, while Martin St. Louis turned him down.

San Jose signed a Princeton University forward Cam MacIntyre.
Washington offered a three-year rookie contract to defenceman Dustin Stevenson of Le Ronge Ice Wolves of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Vancouver signed a contract with 23-year old goalie Eddie Lack, currently a backup in Brynäs of the Swedish league.

Three players who were drafted by the Thrashers in last year's draft, have signed trial contracts with Atlanta's farm team in Chicago - goalie Edward Pasquale and defencemen Ben Chiarot and Cody Sol.
Edmonton Oilers have, in addition to Linus Omark, signed a center Chris Vande Velde to a two year contract.