The Gazprom Neft Cup is an international tournament for children's teams of the Continental Hockey League sponsored by Gazprom Neft . Is the largest children's hockey competition in Europe [1] . This is the only official KHL children's tournament and, unofficially, the European Club Kids Championship [1] . Competitions are held in two cities. Games of the "West" are held in Sochi in the Bolshoi Ice Palace [2] . Games of the Vostok group and the super final always take place in Omsk [2] at the Omsk Arena .
For ten years, more than 100 teams and about 2.5 thousand young hockey players have played in the tournament. Some of them, having matured, began to play in the teams of the Youth Hockey League , and some - in the KHL and national teams [1] .
History
The first tournament was held in 2007 with the participation of six teams from those regions in which the company sponsor Gazprom Neft is present [2] .
In 2014, there were a lot of participating teams, and they were divided into two groups: “East” and “West”. The western group played in Minsk [2] .
In 2015, the western group played in St. Petersburg [2] .
In 2016, the anniversary, the tenth tournament was held in Sochi (the “West” group) and Omsk (the “East” group and the super final). 26 teams from Russia , Kazakhstan , Belarus , Latvia and Finland participated [2] . Before the super final, the teams of Chelyabinsk "Tractor" and Yaroslavl "Lokomotiv" addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin with words of support. The awards were presented to the participants by World and Olympic Games champion Yury Lyapkin and 6-time world and Olympic champion Vladimir Myshkin [3] .
The head of the tournament organizing committee, Alexander Dybal, believes that the further development of the tournament should be aimed at expanding international geography. It is planned to attract hockey clubs from countries that are not yet available in the KHL [3] .
On October 2, 2016, Gazprom Neft Company and the Administration of Sochi concluded a cooperation agreement that provides for the holding in the city on a permanent basis of the selection stage of the Zapad group of the International Ice Hockey Tournament of KHL children's teams Gazprom Neft Cup. The agreement was signed by the Head of the City of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov, and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the tournament, a member of the Board of Gazprom Neft, Alexander Dybal in the framework of the international economic forum "Sochi-2016".
Starting from 2017, all matches of the Zapad group of the Gazprom Neft Cup will be held on the ice of the Bolshoi and Iceberg Olympic ice rinks. Games of the Vostok group and the Superfinal will traditionally be held in Omsk.
Event Organization
The main expenses for the organization of the tournament are borne by the sponsoring company [2] . Tickets for the opening, matches and finals are free [1] .
The Omsk Avangard Hockey Club traditionally provides its ice arena and supports the organization of the tournament, maintaining the standards of work with the audience, corresponding to the level of the Continental Hockey League [1] .
The broadcast of matches is conducted on the KHL TV channels, “ Sport 1 ”, “ Russia 2 ” and NTV-Plus [4] , “ Match TV ” [1] .
On the day of the super final at the Arena Omsk a musical show takes place. In addition, special seminars are held for coaches, children's coaches and parents of players. Even those children's coaches whose teams do not participate in the tournament [1] come to the seminars of Vladimir Yurzinov Sr.
Cup
The trophy cup weighing 15 kilograms is made by the same craftsmen as the Gagarin Cup [1] . Before the start of the tournament, the mini champion of the cup [1] is transferred to the current champion, and the winner’s club name is put on the original one, and it is kept with the holder until the next tournament [4] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mikhail Kletkin. Alexander Dybal: “The Gazprom Neft Cup is a European club championship” . Sport Express (April 18, 2016). The appeal date is April 30, 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Olga Korobova. Jubilee tournament for young hockey players opened in Omsk and Sochi . Arguments and Facts. Omsk (April 21, 2016). The appeal date is April 27, 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 Olga Korobova. “Arena Omsk” was rooting for the “blue”, but the Cup of “Gazprom oil” was taken away by the “Reds” . Arguments and Facts. Omsk (April 24, 2016). The appeal date is April 27, 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 Alexander Arefyev. The draw of the Gazprom Neft Cup . Russian newspaper (March 22, 2013). The appeal date is April 30, 2016.