Club Friendly· Season 2026
Pavel Shchur scored twice as reigning MHL champions Loko edged their junior affiliate Loko-76 3-2 in a pre-season friendly derby in Yaroslavl.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Shchur opened the scoring at 5:30 of the first period, finishing a feed from Nikita Malkov. Andrey Kochetkov doubled the lead at 11:52, and Loko carried a 2-0 advantage into the first intermission.
Loko-76 responded decisively in the second period — both times on the powerplay. Stepan Chernyaev pulled one back at 8:23 with helpers from Artyom Voroshilov and Dmitry Bazhenov, then struck again at 11:51, this time set up by Bazhenov and Vladislav Pedchenko, to level the score at 2-2.
After a tense third period, Shchur emerged as the hero once more. He buried the winner at 15:37 from Ilya Stramilov's pass, restoring Loko's lead for good.
The turning point
Loko-76's two powerplay goals in the middle frame flipped the game on its head. The junior side, coming off a difficult 2025/26 campaign in the MHL's Silver Division, showed real composure to erase a two-goal deficit against a team that had swept through the Kharlamov Cup playoffs just three months earlier. But Loko's deeper bench and superior conditioning told in the third period, where they outlasted their younger opponents.
Key performers
Pavel Shchur (Loko) — The match-winner opened and closed the scoring, demonstrating the finishing instincts that made him a key figure in last season's title run. Two goals from three shots, by the available data.
Stepan Chernyaev (Loko-76) — His second-period double on the powerplay pulled his team level and tested the champions' resolve. Both finishes were clean one-timers from the slot.
Stepan Safonov (Loko) — The goalkeeper held firm after Loko-76's equaliser, making key saves in the third period to preserve the 2-2 scoreline before Shchur's winner.
Player of the match: Pavel Shchur
By the numbers — interpreted
The match was a tale of two special-teams phases. Loko built a 2-0 lead at even strength in the first period but were then exposed shorthanded, conceding twice on the penalty kill in the second. Discipline was the difference: Loko-76 capitalised on their powerplay opportunities, while Loko's even-strength edge and third-period depth ultimately decided the scoreline.
What it means
This is the first pre-season friendly for both sides. Loko, 2025/26 Kharlamov Cup champions, continue their build-up to the new MHL season with a narrow win against a team from their own organisation. The senior side face Almaz on 25 July before a tournament in Cherepovets. Loko-76, who have undergone significant roster turnover this summer — losing goaltender Semyon Konopsky to the Calgary Flames organisation, among others — showed encouraging signs, particularly on the powerplay, and will travel to Cherepovets for the Belyaev Memorial Tournament starting 28 July.
Verdict
A useful workout for both sides. Loko's quality edge told, but Loko-76's powerplay and Chernyaev's sharp finishing suggest they could be more competitive in the junior MHL this season. The 3-2 scoreline flattered neither side — it was a fair reflection of a game that swung twice before the champions' experience sealed it.
Loko and Loko-76 have met 1 times — Loko won 1, Loko-76 won 0, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2024. Loko leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 5 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 5.00 per match (3 for the home side, 2 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 1 game (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 2–3 in 2024.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 28 Jul 2026