Hockey Club "Torpedo-Gorky" is threatened with closure.

      April 24, 2026 17:14 SportNIA "Nizhny Novgorod" - Polina Zubova The farm club of Nizhny Novgorod's "Torpedo" — the VHL team "Torpedo-Gorky" — may cease to exist as early as this year. This was announced on April 24 at a press conference summarizing the 2025/2026 season by the general director of HC "Torpedo" Evgeny Zabuga. Last year, the option of closing the farm club was already discussed. At that time, it did not happen because "Torpedo-Gorky" achieved a high result and won the Russian Champion's Cup. In the 2025/2026 season, the situation was different: the team barely made it to the playoffs and was eliminated in the first round, losing to "Magnitka" with a score of 0:4 in the series. A final decision has not yet been made. The issue is within the competence of the club's board. "An official statement can be made after the club's board, as the highest governing body, makes a decision regarding the future of the team," noted Zabuga. One of the possible scenarios being considered is cooperation with one of the VHL teams, where players from the "Torpedo" system could play. "If three seasons ago playing in the VHL cost about 150 million rubles, now that figure has doubled. Today, maintaining an independent farm club is a luxury," he emphasized. Additional difficulties are associated with changes in regulations. Previously, KHL clubs could use up to 40 hockey players on two-way contracts through the farm team. Now this number has been reduced to 10. According to Zabuga, in such a situation, the question arises about the feasibility of serious expenses with limited opportunities for using two-way agreements. "We fully understand that expenses are only increasing, and inflationary processes are not stopping. The club needs to live on with dignity, not just survive," added Zabuga. In the event of a transition to a sports partnership format, he assured that the club would do everything possible to maintain the quality of reserve training. It is worth noting that a year earlier, the management of "Torpedo" closed the women's team due to low popularity and the need to optimize expenses. Earlier, the general director explained how the roster of "Torpedo" would be formed for the next season. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+