Big day for Shirokov as Novosibirsk enjoys All-Star party
Sergei Shirokov, Sibir’s popular captain, was back on home ice for the 2025 Fonbet KHL All-Star Game. And he made the most of the big occasion, scoring a hat-trick in Team Chernyshev’s semi-final win over Team Kharlamov, and winning the penalty contest in the Skill Show. Team Chernyshev will face Team Bobrov in Sunday’s final after Sochi’s Timur Khafizov scored three in a 9-6 victory over Team Tarasov.
Hat-tricks for Shirokov, Sharipzyanov
Team Chernyshev 10 Team Kharlamov 6 (5-3, 5-3)
Sibir captain Sergei Shirokov thrilled the Novosibirsk crowd with a hat-trick to lead Team Chernyshev into the KHL All-Star Game final. A 10-6 victory over Team Kharlamov sets up a Sunday showdown against Team Bobrov at the culmination of this year’s festival of hockey.
Shirokov put his team in front for the first time in the fifth minute of this semi-final clash. Assisted by Sibir colleague Trevor Murphy, he finished a three-on-none rush after the teams had traded early goals. Within a minute, the lead was up to 4-1 and team Chernyshev did not trail again in the game.
Team Kharlamov also moments to savor. In particular, junior Yaromir Yerkmakov, who plays for AKM Tula in the JHL, scored twice. And Nikita Lyamkin scored perhaps the prettiest goal of the day, a spectacular scoop-and-spin effort in front of Nikita Boyarkin.
Nikita Lyamkin, Ak Bars and Team Kharlamov:
Before practice I like to go out and play around with the puck. Sometimes I try out moves like that. It was a surprise for me as well when it first came off! I’d be prepared to try it in a game if the opportunity arose. Goalies don’t expect a shot like that.
But this was very much Shirokov’s game. He struck late in the first period, heading off a Kharlamov fightback to make it 5-3 at the intermission. Then he completed his treble with an empty-netter.
There was still time for Avangard’s Damir Sharipzyanov to join Shirokov on three goals, making it 10-6 in the final second. Avangard’s trio here had a productive time, with Nail Yakupov also scoring and Semyon Chistyakov had two assists.
Bobrov fights back
Team Bobrov 9 Team Tarasov 6 (5-6, 4-0)
Timur Khafizov’s hat-trick led Team Bobrov to victory in the first semi-final at the 2025 Fonbet KHL All-Star Game. In a topsy-turvy game, the HC Sochi forward proved to be the brightest of the stars on display. Ivan Demidov (SKA) scored two, as did young Sibir hot-shot Yegor Klimovich.
A capacity crowd in the Sibir Arena didn’t have to wait long for the opening goal. It took Ruslan Iskhakov 40 seconds to open the scoring for Team Tarasov. Danil Aimurzin quickly added a second, but15 seconds later Khafizov potted his first of the game to make it 1-2
Timur Khafizov, HC Sochi and Team Bobrov:
— It’s a great day. I’m loving every minute of it. It’s my first All-Star Game so everything is new. It’s a non-contact game, but nobody is taking it easy. It’s important for us to win the final – we flew a long way to be here!
Team Tarasov responded quickly and Martin Gernat added a third, while goalie Vladislav Podyapolsky made a couple of big saves to preserve the two-goal advantage.
Nonetheless, in All-Star play the goals come thick and fast. After 4:09 it was 2-3 and even though Team Tarasov extended that lead to 6-2 – two goals from Nikita Gusev building that advantage – the first period ended 5-6. Khafizov got his second of the day before young Klimovich delighted the home crowd with an elegant finish past Podyapolsky.
The second period began with a fight between Klimovich and fellow junior Sergei Lukyantsev. Nothing too serious: even the officials grabbed some popcorn and watched the show.
Another highlight of those opening minutes of the second session was a save-of-the-season contender from Kunlun / Tarasov goalie Jeremy Smith. He was faced with Spartak pair Pavel Poryadin and Nikolai Goldobin bearing down on his net with no defense in sight. Somehow, Smith managed to get his stick behind a shot that seemed destined for the open corner of the goal.
But Poryadin scored on his next attack to tie the game. After that, Smith headed a rearguard action as Team Bobrov surged forward in search of more goals. The resistance was broken in the 16th minute when Khafizov’s hat-trick goal put his team up for the first time.
Ivan Demidov scored a penalty shot to increase the lead and, after Smith made way for a fourth skate, Klimovich finished the job with an empty-netter.
Ivan Demidov, SKA and Team Bobrov:
— I feel like I’ve got a bit more All-Star experience; I already know where I’m going. We’re playing on the same team as our rivals in the KHL but everyone understands that we’re here to put on a show for the fans. And it’s fun to chat with guys I don’t often see. People in Novosibirsk really love their hockey. Whenever Trevor Murphy or Sergei Shirokov got on the ice it was so loud!
Home favorites on top in Skill Show
Sibir’s Trevor Murphy and Sergei Shirokov won their events at the start of the 2025 KHL All-Star Skill Show. Murphy produced the hardest shot, clocking in at 164.17 km/h to finish in front of Vladislav Kamenev (CSKA / Tarasov), Alexander Nikishin (SKA / Bobrov) and Nikita Lyamkin (Ak Bars / Kharlamov).
Shirokov, meanwhile, won the showcase penalty shot contest, getting 30.22% of the votes. The decision was based on a fan poll on a dedicated app set up by event sponsor Fonbet.
Shirokov, who is captain of Sibir and Team Chernyshev, was an unexpected late entrant in the competition. Team Chernyshev had already seen Avangard’s Three Amigos, Nail Yakupov, Semyon Chistyakov and Damir Sharipzyanov don Mexican costume for their attempt before Shirokov came onto the ice. He grabbed the head from Snegovik, Sibir’s much-loved mascot, to wear as he took his shot while the luckless snowman was left searching in vain for it.
Other competitors took inspiration from their rivals. Ruslan Iskhakov (CSKA / Tarasov) recalled Vladimir Tarasenko’s 2012 effort, when the former Sibir man dangled his puck off fishing wire. Timur Khafizov (Sochi / Bobrov) parodied Evgeny Kuznetsov’s famous slow penalty shot, taking time to snap a selfie on his way to goal. Kuznetsov was unable to take this year due to injury.
The goalies also joined in the fun: Ivan Bocharov (Torpedo / Bobrov) came onto the ice with his son, Lev, who was left to face a shot from Bogdan Konyushkov.
Saturday’s other competition was the speed skating – four contestants competing to complete the fastest lap of the ice. Victory went to Dmitry Buchelnikov (Vityaz / Bobrov) in 13.737 seconds. He was quicker than the juniors Sergei Lukyantsev and Yaromir Yermakov as well as Daniil Gutik (Admiral / Chernyshev).
