Traktor Chelyabinsk
Encyclopedia
Traktor Chelyabinsk is a professional ice hockey
team based in Chelyabinsk
, Russia
. They are members of the Kharlamov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League
.
Between 1965 and 1968, Traktor played in the second division of the Soviet hockey championships. Thanks to coaches Viktor Stolyarov and Viktor Sokolov, the team returned to the first division in 1968.
In 1973, Traktor played in the national cup finals against the CSKA. Although Traktor led 2-0, they lost the game with a score of 2-5.
Traktor's performance greatly improved after Anatoly Kostryukov became the team's head coach. In the 1976-77 season, Traktor won bronze in the Soviet hockey championships - the team's highest achievement during the Soviet period of its history.
At this time, Traktor produced several players who achieved international prominence.
One of the best Soviet forwards of all times, Sergei Makarov
, was born in Chelyabinsk and began his career in Traktor. Along his teammate, defenseman Sergei Starikov
, he regularly played on the Soviet national team from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. Starikov and Makarov each won over 10 international tournaments with Team USSR. Makarov's older brother Nikolai was also one of the best Soviet defensemen and played several times in various international competitions. Vyacheslav Bykov
, a long-time member of the Soviet national team and currently the head coach of Team Russia, also played for Traktor for several years before he was acquired by CSKA.
Traktor's goaltender, Sergei Mylnikov
, was twice named the best goaltender of the Soviet championship. He was the Soviet team starting goalie at the 1987 Canada Cup and participated in two Olympics and five world championships. His son is currently playing for Traktor, also as a goaltender.
In the early 1990s, Traktor twice finished third in the International Hockey League under head coach Valery Belousov. A group of Traktor players, including Sergei Gomolyako, Valeri Karpov
, Igor Varitsky
, Ravil Gusmanov
and others, appeared on Team Russia at several world championships.
In the late 1990s, ice hockey in Chelyabinsk entered a period of decline and Traktor was relegated in 1998 to playing in the Vysshaya Liga. In the 2005-06 season, the team won the second division championship and was transferred back to the first division.
After the 2006-07 season, Traktor head coach Gennady Tsygurov resigned. He was replaced by Andrei Nazarov
, a native of Chelyabinsk who had spent 13 seasons in the NHL as an enforcer. With Andrei Nazarov
, the club was able to make the Kontinental Hockey League
playoffs for three consecutive years; however, each time it lost in the first round.
In late 2010, Valery Belousov returned as Traktor's head coach. While in 2011-12 the team failed to make the playoffs, it substantially improved in the 2011-12 KHL season.
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 Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk is a city and the administrative center of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, located in the northwestern side of the oblast, south of Yekaterinburg, just to the east of the Ural Mountains, on the Miass River. Population: -History:...
, Russia
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 members of the Kharlamov Division 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....
.
History
Founded in 1947, Traktor have played for the Soviet and Russian championships since 1948. From 1948-1953 they were called Dzerzhinets Chelyabinsk and between 1954 to 1958 they were known as Avangard Chelyabinsk, after which they took their current name.Between 1965 and 1968, Traktor played in the second division of the Soviet hockey championships. Thanks to coaches Viktor Stolyarov and Viktor Sokolov, the team returned to the first division in 1968.
In 1973, Traktor played in the national cup finals against the CSKA. Although Traktor led 2-0, they lost the game with a score of 2-5.
Traktor's performance greatly improved after Anatoly Kostryukov became the team's head coach. In the 1976-77 season, Traktor won bronze in the Soviet hockey championships - the team's highest achievement during the Soviet period of its history.
At this time, Traktor produced several players who achieved international prominence.
One of the best Soviet forwards of all times, Sergei Makarov
Sergei Makarov
Sergei Mikhailovich Makarov is a Russian former ice hockey right wing and two-time Olympic gold medalist, regarded as one of the greatest players to play the sport...
, was born in Chelyabinsk and began his career in Traktor. Along his teammate, defenseman Sergei Starikov
Sergei Starikov
Sergei Viktorovich Starikov is a Russian ice hockey coach, who competed as defenseman for the Soviet national team....
, he regularly played on the Soviet national team from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. Starikov and Makarov each won over 10 international tournaments with Team USSR. Makarov's older brother Nikolai was also one of the best Soviet defensemen and played several times in various international competitions. Vyacheslav Bykov
Vyacheslav Bykov
Vyacheslav Arkadevich "Slava" Bykov is a former Soviet ice hockey player and a former head coach of the Russian national hockey team. A small, technically gifted center, he was a regular fixture on the Soviet national ice hockey team in the 1980s; after the fall of the Soviet Union, he played for...
, a long-time member of the Soviet national team and currently the head coach of Team Russia, also played for Traktor for several years before he was acquired by CSKA.
Traktor's goaltender, Sergei Mylnikov
Sergei Mylnikov
Sergei Aleksandrovich Mylnikov is a retired ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League and National Hockey League. He played for Traktor Chelyabinsk, SKA Leningrad, and briefly for the Quebec Nordiques...
, was twice named the best goaltender of the Soviet championship. He was the Soviet team starting goalie at the 1987 Canada Cup and participated in two Olympics and five world championships. His son is currently playing for Traktor, also as a goaltender.
In the early 1990s, Traktor twice finished third in the International Hockey League under head coach Valery Belousov. A group of Traktor players, including Sergei Gomolyako, Valeri Karpov
Valeri Karpov
Valery Evgenievich Karpov is a retired ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League and National Hockey League. He played for Traktor Chelyabinsk and HC CSKA Moscow in Russia before moving to North America...
, Igor Varitsky
Igor Varitsky
Igor Konstantinovich Varitsky is a retired ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for Traktor Chelyabinsk, Severstal Cherepovets, and Metallurg Magnitogorsk...
, Ravil Gusmanov
Ravil Gusmanov
Ravil Midekhatovich Gusmanov is a retired Russian professional ice hockey left winger, formerly of Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Traktor Chelyabinsk in the Kontinental Hockey League....
and others, appeared on Team Russia at several world championships.
In the late 1990s, ice hockey in Chelyabinsk entered a period of decline and Traktor was relegated in 1998 to playing in the Vysshaya Liga. In the 2005-06 season, the team won the second division championship and was transferred back to the first division.
After the 2006-07 season, Traktor head coach Gennady Tsygurov resigned. He was replaced by Andrei Nazarov
Andrei Nazarov
Andrei Viktorovich Nazarov is a former Russian professional ice hockey player who is currently employed as the head coach of Vityaz Chekhov....
, a native of Chelyabinsk who had spent 13 seasons in the NHL as an enforcer. With Andrei Nazarov
Andrei Nazarov
Andrei Viktorovich Nazarov is a former Russian professional ice hockey player who is currently employed as the head coach of Vityaz Chekhov....
, the club was able to make 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....
playoffs for three consecutive years; however, each time it lost in the first round.
In late 2010, Valery Belousov returned as Traktor's head coach. While in 2011-12 the team failed to make the playoffs, it substantially improved in the 2011-12 KHL season.