HC Donbass - Revision history

Admin at 21:00, 4 August 2024

2024-08-04T21:00:56Z

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 | founded    = December 2005
 | dissolved  =
-| based_in   = [[Donetsk]]
+| based_in   = [[Druzhkivka]] <small>(2015-22)</small><br />[[Donetsk]] <small>(2005–14)</small>
 | arena      = [[Altair Arena]]
 | capacity   = 400
-| league     = [[Kontinental Hockey League]]<br /><small>(2012–2014)</small><br>[[Ukrainian Hockey Extra League]]
+| league     = [[Kontinental Hockey League]]<br /><small>(2012–2014)</small><br>[[Ukrainian Hockey Championship]]
-| division   = [[Tarasov Division|Tarasov]]
+| division   =
-| conference = Western
+| conference =
 | team_color = {{color box|#c60c30}} {{color box|black}} {{color box|#a5acaf}} {{color box|white}}
 | honors     =
-|affiliates  = [[Bilyi Bars]] (PHL)<br>[[Molodaya Gvardia]] (MHL)<br>Donetsk Bears (junior)
+|affiliates  = (former) [[Bilyi Bars]] (PHL)<br>[[Molodaya Gvardia]] (MHL)<br>Donetsk Bears (junior)
 |website     = [http://hcdonbass.com/ HCDonbas.com]
 }}
-'''Hockey Club Donbas''' (Ukrainian: Хокейний Клуб Донбас; {{lang-ru|ХК Донбасс}}, ''tr. '''Hokeinyi Klub Donbas''''') is a [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] professional [[ice hockey]] team based in [[Donetsk]]. The team was a member of the [[Kontinental Hockey League]] ([[KHL]]) during the [[2012–13 KHL season|2012–13]] and [[2013–14 KHL season|2013–14]] seasons,<ref name="VHLKHL">[http://www.sports.ru/en/hockey/94022223.html Ukrainian HC Donbass applies for VHL membership]</ref> and was the sole representative from Ukraine competing at the elite international level. Due to the War in Donbass, the team did not compete in the [[2014–15 KHL season]]. They joined the [[Ukrainian Hockey Extra League]] for the 2015-16 season.
+'''Hockey Club Donbas''' (Ukrainian: Хокейний Клуб Донбас; {{lang-ru|ХК Донбасс}}, ''tr. '''Hokeinyi Klub Donbas''''') is a [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] professional [[ice hockey]] team based in [[Donetsk]]. HC Donbass is a eight time Ukrainian champion (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021). The team was a member of the [[Kontinental Hockey League]] ([[KHL]]) during the [[2012–13 KHL season|2012–13]] and [[2013–14 KHL season|2013–14]] seasons,<ref name="VHLKHL">[http://www.sports.ru/en/hockey/94022223.html Ukrainian HC Donbass applies for VHL membership]</ref> and was the sole representative from Ukraine competing at the elite international level. Due to the War in Donbass, the team did not compete in the [[2014–15 KHL season]]. They joined the [[Ukrainian Hockey Extra League]] for the 2015-16 season.
 Borys Kolesnikov, a prominent Ukrainian politician and businessman, purchased the team in 2010,<ref name="Leshchenko">{{cite news|last=Leshchenko|first=Serhiy|title=Борис Колесніков: Чому зібрався в Києві податковий майдан? Це ж смішно!|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2011/04/22/6133454/|accessdate=10 September 2011|newspaper=Ukrayinska Pravda}}</ref> and from then until 2014 it was the most successful hockey club in Ukraine. The team takes its name from its geographic location in the heart of the Donets Basin (''Donbas'').
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 The club was founded in 2005 as Hockey Club Kolbiko-Donetsk and took part in the 2005-06 Ukrainian Championship by competing in the First League. After 3 years of competing only in tournament play, the club returned to the [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship]], and ascended to the Ukrainian Major League. In its 4 seasons of national competition beginning in 2008, the franchise won its first national title in 201], before joining the [[Russia]]n [[Russian Major League|Major Hockey League]] (VHL). The team also won the [[IIHF Continental Cup 2013]], becoming the first team from [[Ukraine]] to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/competition/326/news/news-singleview-club-continental-cup/recap/7491.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7028&cHash=213b662f3e |title=Donbass dethrones Dragons |publisher=Iihf.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-13}}</ref> Following the 2010–11 season, Donbass split into two teams with their affiliate, [[HC Donbass-2|Donbass-2]], representing the organization in the [[Professional Hockey League]] of Ukraine. Donbass-2 won its first title in 2012 during the inaugural PHL season, and its second title the following season for the organization. In 2013, [[Bilyi Bars]] began acting as HC Donbass' PHL affiliate, dissolving Donbass-2.<ref name=dissolving>{{cite web|title=В чемпионате Украины хоккейный клуб "Донбасс" будет представлен фарм-клубом|url=http://hcdonbass.com/news/phl/v_chempionate_ukrainy_khk_donbass_budet_predstavlen_farm_klubom/|publisher=HC Donbass|accessdate=31 May 2013}}</ref>
 ==Franchise history==
@@ Line 89: / Line 90: @@
 ===Ukraine===
-*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|Ukrainian Hockey Championship Regular Season]]
+* {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|Ukrainian Hockey Championship Regular Season]]
-** [[File:Gold medal icon.png|15px]] '''Winners (2):''' [[2010–11 UkHL season|2010-11]], [[2015–16 Ukrainian Hockey Extra League season|2015-16]]
+** [[File:Gold medal icon.png|15px]] '''Winners (4):''' [[2010–11 Ukrainian Hockey Championship|2010–11]], [[2015–16 Ukrainian Hockey Extra League season|2015–16]], [[2017–18 Ukrainian Hockey League season|2017–18]], [[2018–19 Ukrainian Hockey League season|2018–19]]
-*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|Ukrainian Hockey Championship Playoffs]]
+[[*]]''The 2012 and 2013 titles were won as [[HC Donbass-2]].''
 ===Europe===
@@ Line 120: / Line 107: @@
 ===Season by season results===
 {{Main|List of HC Donbass seasons}}
 ==References==

