HC Norilsk
| HC Norilsk | |
|---|---|
| City | Norilsk, Russia |
| League | VHL |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Home arena | Arktika Sport Palace (capacity: 2,184) |
| General manager | Evgeny Nikitin |
| Head coach | Nikolai Zolotukhin |
| Captain | Vladislav Kaletnik |
| Website | hcnorilsk.com |
Hockey Club Norilsk (Russian: Хоккейный клуб "Норильск") is a Russian professional ice hockey club based in Norilsk. They play in the All-Russian Hockey League (VHL), the second level of Russian ice hockey.
History
A professional hockey club in Norilsk was founded in 2023, for the first time since HC Zapolyarnik folded in 2001.[1] HC Norilsk immediately became the northernmost professional ice hockey club in the world.[2]
The team played their first official game on September 2, 2023, losing to Neftyanik Almetyevsk 2-3 in the shootout. Before the game, there was a performance by the Olympic champion in figure skating Anna Shcherbakova.[3]
The team's first head coach was Aidar Musakayev, who previously coached HC Chelny.[2] On January 18, 2024, he was fired, and Evgeny Filinov took over as the interim head coach.[4] Despite that, Norilsk made the VHL playoffs in their first season, but were defeated by Rubin Tyumen 1-4 in the first round.[1]
In October 2024, HC Norilsk started a promotion with NordStar Airlines, which painted one of their Boeing 737-800 aircraft into a livery themed after the club.[5]
Before their second season, the club appointed Vladimir Gusev as the new head coach.[6] Under his lead, Norilsk won a playoff series for the first time, defeating Gornyak-UGMK 4-2.[7] In the second round of the VHL playoffs, they were swept by Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk.[8]
On October 6, 2025, Norilsk fired Gusev and appointed Nikolai Zolotukhin as the interim head coach.[9]
Rivalries
Norilsk's games against the regional rival Sokol Krasnoyarsk have been called "the Frosty Derby" (Russian: "Морозное дерби").[10][11]
References
- ^ a b "Хоккей на родине льда. В Норильск вернулся профессиональный клуб" (in Russian). Sovetsky Sport. 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Хоккейный клуб «Норильск» дебютирует во Всероссийской хоккейной лиге" (in Russian). Taymyrsky Telegraf. 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Фигуристка Щербакова исполнила программу "Кометы" перед дебютным матчем "Норильска" в ВХЛ" (in Russian). TASS. 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Айдар Мусакаев отстранен от должности главного тренера ХК «Норильск»" (in Russian). All-Russian Hockey League. 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Авиакомпания NordStar поддержала ХК «Норильск»" (in Russian). Gazeta.ru. 30 October 2024.
- ^ "Владимир Гусев стал главным тренером ХК «Норильск»" (in Russian). All-Russian Hockey League. 24 April 2024.
- ^ "ХК «Норильск» вышел в четвертьфинал плей-офф" (in Russian). Zapolyarnaya Pravda. 5 April 2025.
- ^ "ХК «Норильск» завершил игровой сезон" (in Russian). Zapolyarnaya Pravda. 17 April 2025.
- ^ "Владимир Гусев покинул пост главного тренера ХК «Норильск»" (in Russian). All-Russian Hockey League. 6 October 2025.
- ^ "«Может, будет даже пара драк»: «медведи» и «соколы» готовятся к #МорозномуДерби в Норильске" (in Russian). Taymyrsky Telegraf. 3 November 2023.
- ^ "«Норильск» обыграл в «морозном дерби» красноярский «Сокол»" (in Russian). Sovetsky Sport. 17 December 2024.