Consistently in the top ten!
10.10.2026
The Neftekhimik Youth Hockey School has once again ranked among the top schools in the KHL’s national standings.
The Kontinental Hockey League has announced its fourth annual ranking of hockey schools. With a score of 180.96 points, Neftekhimik holds 7th place based on the 2025–26 season results, securing a spot among the top 50 schools that consistently and reliably develop players for the KHL level.
The scoring calculation utilizes data from four seasons, with each season assigned a specific weight (100% for the current season, 75% for the previous season, 50% for the season before that, and 25% for the season preceding that one); this means that if a player participated in any of these four seasons, their performance metrics are factored into the ranking.
In September 2023, the KHL Board of Directors approved an incentive program for youth coaches and schools. The evaluation methodology was developed to assess the quality of youth schools and coaches in developing players who compete in the Fonbet KHL Championship. All schools and coaches included in the ranking receive funding from the League to support their continued development.
Currently, 11 graduates of the Neftekhimik hockey school are playing in the KHL:
Neftekhimik: Sevastyan Sokolov, Rafael Bikmullin, Yaroslav Ozolin, Nikita Khoruzhev
Lokomotiv: Andrei Sergeyev
Severstal: Nikita Artamonov
Dynamo Moscow: Bulat Shafigullin
Lada: Andrei Chivilyov
HC Sochi: Timur Khafizov
Avangard: Damir Sharipzyanov, Nail Yakupov.
"We are proud of every one of our graduates. It is worth noting that every year they bring back to Nizhnekamsk trophies won in various hockey leagues – whether at the junior level, the VHL, or the KHL. For us, this is a sign that we are moving in the right direction," said Ildar Nugmanov, Director of the Neftekhimik Hockey School.
