Aq Bars Kazan
Encyclopedia
Ak Bars Kazan is a professional ice hockey
team based in Kazan
, in the Republic of Tatarstan, a federal subject of the Russian Federation
. They are a current member of the Kontinental Hockey League
.
The team's name, Ak Bars, is derived from the official symbol of Tatarstan, translated as Snow Leopard
, a traditional symbol which has its origins with the Barsil, one of the Tatar tribes.
From this point onward, SC Uritskogo Kazan established a reputation as a consistently strong team in the second tier leagues of the USSR. Renowned as a high scoring team, Kazan averaged over four goals a game throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Twice they won the USSR League (lower tiers), being named Champion of Russia in 1962 and 1976.
SC Uritskogo Kazan's most successful period occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The team was led by Russia's Sergei Stolbun; scoring ace Gennady Maslov (current coach of Ak Bars-2 Kazan), who enjoyed a short stint with the Soviet Wings and set a club record of 140 points in 76 games in 1982–83; and Ravil Shavaleev, who was regarded as one of the finest defenseman to ever come out of Tatarstan. During this period, Kazan was consistently among the top teams in the league but failed year after year to gain promotion to the top flight of Soviet hockey.
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Uritskogo Kazan became Itil Kazan in 1990 and participated in the IHL. Itil was only mildly successful, narrowly avoiding relegation to the Vysshaya Liga in 1991 and 1992.
It was following the establishment of the Russian Superleague
(RSL) in 1996 that the golden age of hockey in Tatarstan began. Renamed Ak Bars Kazan after the traditional symbol of the Tatars, the snow leopard. Benefiting from the resources boom in the Urals, Ak Bars began its history in fine form, finishing first in their respective divisions in 1997 and 1998 along with winning the RSL in 1998. During this period, Kazan lacked the high scoring of their predecessors but regardless continued to be a dominant team in Russian hockey, finishing runners-up in 2000 and 2002. During this period, Kazan developed players such as Denis Arkhipov
and Danis Zaripov
.
In the 2004–05 season, Kazan signed 11 National Hockey League
players, including Russian superstars Alexei Kovalev
and Ilya Kovalchuk
and Canadians Vincent Lecavalier
and Dany Heatley
, in an attempt to celebrate Kazan's 100th anniversary with a championship. They did not succeed, however, as a lack of continuity and chemistry saw them finish in fourth place and were upset in the first round of the playoffs by Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
.
Since then, Ak Bars Kazan dominated the RSL, winning the league in 2006 on the back of a brilliant performance from Aleksey Morozov
. In 2007, Kazan paced the league with 35 wins and 214 goals in 54 games before falling at the final hurdle to Metallurg Magnitogorsk
.
Ak Bars has been led in recent years by the dominant "ZZM" line of Sergei Zinovjev
, Danis Zaripov
, and Aleksey Morozov
, who have established themselves as one of the most dominant lines in recent history. Combined with veterans such as Vitaly Proshkin and Vladimir Vorobiev
, and imports, such as Ray Giroux
, Petr Čajánek
, and Jukka Hentunen
, Kazan has remained one of the top teams in the league. However, they have been at times criticized for lacking consistency and relying too heavily on star players such as Morozov.
Ak Bars Kazan are strong rivals with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
and the neighboring team of Salavat Yulaev Ufa
. However, Ak Bars was the strongest rival with Dynamo Moscow
in 1990s.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based in Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
, in the Republic of Tatarstan, a federal subject of the Russian Federation
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. They are a current member of the Kontinental Hockey League
Kontinental Hockey League
The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
.
The team's name, Ak Bars, is derived from the official symbol of Tatarstan, translated as Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
, a traditional symbol which has its origins with the Barsil, one of the Tatar tribes.
History
Originally founded as Mashstroy Kazan in 1956, the name was later changed to SC Uritskogo Kazan when it entered the Soviet Class B league in 1958. It was promoted to Soviet Class A2, where it gained promotion to the top tier of Soviet hockey. Kazan's performance was respectable, starting the season by winning 6 out of 19 games against the best of the Soviet teams before falling away in the second half of the season and was demoted.From this point onward, SC Uritskogo Kazan established a reputation as a consistently strong team in the second tier leagues of the USSR. Renowned as a high scoring team, Kazan averaged over four goals a game throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Twice they won the USSR League (lower tiers), being named Champion of Russia in 1962 and 1976.
SC Uritskogo Kazan's most successful period occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The team was led by Russia's Sergei Stolbun; scoring ace Gennady Maslov (current coach of Ak Bars-2 Kazan), who enjoyed a short stint with the Soviet Wings and set a club record of 140 points in 76 games in 1982–83; and Ravil Shavaleev, who was regarded as one of the finest defenseman to ever come out of Tatarstan. During this period, Kazan was consistently among the top teams in the league but failed year after year to gain promotion to the top flight of Soviet hockey.