Admin: 1 revision

2016-11-29T00:56:05Z

1 revision

New page

{{Infobox KHL team
| clubname = Donbas
| image = [[Image:HC Donbass.png|250px]]
| fullname = '''Hockey Club Donbas'''
* '''HC Kolbiko-Donetsk''' (2005–06)
| nickname = The Red & Black Donbas Donetsk
| founded = December 2005
| dissolved =
| based_in = [[Donetsk]]
| arena = [[Altair Arena]]
| capacity = 400
| league = [[Kontinental Hockey League]] (2012–2014) [[Ukrainian Hockey Extra League]]
| division = [[Tarasov Division|Tarasov]]
| conference = Western
| team_color = {{color box|#c60c30}} {{color box|black}} {{color box|#a5acaf}} {{color box|white}}
| honors =
|affiliates = [[Bilyi Bars]] (PHL) [[Molodaya Gvardia]] (MHL) Donetsk Bears (junior)
|website = [http://hcdonbass.com/ HCDonbas.com]
}}
'''Hockey Club Donbas''' (Ukrainian: Хокейний Клуб Донбас; {{lang-ru|ХК Донбасс}}, ''tr. '''Hokeinyi Klub Donbas''''') is a [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] professional [[ice hockey]] team based in [[Donetsk]]. The team was a member of the [[Kontinental Hockey League]] ([[KHL]]) during the [[2012–13 KHL season|2012–13]] and [[2013–14 KHL season|2013–14]] seasons,<ref name="VHLKHL">[http://www.sports.ru/en/hockey/94022223.html Ukrainian HC Donbass applies for VHL membership]</ref> and was the sole representative from Ukraine competing at the elite international level. Due to the War in Donbass, the team did not compete in the [[2014–15 KHL season]]. They joined the [[Ukrainian Hockey Extra League]] for the 2015-16 season.

