The Kontinental Hockey League, Europe's strongest ice hockey league, has signed a new broadcast deal with Nova Sports.

The one-year contract will see Nova broadcast coverage of the KHL in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Many Czech and Slovak players compete in the KHL, including last year's joint top scorers, Jan Marek and Pavel Brendl.

The KHL plans to challenge the NHL as the world's dominant ice hockey league. It has allocated US$30 million to its clubs to help them lure players from North America's premier league and around the globe.

Nova Sports will bring coverage of the competition to more than five million people.