HC Krylya Sovetov (Russian: ХК Крылья Советов; Soviet Wings) is a professional ice hockey team based in Moscow, Russia. The team played in the top divisions of Soviet and Russian hockey.
In 2008, the team was expelled from the Soviet Wings Sport Palace and a new team, MHC Krylya Sovetov was created. PHC Krylya Sovetov played at the Minor Arena and Vityaz Ice Palace in Podolsk until 2010, when the team was reunited with MHC Krylya Sovetov and returned to the Soviet Wings Sport Palace. But after 2011, it ceased operating as a professional hockey club and withdrew from the championship on all levels. In 2016, the team returned to play in the MHL.
Contents
History
Krylya Sovetov Moscow (Wings of the Soviets, Soviet Wings) was founded in 1947 by the Krylya Sovetov sports society that represented Soviet aircraft industry.
Controversy
In 2008, the owner of the Soviet Wings Sport Palace, the All-Russia Institute of Light Alloys (VILS) (Russian: Всероссийский институт лёгких сплавов (ВИЛС) accused Krylya Sovetov of overdue rent payments. This led to the subsequent eviction of the team. The main team left under president Aleksandr Tretiak's lead and took a name PHC Krylya Sovetov, but Krylya's hockey school, junior subsidiary teams, and other infrastructure opted to remain under the effective ownership of VILS.
After playing one season in Vysshaya Liga, the VILS team changed its affiliation to the Junior League. While PHC Krylya Sovetov failed to qualify for the VHL, a newly created independent league that was supposed to replace Vysshaya Liga. After the KHL president Alexander Medvedev interfered in the conflict, the situation was settled and both teams reunited to play in the VHL starting with its 2010–11 season. Albeit due to financial hardship the club had to resign from the league in the next season. Functionally, Krylya ceased to exist as a professional team in 2011.
Honors
Champions
Soviet Championship League Championship (2): 1957, 1974
USSR Cup (3): 1951, 1974, 1989
European Cup (1): 1974
Spengler Cup (1): 1979
Ahearne Cup (2): 1961, 1968
Runners-up
Soviet Championship League Championship (4): 1955, 1956, 1958, 1975
Soviet Championship League Championship (9): 1950, 1951, 1954, 1959, 1960, 1973, 1978, 1989, 1991
IHL Championship (1): 1993
USSR Cup (2): 1952, 1954
Spengler Cup (1): 1987
Notable alumni
Alexei Guryshev (1947–1961)
Alfred Kuchevsky (1949–1961)
Vladimir Petrov (1965–1967)
Alexander Sidelnikov (1967–1984)
Sergei Pryakhin (1979–1989)
Yuri Khmylev (1980–1991)
Viktor Gordiuk (1986–1992)
Alexander Korolyuk (1992–1997)
Alexei Morozov (1993–1997)
Alexander Frolov (2000–2002)
Anton Volchenkov (2001–2002)