Borys Kolesnikov, a prominent Ukrainian politician and businessman, purchased the team in 2010,<ref name="Leshchenko">{{cite news|last=Leshchenko|first=Serhiy|title=Борис Колесніков: Чому зібрався в Києві податковий майдан? Це ж смішно!|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2011/04/22/6133454/|accessdate=10 September 2011|newspaper=Ukrayinska Pravda}}</ref> and from then until 2014 it was the most successful hockey club in Ukraine. The team takes its name from its geographic location in the heart of the Donets Basin (''Donbas'').

The club was founded in 2005 as Hockey Club Kolbiko-Donetsk and took part in the 2005-06 Ukrainian Championship by competing in the First League. After 3 years of competing only in tournament play, the club returned to the [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship]], and ascended to the Ukrainian Major League. In its 4 seasons of national competition beginning in 2008, the franchise won its first national title in 201], before joining the [[Russia]]n [[Russian Major League|Major Hockey League]] (VHL). The team also won the [[IIHF Continental Cup 2013]], becoming the first team from [[Ukraine]] to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/competition/326/news/news-singleview-club-continental-cup/recap/7491.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7028&cHash=213b662f3e |title=Donbass dethrones Dragons |publisher=Iihf.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-13}}</ref> Following the 2010–11 season, Donbass split into two teams with their affiliate, [[HC Donbass-2|Donbass-2]], representing the organization in the [[Professional Hockey League]] of Ukraine. Donbass-2 won its first title in 2012 during the inaugural PHL season, and its second title the following season for the organization. In 2013, [[Bilyi Bars]] began acting as HC Donbass' PHL affiliate, dissolving Donbass-2.<ref name=dissolving>{{cite web|title=В чемпионате Украины хоккейный клуб "Донбасс" будет представлен фарм-клубом|url=http://hcdonbass.com/news/phl/v_chempionate_ukrainy_khk_donbass_budet_predstavlen_farm_klubom/|publisher=HC Donbass|accessdate=31 May 2013}}</ref>

==Franchise history==

===Origins===
The Donbas Hockey Club founded as a successor to the original Donbass team formed in June 2001 in Sievierodonetsk.<ref name=donbasshistorygn>{{cite web|title=ХК "ДОНБАСС" (ДОНЕЦК, УКРАИНА). Вехи истории.|url=http://www.sokol.kiev.ua/plug-e-weblogs-m-page-id-3006.html|publisher=Hnezdo|accessdate=16 January 2009}}</ref> This original team, in turn, was a spiritual successor to previous Donetsk teams ''KOOPERATOR'' (from 1990) and ''NORD'' (from 1993).<ref name=donbasshistorygn /> The original Donbass club made its first appearance in 2001, participating in Belarus' entry division and the Major League of the [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship]], earning bronze medals in each league's finals. However, shortly thereafter, the team would dissolve.<ref name=hcdbhistory>{{cite web|title=Club History|url=http://old.hcdonbass.com/home/club/history?lang=en|work=HCDonbass.com|accessdate=30 September 2013}}</ref> Following the team's dissolution, most former Donbass players would go on to join [[Khimik Sievierodonetsk]] of the Ukrainian Major League.<ref name=donbasshistorygn />

===Founding and amateur competition (2005–2009)===
In December 2005 the team was re-founded by a group of local Donetsk players, then playing in Sievierodonetsk, who wanted to represent Donetsk within the league. The club was created under the name HC Kolbiko-Donetsk ({{lang-ru|Колбико-Донецк}}),<ref name=donbasshistorygn /> (after the team's sponsor, Kolbiko Meats),<ref>{{cite web|title=Championship of Ukraine 2005/06. FIRST LEAGUE|url=http://www.hockey.dp.ua/indexi.php?action=1liga_0506|publisher=HC Dnepr|date=January 2006}}</ref> and applied for participation as an amateur team in the First League, a division of the annual [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship]]. A lack of artificial ice in [[Donetsk]] forced the team to practice on a lake in Yasynuvata.<ref name=hcdbhistory/> The two-game competition took place between January 31 and February 3, 2006, and on only three weeks of practice,<ref name=hcdbhistory/> the team still managed to top its respective division, and win the finals match against the [[Kharkiv]] Olympic Reserve Sports School (SDYuSShOR). Donbass would lose to [[ATEK Kyiv]] in the following playoff, failing to earn promotion to [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|Major League]].<ref name=hcdbhistory/> Between 2006 and 2008, First League play was cancelled, but the team did compete in a series of tournaments and re-adopted the original ''Donbass'' club name, crest, and colours.

