37-year-old Finnish defenseman Jere Karalahti has replaced Belarusian defenseman Vladimir Denisov as Dinamo Minsk captain.

           According to the HC Dinamo Minsk website, Vladimir Denisov gave up his role “to focus on his game”.Vladimir Denisov will serve as an assistant captain this season.The start of 2012-13 KHL season has been the worst for Dinamo Minsk in their five years in the Kontinental Hockey League. In nine matches Dinamo Minsk took three victories (two in regulation, one in overtime) and lost six in regulation (goal difference 20-33). With eight points Dinamo has plunged to the bottom of seven-team Tarasov Division, and now ranks 13th among 14 clubs in the Western Conference and 21st among 26 teams in the overall KHL table.Defense is a huge question mark for Dinamo this season. The team allowed 33 goals in nine matches, the biggest number in the league.