On September 7, 2026, the first official ice hockey match took place at the new Volga Arena in Nizhny Novgorod: the junior teams MHK Chayka (Nizhny Novgorod) and Irbis (Kazan) opened the arena with the opening game of the regular season of the Junior Hockey League.[1] The match was the first competitive hockey event in the arena's history and a kind of dress rehearsal ahead of HC Torpedo's debut home game at the same venue, scheduled for September 14.[2]

Match Summary

Around 3,500 spectators watched the game from the stands.[1] The first goal in the arena's history was scored by Kazan forward Askar Kamalov less than two and a half minutes into the match — Marat Sabitov was Chayka's goalkeeper in the opening period.[1] Forty-three seconds before the first intermission, Nikolay Izmaylov equalized, becoming the first Nizhny Novgorod player to score at the new arena — 1:1.[1]

In the second period, Irbis pulled ahead: goals from Kirill Buzayev and Sabit Khatibullin made it 1:3. Vladimir Laptev cut the deficit, but Ilya Kolomytsev and Andrey Dulnev extended the lead to two goals again — 2:5. After the fifth goal conceded, Chayka's coaching staff changed goalkeepers: Igor Morilov replaced Sabitov in net.[1]

In the third period, Mark Fogelnest cut the score to 3:5 with four minutes left before the final buzzer. Late in the game, one of Irbis's players received a major penalty, but the Nizhny Novgorod residents were unable to convert the power play: Irbis goalkeeper Gleb Grigoryev held his net until the final whistle. The final score was 3:5 in favor of the visitors from Kazan.[1][3]

Assessments and Significance

Among the first guests at the arena was Alexander Guskov, Vice President of the KHL for Youth Hockey Development and a native of Nizhny Novgorod. He called the Volga Arena one of the best in the country, praising its comfort for fans and players alike, as well as the excellent viewing angles from the stands.[2] Guskov also noted that Torpedo's former home venue — KRK "Nagorny" — had already become outdated and could no longer accommodate all those wishing to attend.[2]

After the home game, Chayka headed out on a road trip: on 15 September the team was scheduled to face Nizhnekamsk's Reaktor at the Neftekhim Arena.[1][3]

Sources

  1. NIA Nizhny Novgorod — Nizhny Novgorod's Chayka lost to Irbis in the first match at the Volga Arena (archive)
  2. NIA Nizhny Novgorod — "One of the best in the country": KHL Vice President Guskov evaluates the Volga Arena (archive)
  3. Vremya N — Nizhny Novgorod's Chayka lost to Kazan's Irbis (archive)