Neftekhimik vs Sochi 9/8/2026

Neftekhimik will play game #2 of the season!

9/8/2026                      vs Sochi                     ⏰ 7:00 pm            KHL WEB

Neftekhimik will play its second of four home games.

Sochi will play its first of two road games.

Injuries:

Sochi: Matvei Guskov.

We are waiting for all fans of hockey! You can buy tickets at the box office of «Neftekhim Arena» or online here.

Sochi:
For HC Sochi, the September 8 game is more than just another game; it's the start of a completely new chapter. The Leopards are approaching the season after a major overhaul, affecting both the coaching staff and the roster.

What's changed at Sochi:
New head coach Andrei Mironov, who previously worked with SKA and the Russian junior national team, has brought in a staff including Alexei Kovalev, Evgeny Shaldybin, and Anton Bukhanko.

The goaltending pair has been completely revamped: Ilya Samsonov and Pavel Khomchenko have left, replaced by Ivan Bocharov (from Lada) and Damir Shaimardanov (from Amur). Goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov has also been loaned from CSKA.

The defense has been strengthened by the additions of Timur Akhiyarov (Sibir), Colby Williams (Lada), and Jesse Graham. Contracts have been extended with Cameron Lee, Ilya Nikolayev, and Ilya Sushko.

Attack: Kirill Slepets (Amur), Alexander Khokhlachev (Salavat Yulaev), and Artur Gizdatullin (Amur) have all joined. However, Spencer Fu, who was signed from the Shanghai Dragons, has already terminated his contract due to family circumstances.

Losses: Daniil Seroukh, Pavel Dedunov, and Jean-Christophe Bodin – last season's key forwards have left the team.

Mironov promises fast, attacking hockey. But a team that has undergone more than 50% roster turnover is always a matter of team chemistry. The upside is fresh ideas and ambition; the downside is a lack of time to adapt.