The Channel One Cup was part of the Euro Hockey Tour until 2021. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic removed Russia from the EHT. In response, the tournament adopted a new format, featuring Russia alongside Belarus and Kazakhstan – with a KHL All-Star team also appearing in past editions.
Head coach Talgat Zhailauov relied on the core of the 2026 IIHF Asia Championship squad, retaining 15 players from the gold-winning team.
A Gold Medal Core Meets a Harsh Reality in Novosibirsk
However, the tournament didn’t go their way. In their opening game, Kazakhstan fell 1–4 to Belarus, with Ruslan Ospanov scoring the team’s lone goal.
In the second match, Kazakhstan faced Russia’s U25 squad. It turned out to be a nightmare outing, as the Kazakhs struggled to contain the energetic young Russians. The final scoreline read a crushing 0–9.
Interestingly, the official tournament was preceded by a 3-on-3 mini-tournament featuring the same three teams. Kazakhstan fared better in this format, defeating Belarus to finish in second place.
Boyarkin Returns, Yulbarisov Debuts
Kazakhstan’s roster featured two standout names – one familiar, one brand new.
Goaltender Nikita Boyarkin made his return to the national team after recovering from a serious injury that had sidelined him for several months. He played in the opening game but was rested for the second after health issues resurfaced.
The other notable addition was Oskar Yulbarisov, currently the second-highest scorer in the Pro Hokei Ligasy. The 27-year-old Gornyak Rudny forward gave up his Russian citizenship in order to represent Kazakhstan. Born in Ufa, Russia, Yulbarisov has lived and played in Kazakhstan for years, and his wife is Kazakh as well. With the World Championship on the horizon, he could become a valuable long-term asset for the national team.
Few Will Make the Cut for Worlds – But the Experience Matters
The reality is that only a handful of players from this roster are expected to feature at the upcoming World Championship Division 1B in Sosnowiec, Poland. Head coach Talgat Zhailauov admitted it would be a small percentage, emphasizing that the core squad for the season’s main event will be drawn primarily from Barys Astana, along with reinforcements from other KHL teams and North America. (1)
Still, for members of Kazakhstan’s extended national team pool, the Channel One Cup was another valuable opportunity to gain experience on the international stage.
2025 Channel One Cup: Results and Final Standings
Kazakhstan vs Belarus 1-4 (December 12, 2025)
Russia U25 vs Belarus 3-1 (December 13, 2025)
Kazakhstan vs Russia U25 0-9 (December 14, 2025)
| 2025 Channel One Cup, Novosibirsk, Russia | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF-GA | P |
| 1 | Russia U25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12-1 | 4 |
| 2 | Belarus | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5-4 | 2 |
| 3 | Kazakhstan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1-13 | 0 |
Sources, Quotes and Notes:
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