Today, the long awaited Gagarin Cup final series, the climax of the 10th season the KHL Championship, gets underway in Kazan, and on Friday, the main trophy embarked on its train journey from Moscow to the Tatarstan capital to attend the big game

Photo: 13.04.18. Ceremony of Gagarin Cup departure to final games of KHL championship 2017/18

The League's most coveted piece of silverware departed the KHL head office and visited many of the Russian capital's places of interest before heading to the East. In a packed, three-hour tour of the city, the trophy visited the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army, the nearby Yekaterina Park, the Stalin skyscraper at Krasniye Vorota (“Red Gateway”), and finally, Moscow's Kazan Station, where it took its place on the train to the surprise and delight of its fellow passengers.

The Gagarin Cup began the day in the KHL head office on Leningradsky Prospect, already flanked by soldiers of the Preobrazhensky Regiment forming a guard of honor.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

The trophy was chauffered around Moscow in a GAZ 12 ZIM automobile, specially-adorned with the Gagarin Cup logo.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

The first stop on the itinerary was the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army and the nearby Yekaterina Park. The venue was not chosen at random, as Moscow's “Army Men,” CSKA, will play in the final.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

The Gagarin Cup stopped at the "To the Stars" monument which, along with the name of the trophy, underlines the link between hockey and space.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

The trophy rested among courting couples, enjoying the spring sunshine in Yekaterina Park.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

The next port of call was the Stalin skyscraper, at Krasnaya Vorota (“Red Gateway”), built from 1947-1952.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

Finally, the Cup made its way to Kazan station, from where trains depart for the Tatarstan capital, home to Ak Bars, winners of the Eastern Conference.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

The Gagarin Cup by the Tsar's Tower at Kazan Station.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

The Gagarin Cup with its military escort on the concourse of Kazan Station.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

Before setting off on its journey, the silverware visited the station waiting room, where it was received with delight by surprised travelers.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

The KHL's most coveted trophy also found time to visit the driver's compartment of the Kazan-bound train.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

Waiting to greet the Cup in its private compartment was Salavat Yulaev's Enver Lisin, who played for Ak Bars in the early 2000s before his spells with the Coyotes and Rangers.
Photo: Andrey Golovanov

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