SKA – the zenith! – SPORT – EXPRESS

CHL. Gagarin Cup. Finale

On Sunday SKA, in the fifth match of the series after defeating the “Ak Bars” on his site (6: 1), for the first time in history to win a major trophy League

Bulls took
curse from Peter

Andrey Kuznetsov

This Sunday mourning I saw on his face Zinetuly Bilyaletdinov only once – in the quarterfinals of the Sochi Olympics hockey tournament. Only in February 2014 Zinetula Khaidarovich understood by the middle of the match. And this Sunday – to the middle of the first period. It is currently the SKA could play in tonight’s “Ak Bars” received by the 11th minute 0: 3. “Green Cat” also honored at such a feat nowadays hardly better than the Red Baltic Fleet ships stationed in the main square of the Kazan Kremlin. Chief for two-time Gagarin Cup match of the season turned around their most crushing defeat.

But let’s not about “Ak Bars”. At such times, it is necessary to talk about heroes. About triumpher. The winners. On the new host of the Gagarin Cup. About SKA gold.

It was not in the KHL club, whose dream of the most prestigious club trophy in the Old World nurtured for so long. Whose path to the starry hour was so thorny. Whose steel igrotskoy and coaching characters Tempered so long. Whose champagne in the Gagarin Cup was the most sweet to the taste. SKA club coeval of Russian hockey, waiting for this triumph 69 years. SKA club favorite of each of the seven CHL championship, cup dreamed cherished every spring. And probably not happen in the big sports stories prettier than the story of the eternal stable applicants. Finally climbed Everest the Cup pedestal.

The seventh season of CHL was marked by the SKA. He opened the St. Petersburg records. Record sniper performance (11 goals Kovalchuk in the first seven games). The record for the longest winning series (13 wins at the start of the regular season). Dictation Nevsky hockey anthem season ended. The best in the history of the playoffs our league cup series, which the club from the northern capital took, losing 0-3 to reigning champion. And for a fabulous shower bolelschitskih all hockey Peter finale. In the course of which, admit to himself, not even a tiny doubt arose in the final triumph of the team Vyacheslav Bykov.

Flagship dominance Neva army ended as it should was. SKA – the zenith!

Few people know, but the owner of the Gagarin Cup 2015 could well be the team whose name – the word of the previous sentence. But not the first and the last. In 2006-2007-m, when SKA begins to build in its present form and star wealthy club Grande, he could change the sign. The first president of the KHL Alexander Medvedev companions were seriously discussing the idea of ​​renaming the St. Petersburg hockey team in the “Zenith”. In terms of brand image, the slogan “one city – one team” looked interesting perspective.

Then, from the “new family” club refused. I do not exclude that from time to time regretted it. Starting from 2007, the football “Zenit” won the championships, Cup and Super Cup Russia Cup and UEFA Super Cup. SKA is the time had personal collection only Continental Cup for the first place in the regular season kahaelovskoy. But who now say that the red and blue name “Army Sports Club” nefartovoe? After the letter “SKA” will be engraved on the Gagarin Cup? After this Sunday they flashed all over the country with championship caps Petrograd?

For the sake of this tale in the CHL back Vyacheslav Bykov. Four years ago, who retired from the league in the status of the current holder of the Gagarin Cup. Who served three seasons on sabbatical. And returned unbeaten! On the power of his army-2014/15 can talk for hours. But here are two facts. Never before a match to determine the winner of the playoffs, have not won in the CHL with a huge score. And no one but Bykov, have not won in the main series of the cup spring with a score of 4-1. Vyacheslav Abramovich did it twice. Having caught up with Oleg Zinetuly Bilyaletdinov Znarkom in the number of trophies won Gagarin. And becoming the only coach in the history of the CHL, winning in the playoffs with two different clubs.

For the sake of this tale in the CHL back Ilya Kovalchuk. Prior to the championship in 2014/15, a 15-year career superforvarda was quite a bit of success at club level. The victory in the Major Leagues early 2000s with “Spartacus” won three playoff series for more than ten seasons in the NHL last year’s first-round pass Gagarin Cup. But we and after the 2008 Quebec had no doubt that Kovalchuk of those who do come true fairy tale. It superforvard Petrograd scored a golden goal in his team’s gold playoffs 2015. That he has rightly become MVP seventh season. April 12, 2009 the first captain of the “Ak Bars” Alexei Morozov on Ice “Tatneft Arena” was the first in the history of the KHL Gagarin Cup. After six years and one week of his best friend and SKA captain Ilya Kovalchuk in the same place the same rink Kazan received his most valuable club trophy. The first of the Gagarin Cup, which is the rank of president of the league handed team-triumphant Dmitry Chernyshenko.

For the sake of this tale all spring hit heroic defense of Petrograd, who played in the playoffs, so that defensive hockey guru Bilyaletdinov would envy. Tales Extravaganza for triple humble guy and brilliant forwards Panarin – Shipachev – Dadonov. These units are ready for the Russian team in the history of the CHL was never. Last three Russian hero sygryvatsya to the prefix “super” in “Ak Bars” – remember the titles obtained Honor Guard Morozov – Zinoviev – Zaripov. It would be unfair if their heirs were left without their cup. And without his record – sniper set Dadonova the last day of the playoffs. 15 goals in the matches to take off – try again!

For the sake of Tales worked Guide St. Petersburg club. And President Gennady Timchenko, without whose will the Bulls would not have received an invitation to the banks of the Neva. And Vice President Roman Rotenberg, long before Gagarin Cup transformed Neva army in reference to work with the club’s fans. Permanent notices and magical excitement in the “Ice” marketing model with the promotion of hockey brand. And how not to applaud Rothenberg for work carried out by them in the course of the SKA playoffs? For combining work, without which the St. Petersburg people could not pull a disastrous start the series with CSKA? “Thanks to Roman Borisovich. This atmosphere, as now, in St. Petersburg team in previous years was not” – said on Sunday in microphones bathed Gagarin champagne Kovalchuk.

SKA – not “Zenith “. But is able to enter the zenith better than football countrymen. From now on, the status of the winners in the sports Petersburg secured and hockey players. In the course of this season Neva CSKA not just hold matches in the CHL retroforme. With an inscription “Leningrad”. Who “never let us down” – if you believe the song Alexander Rosenbaum on the ground in the sports history of the St. Petersburg football championship. I wonder will the hockey championship at the famous bard to inspire a new series of triumphant versification?