SKA-1946 are the MHL Kharlamov Cup champions!

25 April 2024

In the fifth match of the 2023/2024 MHL Kharlamov Cup playoffs, SKA-1946 held on for dear life to defeat Loko 2:1 in Yaroslavl, consequently emerging victorious in the series by an emphatic score of 4-1!

This is indeed the second time in history when our youth team have won the Kharlamov Cup.

Grigory Osipov opened the scoring in the eighth minute on the PP, smacking a firm one-timer beyond the stricken Sergei Murashov in the Loko net. Semyon Sinyatkin had already seen an earlier marker disallowed as a consequence of a kicking motion.

Our players were in control of proceedings. However, Loko - who were boosted by the return of defenseman Dmitry Simashev and forward Daniil But from the senior Lokomotiv side - drew level on a powerplay of their own, with Yaroslav Labutkin hammering an unstoppable slap shot past Pavel Moisevich. Simashev and But contributed with assists for the goal.

Nevertheless, SKA responded with another powerplay goal immediately at the start of the second stanza.

Ivan Vydrenkov was the hero, getting the better of the unsighted Murashov with a powerful wrister from distance.

SKA were guilty of passing up a number of clear opportunities to increase the advantage in the period. At point-blank range, the impressive Sinyatkin and Vladislav Romanov came particularly close, as they could only poke the puck into Murashov's pads.

In truth, even though the opponents were requiring goals to save the series, SKA continued to boss proceedings in the third stanza and really should have put the game to bed on the counter.

Predictably, Loko did eventually force the issue in the closing minutes with time fast running out, but Moisevich was barely troubled - even after Murashov had been pulled for the extra skater.

Following the game's completion, the awards ceremony took place, in which our forward Romanov was declared the Most Valuable Player of the Kharlamov Cup playoffs with a grand total of 26 (9+17) points!

Match protocol:

Loko - SKA-1946 - 1:2 (1:1, 0:1, 0:0)

Goals:

0:1 Osipov (Romanov, Koromyslov), 07.28 PPG

1:1 Labutkin (Simashev, But), 19.16 PPG

1:2 Vydrenkov (Lutfullin, Nedopyokin), 21.24 PPG

Goalkeepers: Murashov - Moisevich

Shots: 77 - 47

Shots on target: 32 - 23

Faceoffs: 33 - 21

Blocked shots: 14 - 25

Hits: 29 - 18