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Uritskogo Kazan became Itil Kazan in 1990 and participated in the IHL. Itil was only mildly successful, narrowly avoiding relegation to the Vysshaya Liga in 1991 and 1992.
It was following the establishment of the Russian Superleague
Russian Superleague
The Russian Superleague , commonly abbreviated as RSL, was the highest division of the main professional ice hockey league in Russia. It was considered the second best league in the world, after the National Hockey League of North America...
(RSL) in 1996 that the golden age of hockey in Tatarstan began. Renamed Ak Bars Kazan after the traditional symbol of the Tatars, the snow leopard. Benefiting from the resources boom in the Urals, Ak Bars began its history in fine form, finishing first in their respective divisions in 1997 and 1998 along with winning the RSL in 1998. During this period, Kazan lacked the high scoring of their predecessors but regardless continued to be a dominant team in Russian hockey, finishing runners-up in 2000 and 2002. During this period, Kazan developed players such as Denis Arkhipov
Denis Arkhipov
Denis Mikhailovich Arkhipov is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Playing career:Arkhipov was selected 60th overall in the third round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft...
and Danis Zaripov
Danis Zaripov
Danis Zinnurovich Zaripov is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League...
.
In the 2004–05 season, Kazan signed 11 National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
players, including Russian superstars Alexei Kovalev
Alexei Kovalev
Alexei Vyacheslavovich "Alex" Kovalev is a Russian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Atlant Moscow Oblast of the Kontinental Hockey League....
and Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Valerevich Kovalchuk is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger who is an alternate captain of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. Drafted first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, he began his NHL career in 2001–02 with Atlanta and was...
and Canadians Vincent Lecavalier
Vincent Lecavalier
Vincent Lecavalier is a Canadian professional hockey center and captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League .-Rimouski Océanic:...
and Dany Heatley
Dany Heatley
Daniel James Heatley is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger, and alternate captain for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League . Originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers second overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the top NHL rookie in 2002...
, in an attempt to celebrate Kazan's 100th anniversary with a championship. They did not succeed, however, as a lack of continuity and chemistry saw them finish in fourth place and were upset in the first round of the playoffs by Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Hockey Club Lokomotiv , also known as Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, is a Russian professional ice hockey team based in Yaroslavl. The name of the team is derived from its owner, Russian Railways, the national railroad operator....
.
Since then, Ak Bars Kazan dominated the RSL, winning the league in 2006 on the back of a brilliant performance from Aleksey Morozov
Aleksey Morozov
Aleksey Alekseyevich Morozov is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League...
. In 2007, Kazan paced the league with 35 wins and 214 goals in 54 games before falling at the final hurdle to Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Metallurg Magnitogorsk is a professional ice hockey team based in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. They are members of the Kharlamov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League...
.
Ak Bars has been led in recent years by the dominant "ZZM" line of Sergei Zinovjev
Sergei Zinovjev
Sergei Olegovich Zinovjev is a Russian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League . He is two-time World Champion for the Russian national team....
, Danis Zaripov
Danis Zaripov
Danis Zinnurovich Zaripov is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League...
, and Aleksey Morozov
Aleksey Morozov
Aleksey Alekseyevich Morozov is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League...
, who have established themselves as one of the most dominant lines in recent history. Combined with veterans such as Vitaly Proshkin and Vladimir Vorobiev
Vladimir Vorobiev
Vladimir Anatolievich Vorobiev was a professional ice hockey player. He was selected in the tenth round of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, 240th overall, by the New York Rangers...
, and imports, such as Ray Giroux
Ray Giroux
Raymond Giroux is an ice hockey defenceman currently playing in Russia. Giroux, who shoots left, played collegiately at Yale University...
, Petr Čajánek
Petr Cajanek
Petr Čajánek is a Czech centre currently playing for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League .- Draft :...
, and Jukka Hentunen
Jukka Hentunen
Jukka Hentunen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward, who plays for KalPa.- Draft :He was drafted by the Calgary Flames as their sixth-round pick, #176 overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft....
, Kazan has remained one of the top teams in the league. However, they have been at times criticized for lacking consistency and relying too heavily on star players such as Morozov.
Ak Bars Kazan are strong rivals with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Hockey Club Lokomotiv , also known as Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, is a Russian professional ice hockey team based in Yaroslavl. The name of the team is derived from its owner, Russian Railways, the national railroad operator....
and the neighboring team of Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Salavat Yulaev is a professional ice hockey team based in Ufa in the Republic of Bashkortostan, a federal subject of the Russian Federation. They are members of the Chernyshev Division of the Kontinental Hockey League, and were part of Group C of the 2008–09 Champions Hockey League.-History:The...
