Hockey in Russia

History Hockey is one of the most popular sports in Russia. It is a fun team game, but it’s appeared recently in our country. Now Russian national team is one of the strongest in the world. When did this game come to Russia? It was in The German workers brought to Moscow sticks, washers and unusual ammunition and suggested to Russians to play with them. It looked strange, but our athletes won.

History Since this time the hockey in Russia has developed rapidly, and in 1972, the Soviet team for the first time crossed their sticks with the Canadian team, the strongest in the world, and this game was successful for our team. It became a sensation. In 1973, 1974, 1975 the Soviet team won in the World Cups and in the Olympic competition in 1976 in Innsbruck. Under the leadership of Vsevolod Bobrov and Boris Kulagin Soviet team for the first time crossed sticks against Canada, the strongest player in the NHL. Hockey talents of a new generation of players: Vladislav Tretiak, Valery Vasiliev, Gennady Tsygankova, Lutchenko Vladimir, Vladimir Petrov, Boris Mikhailov, Valeri Kharlamov, Alexander Yakushev, Vladimir Shadrin, Alexander Maltsev were revealed in these matches.

History Unfortunately, in the 1990th, the first Russian players were compelled to look for place in rich foreign clubs. The Russian hockey lost their stars. Only recently, Russian National team became strong enough to win the World cups in 2008, 2009 and 2012.

Now, there are three adult professional hockey leagues and two youth league in the country. In addition, Junior, women and amateur hockey is developed. In Russia there are three adult professional hockey leagues (are ordered on force): 1.Continental Hockey League (CHL) 2.Highest Hockey League (HHL) 3.Russian Hockey League (RHL )

Unlike the Russian football, there are many large regional hockey centers. Omsk, Magnitogorsk, Yaroslavl, Ufa, Kazan – it is only part of them.

Russian clubs Some of the most famous Russian clubs: SKA CSKA Dinamo Moscow Metallurg Magnitogorsk Ak Bars Spartak Locomotive

The most famous players :

Ilya Kovalchuk Alexander Ovechkin

Evgeniy Malkin Pavel Datsuk

Sergey Bobrovskiy Aleksandr Radulov

And many other players … Each sport has future. Let's wish our hockey players more victories and good luck!!!

The End