Metallurg Novokuznezk
| Metallurg Novokuznetsk Металлург Новокузнецк |
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|---|---|
 |
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| Nickname | "Kuznya" |
| City | Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast |
| League |
VHL 2017–present
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| Founded | 1949 |
| Home arena |
Kuznetsk Metallurgists Sports Palace (capacity: 7,533) |
| Colours | |
| Owner(s) | Evraz |
| General manager | Sergei Zinovyev |
| Head coach | Anatoliy Khomenko |
| Affiliate(s) | Kuznetskie Medvedi (MHL) |
| Website | www.metallurg-nk.ru |
| Franchise history | |
| Metallurg Novokuznetsk | |
VHL 2017–present
Metallurg Novokuznetsk (Russian: Металлург Новокузнецк, English: Novokuznetsk Metallurg) is a professional ice hockey team from Siberia based in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. They are currently members of the Supreme Hockey League (VHL).
The team was founded in 1949 in Novokuznetsk (then Stalinsk) to compete in the lower divisions of the Soviet ice hockey championship. During the 1960s, Metallurg managed to advance to the elite group for several seasons, but did not establish itself as a major club until the 1990s when the International Hockey League was formed.
During the first years of the post-Soviet era, Novokuznetsk significantly improved its roster with players from the Ust-Kamenogorsk school. Led by Sergei Nikolaev during the late 1990s - early 2000s Metallurg became one of the top teams of the Russian Superleague. In 1999 Novokuznetsk hosted the first ever RSL All-Star game.
The team's downfall began in 2004 when its managerial staff moved to SKA Saint Petersburg signing the best players from Novokuznetsk. Despite that the team was able to rebuild itself and years later proved its place among the top Russian clubs joining the Kontinental Hockey League in 2008.
Following the 2016–17 season, with the KHL in need to regulate debts amongst clubs through contraction and with Novokuznetsk in financial trouble pertaining to a lack of success on the ice, they were excluded from participating in the KHL on May 24, 2017. Novokuznetsk will continue to operate their junior club program and also participate in the secondary tier of the VHL.
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