Over 1,500 young hockey players got their chance to shine, backed by Omsk Oil Refinery.
In the Omsk region, the Youth Hockey Tournament, named after the late Evgeny Hacey, has concluded. Over a thousand young athletes, aged 8-12, from Omsk and eight surrounding districts, had the opportunity to display their skills. The grand finale, delightfully won by the team "Avanhard," went down in the majestic halls of the Yevgeny Shastin Ice Palace.
A unique characteristic of this tournament is that it offers equal chances not only to professional junior athletes and sports club members, but also to hobbyists. It's important to remember that these competitions are held in memory of the late Evgeny Hacey, a Master of Sport of International Class, former head coach of the Avanhard hockey academy in Omsk, whose sudden departure at 47 in spring 2023 shocked many.
This marks the third iteration of the tournament organized in partnership between the regional Hockey Federation, the Sports, Youth, and Physical Culture Ministry, and the company "Gazprom Neft." Apart from a slew of social initiatives, including sports, the tournament is part of the "Rodnye Goroda" (Home Cities) social investment program by the company.
"The grandiose youth tournament is traditionally considered the first step in a sporting career for many talented hockey players. For instance, our esteemed Olympic champion, native of Omsk Victor Blinov, began his journey in the professional ranks with such tournaments. Thanks to the support of ONPZ, we were able to revive the children's tournament three years ago, which hadn't been held since 1991. Children from Omsk and the region have had the chance to shine and take steps towards professional hockey", remarked Mikhail Lavrikov, the head of the Hockey Federation of Omsk.
On the other hand, Oleg Beliavskiy, the general director of ONPZ, emphasized that the company's priorities include providing opportunities for a healthy lifestyle and sports participation, regardless of professional or amateur level, for as many residents as possible.
"ONPZ provides equal opportunities for maintaining a healthy lifestyle for the region's residents. 'Hockey for All' is not just about sports activities but also participation in competitions of various levels. Competition drives players to progress and perfect their skills. These qualities are valued both in team sports and in professional life, and are even considered when selecting future specialists for ONPZ", explained Oleg Beliavskiy.
Notably, social investments by "Rodnye Goroda" also support intellectual tournaments such as the "Umnozhenie Talantov" (Multiplication of Talents) competition, which concluded in late April 2025.
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Evgeny Hacey Youth Hockey Tournament Concludes in Omsk Region, Russia
On March 3, 2023, the third Evgeny Hacey Youth Hockey Tournament concluded in the Omsk region of Russia. The tournament, a partnership between the regional Hockey Federation, the Sports, Youth, and Physical Culture Ministry, and the company "Gazprom Neft," attracted hundreds of young players from Omsk and the surrounding districts. The finals, hosted at the ice palace bearing the name of Yevgeny Shastin, saw triumph for the Avanhard team.
The tournament offers equal opportunities to not just professional junior athletes and sports club members, but also hobbyists. It is also a tribute to Evgeny Hacey, a Master of Sport of International Class, who tragically passed away at the age of 47 in spring 2023.
The Evgeny Hacey Youth Hockey Tournament is one of many social initiatives supported by the "Rodnye Goroda" (Home Cities) social investment program by the company. Other initiatives included the "Umnozhenie Talantov" (Multiplication of Talents) intellectual competition.
"The grandiose youth tournament has traditionally been the first step in a professional hockey career for many talented young players. Even Victor Blinov, our esteemed Olympic champion from Omsk, began his path to professional hockey right here. Thanks to the support of "ONPZ," we managed to revive the children's tournament after a 32-year hiatus", said Mikhail Lavrikov, the head of the Omsk Hockey Federation.
On the other hand, Oleg Beliavskiy, the general director of ONPZ, highlighted the company's goal of providing equal opportunities for developing a healthy lifestyle and increasing sporting participation for as many residents of the region as possible.
"ONPZ provides equal opportunities for ensuring a healthy lifestyle and sports participation for residents of the region, whether they aspire to professional or amateur levels. The spirit of competition helps players progress and enhance their skills. These qualities are highly valued both in team sports and in professional life, and are even taken into account when recruiting future specialists for ONPZ", said Beliavskiy.
- The Evgeny Hacey Youth Hockey Tournament, held in Omsk region, offers equal opportunities for young hockey players of all levels, including hobbyists, to compete and progress in their skills.
- This tournament, initiated in 2020, is a significant part of the "Rodnye Goroda" social investment program by Gazprom Neft, also supporting intellectual competitions such as the "Umnozhenie Talantov" concluded in 2025.
- Looking ahead, the goal of 'Hockey for All' initiated by ONPZ is to provide equal opportunities for improving a healthy lifestyle and active sports participation for residents of the Omsk region by 2025.
