The Yuri Nemov Memorial Tournament brought together the strongest hockey schools in the Volga region
27.08.2026
From August 23 to 27, the Malaya Ledovaya Arena in Nizhnekamsk hosted the traditional summer memorial tournament honoring Yuri Aleksandrovich Nemov.
The tournamet brought together youth squads from the hockey schools of several junior leagus-affiliated teams: Neftekhimik (Nizhnekamsk), Ak Bars-Neftyanik (Almetyevsk), Torpedo (Nizhny Novgorod), Lada (Tolgliatti), Izhstal (Izhevsk), and HC Chelny (Naberezhnye Chelny).A total of 15 round-robin encounters were contested over the five days, and the race for the podium remained fiercely undecided until the final day of play. In the decisive clash, league leaders Lada and Ak Bars-Neftyanik engaged in a high-stakes battle, with the outcome ultimately settled in a dramatic shootout (2–3 SO). Meanwhile, Torpedo delivered a commanding statement performance, routing HC Chelny with a resounding 14–0 shutout. This dominant victory propelled Torpedo to the tournament championship. Ak Bars-Neftyanik secured the silver medals, while the host team, Neftekhimik, rounded out the top three with a bronze finish.
Individual player honors were awarded to the tournament's standout performers:
Top Scorer – Artyom Karimov (Neftyanik)
Best Forward – Artyom Gryaznov (Lada)
Best Defenseman – Sergei Volkov (Torpedo)
Best Goaltender – Evgeny Mikhailov (Neftekhimik)
Most Valuable Player – Danil Vazheyev (Izhstal)
Fans Award – Gordei Buranov (HC Chelny)
Igor Larionov, Neftekhimik General Director:
– First and foremost, I want to thank the Neftekhimik team. The guys did a great job, they showed character. This tournament, even though it is preseason, provides a solid foundation. I thank everyone for participating and wish them a good and successful season.
Alexander Pisarev, Neftekhimik YHL head coach of the Neftekhimik:
– Very good teams came to the tournament, which makes us happy. Based on the results, we certainly could have placed higher, but we missed a couple of chances in the game against the Nizhny Novgorod team, lost that match, and you could say we lost the tournament. But the guys fought hard, we rotated the roster, tried different combinations, brought in players from 2010, and some guys from the JHL joined us. We looked at the roster and learned from it. There is still time before the season, and we will have time to work on our tactics.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The Yuri Nemov Memorial Tournament stands as a lasting tribute to a coach who devoted his life to the development of Nizhnekamsk hockey. A former player himself, Nemov turned to coaching early on, passionately mentoring young athletes and neighborhood teams. His crowning achievement arrived in 1977, when he guided the local squad "Yunui Khimik" to victory in the prestigious all-Union "Zolotaya Shaiba" tournament. Following his passing in 2017, the annual tournament was established in his honor, ensuring that his profound contribution to the sport and his legacy remain forever embedded in the city's hockey tradition.
