«55 Years. The game continues...»

Today at the central library of Nizhnekamsk there was a presentation of the book dedicated to the anniversary of the Neftekhimik hockey club – «55 Years. The game continues...» - this is a whole almanac of stories on behalf of real witnesses of the formation and development of the Neftekhimik.

The honorary guests of the presentation were veterans – former players of the club, sports journalists, current players and coaches of the club, fans and everyone who loves the Nizhnekamsk hockey team.

 

Igor Larionov, Neftekhimik Director General:

– For the first time in the history of the Nizhnekamsk club, we wanted to preserve the facts that existed. It is great that we made a book. This is a very important thing and it will remain for centuries.

Today Neftekhimik is a recognizable brand in the hockey community, a club in the main Russian league – KHL. However, it was not always this way. At the end of the 60s of the last century, among student and worker dormitories, the city's first hockey rink was built. During the first games, fans surrounded the rink in three rows. At first we played during the day, since the lighting had not yet been installed. Hundreds of fans came to watch each game.

The founding date of the club is considered to be October 23, 1968 – on this day, by order of the director of the Nizhnekamsk Petrochemical Plant, Nikolai Lemayev, the Neftekhimik ice hockey club was organized.

The first game in the history of Neftekhimik was the game on January 31, 1969 against Neftyanik Leninogorsk, a participant in the RSFSR championship. Neftekhimik got a 7–5 win, Alexander Penkovtsev scored a hat-trick. Less than two years later, the team competed in the transition tournament for entry into Class B of the USSR Championship. The club’s special pride are team’s veterans, thanks to whose skill, professionalism and determination, a unique system of preparing athletes was built.

At the presentation, hockey veterans shared their memories of the development of hockey and the formation of the club.

The stories of players from different years Gennady Parshin, Vladimir Chunarev, Ildar Safiullov were of great interest to all the people.

One of the authors of the book, teacher of the Volga State University of Physical Education, Sports and Tourism, candidate of historical sciences Alexander Norden, honorary citizen of the city, veteran of Nizhnekamskneftekhim PJSC Ravil Shiyapov, chairman of the Council of Veterans of Nizhnekamsk Grigory Kitanov said that this book is a tribute to the veterans of Nizhnekamsk hockey, managers at various levels who created the conditions for the development of this sport.

The head coach of HC Neftekhimik Oleg Leontyev:

– Nizhnekamsk is a hockey city; there are excellent conditions for sports. It is also a great opportunity for professionals, as well as the skating rinks. There has always been a fighting team here. I am sure that this book will be useful and interesting to everyone - veterans, athletes, and schoolchildren.

Neftekhimik has been playing among the elite of Russian hockey for 28 years. During this time, a lot has changed: the names of the championships, the economic situation in the country and global world processes – a pandemic, global political crises. However, one thing remained unchanged – Neftekhimik always worthily represents Nizhnekamsk city and Republic of Tatarstan at the highest hockey level. In 2015, Pyotr Khokhryakov brought the Gagarin Cup to Nizhnekamsk for the first time. In May 2021, the KHL trophy was brought to the city by Damir Sharipzyanov and Nail Yakupov. In October 2021, Mikhail Sergachev won the Stanley Cup in brought this Cup to Nizhnekamsk.

Usually books have a complete plot, but this book is not finished yet. After all, the history of the club continues.

You can buy this unique edition in Neftekhimik store.

HC Neftekhimik expresses its deepest gratitude to the staff of the central library system of Nizhnekamsk and personally to the director Gulnaz Arslanova for holding the presentation.