Norilsk will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Russian hockey with a charity match with stars and a unique exhibition

On April 10, Norilsk will host the IX annual charity hockey match with the participation of legends of world and domestic sports.

The “Legends of Hockey” team and the “Norilsk National Team” will meet on the ice of the Arktika Sports Palace. The event is traditionally supported by the Night Hockey League and the Norilsk Nickel company, which has been developing amateur hockey in Russia for many years.

The current match is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Russian hockey. By this date, an exhibition of Olympic relics from the personal collection of Vladimir Potanin will open in Norilsk. Visitors will see more than 60 unique exhibits: original Olympic medals, torches, elements of equipment of famous hockey players and other rarities. The exhibition will be open to all city residents from April 11 to June 14.

“For us, coming to Norilsk is always a holiday, an opportunity to meet with friends, remember special career moments for each of us. It’s a special honor to give the Arctic fans bright emotions and delight them with great hockey,” says Vyacheslav Fetisov, two-time Olympic champion, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, member of the Council of Night League Legends. — Every time I return to Norilsk with great pleasure, and this year is no exception! Even in Moscow you won’t see such a stellar lineup on the ice! This time we are waiting for a special game – after all, it is taking place in an important year for Russian hockey; in December we will all celebrate its 80th anniversary. There have been many wonderful victories over the years, and fans will have the opportunity to touch them thanks to the launch of the “Vladimir Potanin Olympic Collection: 80 Years of Hockey Glory”! Such expositions are extremely important – we must remember the great history of our favorite game in order to build a bright future for our hockey. When Russia returns to the international arena, I’m sure there will be even more golden pages, but for now we have a great opportunity to enjoy past victories!”

Also, on the eve of the exhibition and the match, a series of podcasts “Outside the Format” from Norilsk Nickel is being held – this is an exclusive series dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Russian hockey. In the studio with Nikita Zagday and Pavel Lysenkov, hockey stars, veterans and managers openly share stories of their journey, talk about the development of the sport, the “kitchen” of locker rooms and personal ups. Guests The podcast already included famous hockey players Valery Kamensky, Sergei Fedorov, Alexander Yakushev. Next in line are Alexey Kasatonov, Alexey Morozov and others.

Charity matches have been held in Taimyr since 2017. The initiator of the events is the president of Norilsk Nickel, the head of the board of trustees of the Night League, Vladimir Potanin. Tickets are distributed for voluntary donations, and Norilsk Nickel doubles the amount collected. All funds are allocated for the purchase of equipment, training equipment, equipment and the development of sports infrastructure for pupils of hockey schools in the Arctic.

In addition to financial assistance, matches contribute to the development of the sports environment. Hockey legends annually conduct master classes for young Norilsk residents. For children, this is an opportunity to communicate with their idols and get additional motivation.

Over the years, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Alexey Kasatonov, Pavel Bure, Igor Larionov, Sergey Fedorov and many others took part in matches and master classes. In 2025, Ilya Kovalchuk and Danis Zaripov joined them, and this year Pavel Datsyuk will come to Norilsk for the first time.

Those who did not make it to the stands will also be able to see the game: Match TV will broadcast live.