KHL Club Rivalry

Capital Derby

• HC CSKA vs HC Spartak Moscow ^[1]
• HC Spartak Moscow vs HC Dynamo Moscow ^[2]
• HC Dynamo Moscow vs HC CSKA ^[3]

The rivalry of the three hockey clubs in Moscow ( HC CSKA , HC Spartak and HC Dynamo ) are the most famous derby in Russian hockey and have the longest history. These teams competed with each other in the first USSR ice hockey championship in 1946-1947 , already attracting great attention from the press and fans. ^[4] The importance of the capital's derby is shown by the fact that for a long time there was a tradition in the USSR sports press to determine the informal champion of Moscow, while only matches of Moscow teams with each other were taken into account. In addition to the three teams already named, there was a fourth, “Wings of the Soviets . ” But the “Wings” could never be compared with fellow countrymen in either the number of titles or the number of fans, moreover, their rivalry with other Moscow teams stopped back in 2003 , when the team dropped out of the Super League for the second and last time, and later completely ceased to exist as a professional club.

In the 1990s - 2000s, Moscow hockey clubs, primarily CSKA and Spartak, were going through hard times. So, if “Dynamo” after the collapse of the USSR 6 times became the champion of the country and took the second place three times, then once the permanent champions of the USSR army men won their last medals in 1992 , becoming the silver medalist of the last allied championship , and red and white after third place according to the results season 1991/1992 have never been able to achieve at least some success. All this led to a decrease in the interest of Moscow fans in hockey in general and in the capital's derby in particular. ^[5] Even the fact that the numerous movement of fans of the football Spartak is supporting a kindred hockey team cannot rectify the situation. ^[6] Recently, in connection with the successes of the youth teams “Red Army” (CSKA CSK) and the Spartak MHC in the Youth Hockey League tournaments, interest in their opposition has grown. ^{[7] [8]}

Nearby Derby

• Atlant (Moscow Region) vs. Vityaz (Chekhov)

Previously, in the Moscow region there were several teams performing in the elite of Russian hockey. In addition to the Mytishchi Atlant and the Chekhov Vityaz, it was also the Sunday Chemist , Crystal from Elektrostal and the Tver HC of the Ministry of Internal Affairs . But Kristall left the Russian hockey Super League back in 2000, Chemist, due to financial problems, stopped participating in the KHL tournament after 2009 , and the Ministry of Internal Affairs club in 2010 merged with Dynamo Moscow. Now in the Moscow region there are two top-level clubs, whose rivalry with each other has already acquired the character of a derby. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

• HC "Chemist" (Voskresensk) vs HC "Atlant" (Moscow region)

The Atlant club from the city of Mytishchi was previously located in another city near Moscow, Voskresensk, and was called the Chemist. This team was created back in 1953 and even representing a small city and a chemical plant located in it, was able to fit itself into the history of Soviet hockey. In its history, the Sunday “Chemist” was once the silver medalist of the All-Union Championship and won four bronze medals. After the collapse of the USSR, the team went through difficult times and in October 2005 the new owner of the club, the government of the Moscow region , transferred the team to a larger city, Mytishchi. True, at the same time, a new team was created in Voskresensk with the former name “Khimik”, which after 2 years was even able to return to the highest echelon of Russian hockey, but not for long, soon becoming bankrupt. It is not surprising that most fans of Chemist did not accept the move of their team and reacted with particular zeal to her matches with Atlant. Unfortunately, this confrontation, called the “yellow and blue derby” by the colors of both teams, now exists only in the Youth Hockey League . ^{[12] [13]}

Derby of the Two Capitals

• HC Dynamo (Moscow) vs. SKA (St. Petersburg)

The rivalry between Moscow and St. Petersburg began almost immediately after the foundation"Northern Palmyra" and the loss of Moscow the status of the capital of Russia in favor of St. Petersburg. ^[14] Over time, this rivalry was moved to sports fields and grounds. ^[15] In recent years, in connection with the unsuccessful performances of Spartak and CSKA, the rivalry between HC Dynamo (Moscow) and SKA (St. Petersburg) has become the most important. ^[sixteen]

Tatarstan Derby

• HC "Ak Bars" (Kazan) vs HC "Neftekhimik" (Nizhnekamsk)

Although the clubs representing the Republic of Tatarstan in the KHL are difficult to compare in terms of achievements, goals and budget, the rivalry between them is of particular interest to players and fans. ^{[17] [18]}

Ural Derby

• Tractor (Chelyabinsk) vs. Metallurg (Magnitogorsk)
• Tractor (Chelyabinsk) vs. Avtomobilist (Yekaterinburg)
• Avtomobilist (Yekaterinburg) vs. Metallurg (Magnitogorsk)

