Molodaya Gvardia (Russian: Молодая Гвардия; Ukrainian: Молода Гвардія, tr. Moloda Hvardiya, English: Young Guard) is a Ukrainian junior ice hockey team based in Donetsk. The team is an affiliate of the Kontinental Hockey League's HC Donbass, and is a member of the Minor Hockey League (MHL), joining in the 2013–14 season.[1] They are the sole representative from Ukraine competing at the major-junior level. Borys Kolesnikov, a prominent Ukrainian politician and businessman, owns the organization.[2] The team takes its name from the World War II Soviet resistance group the Young Guard, who consisted mainly of local youths and also operated in the Donbass region.
| Molodaya Gvardia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Donetsk |
| League | Minor Hockey League (2013–present) |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Home arena | Druzhba Arena (capacity: 4,130) |
| Colours | |
| Owner(s) | Borys Kolesnikov |
| General manager | Serhiy Shakurov |
| Head coach | Alexander Godynyuk |
| Affiliates | HC Donbass (KHL) Bilyi Bars (PHL) Donbass-98 (junior) |
| Website | gvardia |
| Franchise history | |
| Molodaya Gvardia | |
History edit
On April 2, 2013, HC Donbass announced official negotiations had taken place regarding the inclusion of a Ukrainian minor hockey team in the KHL's Minor Hockey League system for the 2013–14 season. Ukrainian former NHL player Alexander Godynyuk was named head coach on a three-year contract. The team's name and logo were chosen by a 45% popular vote among fans, with finalist names being the 'Donetsk Scythians', and 'Donbass Flames'.[1] On June 19, 2013, the team officially joined the MHL.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b "История команды". Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ^ Leshchenko, Serhiy. "Борис Колесніков: Чому зібрався в Києві податковий майдан? Це ж смішно!". Ukrayinska Pravda. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ ""Молодая Гвардия" официально принята в МХЛ".