Gagarin Cup

The Gagarin Cup (Russian: Кубок Гагарина, Kubok Gagarina) is the trophy presented to the winner of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) playoffs, and is named after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space. The Cup was supposedly named after Gagarin because the last possible game of the inaugural KHL season would take place on April 12, the anniversary date of Gagarin's flight.[1]

See also: List of Soviet and Russian ice hockey champions
SportIce hockey
CompetitionKHL playoffs
Given forPlayoff champion of the Kontinental Hockey League
History
First award2008
First winnerAk Bars Kazan
Most winsAk Bars Kazan (3)
Most recentCSKA Moscow (1)
Gagarin Cup on a Russian postage stamp.

After the end of the KHL's regular season, sixteen teams participate in the playoffs. The 1/8 and quarter-finals were a best-of-five series during the first season, and the semi-finals and finals were a best-of-seven series during the first season. Conferences were established for the second season. Conference quarter-finals are a best-of-five series while the conference semi-finals, conference finals and Gagarin Cup finals are a best-of-seven series. The winner of the final best-of-seven series receives the Gagarin Cup.[2]

It has been reported that the Cup weighs 18 kg (40 lbs), making it heavier than the NHL's Stanley Cup.[3] The Cup is made of silver and is gold-plated.

Naming history

According to league president Alexander Medvedev, the Cup was named after Gagarin because Russian citizens associate his name with the achievement of great accomplishments, and the man himself has been described as a symbol of the nation. Additionally, according to the founders of the KHL, his ascent into space serves as a metaphor for the contemporary Soviet breakthrough in hockey. Gagarin himself did play hockey, albeit not at a level comparable to that of the KHL.

Another candidate for the namesake of the Cup was longtime HC CSKA Moscow and Soviet national team coach Anatoli Tarasov, considered the "father of Soviet hockey". It was later decided that one of the four divisions would bear his name.

Series results
Key to colors
     Win for eventual play-off winner
     Loss for eventual play-off winner
W Western Conference champion
E Eastern Conference champion
N/A N/A, KHL conferences established during the second season of competition
Season Teams Game scores Series
score		 Series-winning goal scorer
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2008–09 N/A Ak Bars Kazan 0–3 4–3 OT 2–3 1–0 4 Alexei Morozov (50:04)
N/A Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 3–0 2–5 2–3 OT 3
2009–10 E Ak Bars Kazan 2–3 1–2 7–1 4 Nikita Alexeev (21:18)
W HC MVD 2–3 1–4 3–2 0–2 3
2010–11 E Salavat Yulaev Ufa 2–1 OT 3–1 3–2 4 Alexander Svitov (55:48)
W Atlant Moscow Oblast 2–3 4–0 1
2011–12 E Avangard Omsk 2–1 1–2 2–3 0–1 3 Jakub Klepiš (52:03)
W Dynamo Moscow 0–1 1–2 OT 5–2 4
2012–13 E Traktor Chelyabinsk 3–1 0–1 2–3 OT 2 Alexei Tsvetkov (65:57)
W Dynamo Moscow 2–1 3–2 3–4 4
2013–14 E Metallurg Magnitogorsk 0–3 4–1 2–1 OT 7–4 4 Sergei Mozyakin (43:10)
W Lev Prague 3–2 3–5 5–4 OT 3
2014–15 E Ak Bars Kazan 2–4 0–1 1–6 1 Roman Červenka (58:57)
W SKA Saint Petersburg 1–2 3–2 4
2015–16 E Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2–3 OT 1–0 2–3 OT 4 Chris Lee (38:57)
W CSKA Moscow 5–1 1–2 1–2 OT 1–3 3
2016–17 E Metallurg Magnitogorsk 4–5 3–1 3–5 1 Ilya Kovalchuk (40:09)
W SKA Saint Petersburg 2–1 OT 3–2 4
2017–18 E Ak Bars Kazan 2–3 OT 3–1 4 Rob Klinkhammer (41:06)
W CSKA Moscow 1–2 1–2 0–1 1
2018–19 E Avangard Omsk 0–2 2–3 OT 0 Maxim Mamin (77:44)
W CSKA Moscow 5–2 3–0 4
2019–20 E –
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
W –

Appearances

In the table, the teams are sorted by the number of appearances in the Gagarin Cup finals, then by the number of wins. Italicized marks now non-existent (not playing in the KHL) teams. In the "Years of appearance" column, bold years indicate winning Gagarin Cup Finals appearances.

Apps Team Wins Losses Win % Years of appearance (in Gagarin Cup Finals)
4 Ak Bars Kazan 3 1 .750 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018
3 Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2 1 .667 2014, 2016, 2017
3 CSKA Moscow 1 2 .333 2016, 2018, 2019
2 Dynamo Moscow 2 0 1.000 2012, 2013
2 SKA Saint Petersburg 2 0 1.000 2015, 2017
2 Avangard Omsk 0 2 .000 2012, 2019
1 Salavat Yulaev Ufa 1 0 1.000 2011
1 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 0 1 .000 2009
1 HC MVD 0 1 .000 2010
1 Atlant Moscow Oblast 0 1 .000 2011
1 Traktor Chelyabinsk 0 1 .000 2013
1 Lev Prague 0 1 .000 2014
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References[4]
  1. Seren Rosso, Alessandro (2008-03-13). "New Kontinental Hockey League takes shape, sets rules". Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  2. "New league schedule announced". IIHF. 2008-06-08. Archived from the original on 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  3. news (2009-01-10). ""USSR Hockey Legends" – "KHL Friends": 5:4 (3:1, 1:2)". Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  4. "SKA St. Petersburg live scores, results, fixtures, Metallurg Magnitogorsk v SKA St. Petersburg live | Hockey, Russia". www.flashscore.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
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