HC Norilsk
Hockey Club Norilsk is a Russian professional ice hockey club based in Norilsk. They play in the All-Russian Hockey League, the second level of Russian ice hockey.
History
A professional hockey club in Norilsk was founded in 2023, for the first time since folded in 2001. HC Norilsk immediately became the northernmost professional ice hockey club in the world.The team played their first official game on September 2, 2023, losing to Neftyanik Almetyevsk 2-3 in the shootout. Before the game, there was a performance by the Olympic champion in figure skating Anna Shcherbakova.
The team's first head coach was Aidar Musakayev, who previously coached HC Chelny. On January 18, 2024, he was fired, and Evgeny Filinov took over as the interim head coach. Despite that, Norilsk made the VHL playoffs in their first season, but were defeated by Rubin Tyumen 1-4 in the first round.
In October 2024, HC Norilsk started a promotion with NordStar Airlines, which painted one of their Boeing 737-800 aircraft into a livery themed after the club.
Before their second season, the club appointed Vladimir Gusev as the new head coach. Under his lead, Norilsk won a playoff series for the first time, defeating Gornyak-UGMK 4-2. In the second round of the VHL playoffs, they were swept by Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk.
On October 6, 2025, Norilsk fired Gusev and appointed Nikolai Zolotukhin as the interim head coach.