Traditionally, local fans are keen on matches between the Ural teams of the KHL Tractor (Chelyabinsk) , Metallurg (Magnitogorsk) and Avtomobilist (Yekaterinburg) with each other. ^{[19] [20] [21]}

Siberian Derby

• HC Sibir (Novosibirsk) vs Vanguard (Omsk)

The rivalry between the Siberian clubs dates back to the Soviet years, when HC Sibir (Novosibirsk Region) , HC Avangard (Omsk) met each other in matches of the first and highest Soviet leagues . ^{[22] [23] [24]}

Volga Derby

• Lokomotiv (Yaroslavl) vs. Torpedo (Nizhny Novgorod)
• Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod vs. Ak Bars HC (Kazan)
• HC Lada (Tolyatti) vs. Lokomotiv (Yaroslavl)
• HC Lada (Tolyatti) vs. HC Ak Bars (Kazan)
• HC Lada (Tolyatti) vs. Torpedo (Nizhny Novgorod)

Czechoslovak Derby

• HC “Leo” (Prague) vs “Slovan” (Bratislava)

Far Eastern Derby

• Amur (Khabarovsk) vs. Admiral (Vladivostok)

The entry of HC Admiral has increased interest in hockey throughout the Far East of Russia, in light of which the confrontation between the two teams from the Far East is of fundamental importance for both teams.

Army Derby

• HC CSKA vs SKA (St. Petersburg)

Dynamo Derby

• HC Dynamo (Riga) vs HC Dynamo (Minsk)
• HC Dynamo (Minsk) vs. HC Dynamo (Moscow)
• HC Dynamo (Moscow) vs. HC Dynamo (Riga)

Dynamo teams from Moscow, Minsk and Riga in Soviet times belonged to the same organization - the Dynamo Sports and Fitness Society . This left a special imprint on their matches with each other, although Dynamo derby never attracted such attention as, for example, the rivalry of Moscow clubs. Even now, when these clubs are in different countries and are connected only by membership in the KHL, their matches with each other still cause special attention. The rivalry between the Minsk and Riga Dynamo is especially acute. ^{[25] [26] [27]}

Divisional rivalry

• HC Severstal vs HC Lokomotiv (Yaroslavl)
• HC Amur (Khabarovsk vs. HC Avangard
• HC Amur (Khabarovsk) vs HC Sibir (Novosibirsk)

The division of the KHL teams into divisions in accordance with the geographical principle, carried out before the 2009/2010 season in order to reduce transportation costs, created the prerequisites for the appearance of new derby between teams from the same division.

Playoff Rivalry

• HC Avangard vs HC Metallurg (Magnitogorsk)

Two teams that were among the best in the era of the Russian Super League are still considered “grands” and their matches with each other attract special attention.

• HC Severstal vs HC Atlant (Moscow Region)

It so happened that Cherepovets Severstal and Atlant near Moscow met with each other more often in the KHL tournaments than any other team. ^[28]

• HC SKA (St. Petersburg) vs HC Atlant (Moscow Region)
• HC "Ak Bars" (Kazan) vs HC "Tractor" (Chelyabinsk)
• HC "Ak Bars" (Kazan) vs HC "Metallurg" (Magnitogorsk)
• HC “Salavat Yulaev” (Ufa) vs HC “Metallurg” (Magnitogorsk)
• HC Lokomotiv (Yaroslavl) vs. HC Atlant (Moscow Region)

Cat Derby

• HC "Barys" (Astana) vs HC "Ak Bars" (Kazan)
• HC “Leo” (Prague) vs HC “Ak Bars” (Kazan)

The name of the rivalry comes from the name of the teams. ^{[29] [30] [31]}

Green Derby

• HC "Ak Bars" (Kazan) vs HC "Salavat Yulaev" (Ufa)

The big green derby is also called the Derby of champions, since it was Kazan Ak Bars and Ufa Salavat Yulaev that were the first clubs to win the Gagarin Cup . The “green” opposition of these teams got its name since they both play in green form and represent autonomous republics. And the history of the confrontation between the two clubs shows that regardless of the status of the match, victory in the meeting is crucial for each team. ^{[32] [33]}

Other rivalries

• HC SKA (St. Petersburg) vs HC Salavat Yulaev (Ufa)
• SKA HC (St. Petersburg) vs. Ak Bars HC (Kazan)
• HC SKA (St. Petersburg) vs. HC Severstal (Cherepovets)
• HC "Vityaz" (Chekhov) vs HC "Dynamo" (Minsk)