In 2008 the team returned to competition in the Ukrainian Hockey Championship, participating in the Eastern Division of the Ukrainian Major League; finishing 1st and leading the division in all offensive categories.<ref name=hclviv09>{{cite web|title=2008-2009 Ukrainian Championship|url=http://hc.lviv.ua/cat/archive120/|publisher=HC.Lviv.ua|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> Donbass was able to sweep [[HC Verony]] in the qualifying round, and [[Ekspres Lviv]] due to forfeiture, but were themselves swept by [[HC Kharkiv]] 2-0.<ref name=hclviv09/>

===Kolesnikov ownership and the Major League (2009–2011)===
[[File:Serhiy Varlamov 2012 Continental Cup.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Serhiy Varlamov was named to the 2012 All-Ukrainian All Star Team for his play with Donbass]]
The 2009-10 Ukrainian Championship for the first time saw Donbass compete at the highest level of the nation; this time, competing in the "A" Division of the Major League against the likes of repeat national champions, [[Sokil Kyiv]]. However, the rise in competition meant the team would only place 5th, and lose in the quarterfinals to [[Bilyi Bars]].
Fortunes for the club changed in 2010 when owner and prominent Ukrainian businessman Borys Kolesnikov gained full control of the team,<ref name="Leshchenko"/> making them the most financially secure team in the history of Ukrainian hockey.<ref name=isport119>{{cite news|last=Hapshenko|first=Serhiy|title=PHL. Introducing the team. HC Donbass|url=http://isport.ua/hockey/ukraine/news/163448.html|accessdate=11 September 2011|newspaper=isport|date=26 August 2011}}</ref> The first influential addition to the club was former [[Sokil Kyiv]] head coach, Aleksandr Kulikov. Under Kulikov, the team would extend a record 27-game win streak in the [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship]]. This year, Donbass was capable of sweeping HC Kharkiv, and would also in an upset victory sweep Sokil to win the national championship for the first time.<ref name=hclviv11>{{cite web|title=2010-2011 Ukrainian Championship|url=http://hc.lviv.ua/cat/archive137/|publisher=HC.Lviv.ua|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> With the win, Donbass became the first non-Kiev-based team to win the national title and began a new era of Donetsk as the epicentre of Ukrainian hockey.<ref name=hcdbhistory />

The win also secured the club's entry into the [[IIHF Continental Cup 2012|2011–12]] [[IIHF Continental Cup]], the third round of which was hosted in Donetsk. Donbass secured a berth in the Super Final, falling to the host [[Dragons de Rouen]] in the final game 5-2.<ref name=iihf2>{{cite web|title=2011-12 Continental Cup Super Final|url=http://www.iihf.com/fi/channels1112/cc/statistics.html|publisher=IIHF|accessdate=11 May 2012}}</ref> Vladimir Malevich of Donbass took home honors as the best defenseman of the tournament.<ref>http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/301/IHM301000_85I_1_0.pdf</ref>

===Russian Major League (2011–12)===
Following the 2011 Ukrainian League season, Donbass applied for and was given membership to the [[Russian Major League]]. A vast majority of championship winning roster from the 2010–11 season were cut from the roster as the team rebuilt for its freshman year in the VHL. While the primary team would compete in Russia, Donbass also iced a team in the newly formed [[Professional Hockey League]] of Ukraine, [[HC Donbass-2|Donbass-2]]. Like its parent club the year prior, Donbass-2 secured the second consecutive national title for the franchise, again defeating Sokil in the final.