. However, Ak Bars was the strongest rival with Dynamo Moscow
HC Dynamo Moscow
HC Dynamo Moscow was a Russian professional ice hockey club based in Moscow. They were members of the Bobrov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League...
in 1990s.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; Pts = Points; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; P = Playoff| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs | GP in P | W in P | L in P | GF in P | GA in P | |
| 1995–96 | 52 | 26 | 13 | 13 | 69 | 136 | 110 | 3rd, Western 1 | |||||||
| 1996-97 | 44 | 31 | 8 | 5 | 67 | 143 | 88 | 1st, Super League West | |||||||
| 1997–98 | 46 | 36 | 7 | 3 | 75 | 158 | 79 | Champion | - | ||||||
| 1998–99 | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 50 | 105 | 75 | 7th, Super League | |||||||
| 1999–00 | 38 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 75 | 158 | 79 | 2nd, Elite League | |||||||
| 2000-01 | 44 | 27 | 10 | 6 | 87 | 139 | 84 | 2nd, Elite League | |||||||
| 2001–02 | 51 | 31 | 11 | 7 | 101 | 151 | 88 | 2nd, Elite League | |||||||
| 2002–03 | 51 | 30 | 13 | 7 | 94 | 156 | 106 | 4th, Elite League | |||||||
| 2003–04 | 60 | 34 | 21 | 2 | 102 | 161 | 122 | 5th, Super League | |||||||
| 2004–05 | 60 | 37 | 17 | 5 | 114 | 174 | 113 | 4th, Super League | Quarterfinal | ||||||
| 2005–06 | 51 | 30 | 9 | 12 | 98 | 150 | 109 | 2nd, Super League | Champion | 13 | 12 | 1 | 52 | 22 | |
| 2006–07 | 54 | 38 | 7 | 9 | 119 | 214 | 111 | 1st, Super League | Finalist | 16 | 11 | 5 | 56 | 36 | |
| Totals | Super League totals |
Champions
- Russian Open ChampionshipRussian Open ChampionshipThe Russian Open Hockey Championship , also known as the Championship of Russia in ice hockey , is an annual ice hockey award and national title, bestowed by the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia to the professional hockey organization judged to have the best performing team in Russia.The Russian...
(4): 1997-1998, 2005–2006, 2008–092008–09 KHL seasonThe 2008–09 KHL season was the inaugural season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It started on September 2, 2008, and finished on February 26, 2009...
, 2009–102009–10 KHL seasonThe 2009–10 KHL season was the second season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It was held from 10 September 2009 to 27 April 2010, with a break for the Olympic winter games from 8 February to 3 March... - KHLKontinental Hockey LeagueThe Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
Gagarin CupGagarin CupThe Gagarin Cup is the trophy presented to the winner of the Kontinental Hockey League playoffs, and is named after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space...
(2): 2008–092008–09 KHL seasonThe 2008–09 KHL season was the inaugural season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It started on September 2, 2008, and finished on February 26, 2009...
, 2009–102009–10 KHL seasonThe 2009–10 KHL season was the second season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It was held from 10 September 2009 to 27 April 2010, with a break for the Olympic winter games from 8 February to 3 March... - Russian Super League Championship (2): 1997-1998, 2005–2006
- KHLKontinental Hockey LeagueThe Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
Eastern Conference CupKHL Conference FinalsThe Kontinental Hockey League Conference Finals are the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Championship series of the KHL. The Conference Finals are best-of-seven series. The two series are played after the first and second rounds of the playoffs and before the Gagarin Cup Finals. The final...
(1): 2009–102009–10 KHL seasonThe 2009–10 KHL season was the second season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It was held from 10 September 2009 to 27 April 2010, with a break for the Olympic winter games from 8 February to 3 March... - KHLKontinental Hockey LeagueThe Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
Opening CupOpening CupThe Lokomotiv Cup , formerly the Opening Cup , is the trophy awarded to the winner of the first game of every regular season of the Kontinental Hockey League. This match is played between the previous season's play-off champion and runner-up. The game is played on the home ice of the previous...
(1): 2009–102009–10 KHL seasonThe 2009–10 KHL season was the second season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It was held from 10 September 2009 to 27 April 2010, with a break for the Olympic winter games from 8 February to 3 March... - IIHF European Champions CupIIHF European Champions CupThe IIHF European Champions Cup was an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation , which took place during a long weekend in early January. The winner was considered the official club champion of Europe by the IIHF...
(1): 20072007 IIHF European Champions Cup-Standings:-Results:All times local -Standings:-Gold medal game:-External links:*... - IIHF Continental Cup (1): 2008IIHF Continental Cup 2008The Continental Cup 2007-2008 was the 11th edition of the IIHF Continental Cup. The season started on September 14, 2007, and finished on January 6, 2008.The tournament was won by Ak Bars Kazan, who led the final group....
- Super League East Championships (1): 1998
- Super League West Championships (1): 1997
- Soviet Class A2 (3): 1962, 1988 (West), 1989 (West)
- Soviet Class B (1): 1976
Runners-up
- Russian Super League Championship (3): 1999-2000, 2001–2002, 2006–2007