Sharipzyanov is recognized as the most valuable player of the KHL championship

On May 28, defender of Omsk Avangard Damir Sharipzyanov was recognized as the most valuable player of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) championship following the results of the 2025/26 season.

Sharipzyanov won the Golden Stick award. The award was presented to him by Timofey Mozgov, the NBA champion in the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Avangard defender scored 67 points (23 goals and 44 assists) in 66 regular season games, becoming the top scorer and sniper among defenders. Sharipzyanov set a new league record for the number of points among defenders in one regular season. In the Gagarin Cup playoffs, the hockey player scored 10 points (2+8) in 17 meetings.

In addition to Sharipzyanov, Vladimir Tkachev, a striker from Metallurg Magnitogorsk, and Sam Enes, an American forward from Dinamo Minsk, claimed the Golden Stick.

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On the same day, it became known that the KHL 2026/27 regular season championship will be held from September 5, 2026 to March 20, 2027. The teams, as in previous seasons, will play 68 matches each. The playoffs will start on March 23 and last until May 23. A possible seventh match of the final series is scheduled for this date.