In July 2011, Donbass trained for the upcoming season in Ontario and held an exhibition game against the Ontario Hockey League all-star team. Donbass won the fight-filled game 4–1 and was reported to have garnered overwhelming fan support from the local Ukrainian diaspora, accounting for approximately 500 of the 550 in attendance.<ref name=ohl>{{cite news|title=HC Donbas won the first match at the training camp in Canada|url=http://news.sevrugin.com/node/26566|accessdate=16 September 2011|date=23 July 2011}}</ref>

On September 23, 2011, owner Borys Kolesnikov elevated his role to that of team president over Serhiy Shakurov, who had held the role with the club since its inception in 2006.<ref>http://www.hcdonbass.com/home/club/founders?lang=uk</ref>

===Kontinental Hockey League===

Donbass played its first KHL game on September 6, 2012 at [[HC Slovan Bratislava|Slovan Bratislava]], winning 4-2. Evgeny Belukhin scored the first goal in Donbass' KHL history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hcdonbass.com/news/donbass_1/maksim_kvitchenko_avtor_pervoy_shayby_donbassa_v_kkhl/#2 |title=Данная новость отсутствует в выбранной языковой версии |publisher=Hcdonbass.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-13}}</ref> Due to the 2012 NHL lockout, the team was able to sign Ukrainian NHLers Ruslan Fedotenko, Alexei Ponikarovsky, and Anton Babchuk during the [[2012-13 KHL season|2012-13]] season,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hcdonbass.com/news/phl/khk_donbass_dostig_dogovorennosti_o_zaklyuchenii_kontraktov_s_fedotenko_i_ponikarovskim |title=Все новости |publisher=Hcdonbass.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-13}}</ref> with the team's budget reaching approximately $25 million.<ref>{{cite web|author=Denis Rafalsky |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/sport/ukrainian-hockey-making-comeback-313944.html |title=Ukrainian hockey making comeback |publisher=Kyivpost.com |date=2012-10-04 |accessdate=2014-02-13}}</ref> Following the season the team hosted the 2013 KHL junior draft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hcdonbass.com/news/klub/draft_v_donetske_otkryli_po_ukrainski/ |title=Драфт в Донецке открыли по-украински |publisher=Hcdonbass.com |date=2013-05-25 |accessdate=2014-02-13}}</ref>

In the 2013-14 KHL season, Donbass moved from the Bobrov to the Tarasov division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hcdonbass.com/news/khl/divizion_bobrova_popolnili_minskoe_dinamo_i_medveshchak/ |title=ХК "Донбасс" переведен в дивизион Тарасова |publisher=Hcdonbass.com |date=2013-06-17 |accessdate=2014-02-13}}</ref>

At the end of the [[2013–14 KHL season|2013–14 KHL regular season]] Donbass finished 4th in the [[Western Conference (KHL)|Western Conference]], and qualified to the playoffs of the [[Gagarin Cup]] for the first time. Donbass also set a [[KHL]] record for the fewest number of goals against in a regular season with 99.<ref>http://www.sports.ru/hockey/158398176.html</ref> In the first round, Donbass defeated [[Dinamo Riga]] 4 games to 3 before falling to [[Lev Prague]] in the Western Conference Semi-Finals 4 games to 2. In the second game of the series with Lev, the teams set a record for the longest game in the history of the [[Kontinental Hockey League]]. The game was won 4-3 by Donbass, and lasted for 126 minutes and 13 seconds before Evgeny Belukhin scored the winning goal.<ref>http://www.sports.ru/hockey/158830045.html</ref> Due to political events occurring in Ukraine at the time, the third and fourth games of the series, scheduled for Donetsk, were played in [[Bratislava]]. The series returned to Donetsk for Game 6, which Lev won 1-0 to finish Donbass's season. At the end of the season HC Donbass was named the 2013 Best Sports Club of Ukraine at the Heroes of Sports Year awards.<ref>http://hcdonbass.com/news/klub/boris_kolesnikov_komanda_goda_zasluga_vsekh_igrokov_i_trenerov_donbassa/</ref>

On the night of May 26, 2014 Druzhba Arena was ransacked by pro-Russian militants of the Donetsk People's Republic as part of the ongoing wave of violence in Ukraine. The men looted the arena, stealing televisions, safety deposit boxes, equipment and a company car before destroying surveillance equipment – after which they set the arena on fire. The team's statement was issued to the public, condemning the so-called Donetsk Republic as "a real gang of Somali pirates."<ref>{{cite news|last=Babiak|first=Mat|title=Pro-Russian Gunmen Loot & Torch HC Donbass Arena|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2014/05/27/hc-donbass-arena-fire-terrorists/|newspaper=Euromaidan Press|date=27 May 2014}}</ref> HC Donbass initially expected the arena to be operational within 90 days and fully restored by the start of the KHL season,<ref>http://hcdonbass.com/news/klub/obrashchenie_prezidenta_khk_donbass_borisa_kolesnikova/</ref> which never happened.

====Kalmius Arena====
Donbass's new home, Kalmius Arena,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kalmius-arena.com/ |title=Кальмиус Арена (Донецк): Веб-камеры, фото |publisher=Kalmius-arena.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-13}}</ref> will seat 12,800 for hockey.<ref>http://www.hcdonbass.com/home/news/news/18563?lang=ru</ref> It was initially expected to be operational by the 2014-15 season, although the project is currently on hold.<ref name="Hc.lviv.ua">{{cite web|url=http://hc.lviv.ua/newsukr/4963.htm |title=Борис Колесников: "Хоккею в Украине нужно еще 5-7 лет" ||| Хокейний клуб Леви (Львів) - офіційний сайт |publisher=Hc.lviv.ua |date= |accessdate=2014-02-13}}</ref>

=== 2014/15 suspension of operations ===
On June 18, 2014, the KHL President Alexander Medvedev met with the leadership of Donbass to discuss the team's situation. The parties agreed that HC Donbass would take a one-year "sabbatical" from operations.<ref name="Sabbatical">{{cite web|url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/24270450/east-ukraine-ice-hockey-team-to-skip-season-over-unrest/|title=East Ukraine ice hockey team to skip season over unrest|publisher=Agence France Presse via Yahoo! 7 Sports|date=2014-06-18}}</ref> The team bought an equity stake in the league and, as a result, would theoretically be guaranteed a place in the competition for the 2015-16 season, although the ongoing War in Donbass combined with the league's financial situation leave the future uncertain. In order to ensure the team's ability to compete upon its return, all rosters and contracts have been frozen. Players and coaches affected by the suspension were permitted to sign one-year contracts with other clubs but otherwise remain under contract to Donbass.<ref name="KHL">{{cite web|url=http://www.khl.ru/news/2014/06/18/224977.html|title="Донбасс" берет "академический отпуск"|publisher=KHL|date=2014-06-18}}</ref>

=== Resumed operation (2015–16) ===
Instead of rejoining the KHL, the club and the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine (FHU) signed a contract about the participation of the team in the [[Ukrainian Hockey Extra League]] from the 2015-16 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hel.net.ua/|title=www.hel.net.ua |accessdate=8 January 2016 }}</ref> The team now plays their home games at the Altair Arena, in Druzhkivka, 90 km from Donetsk.<ref name="es"/>

Anatoliy Stepanischev became the main coach of the club. The contract with 54-years-old Ukrainian specialist was made for a period of one year. Evgeniy Brul’ – the coach of goalkeepers, became the main assistant of the Stepanischev, and Sergey Petrov became a general manager of the team.

21 Ukrainian ice-hockey players arrived to the first training session of the team. After pre-season training session in Svyatogorsk (Donetsk region), the team arrived to Druzhkovka, where, within the scope of Ukrainian Hockey Extra League 2015-16 preparation, the 4th in the club history pre-season tournament [[Donbass Open Cup]] was organized. 22 hockey players entered into Donbass team during the pre-season tournament, among them there were such names as Sergey Varlamov, Denis Kochetkov and Viktor Zaharov. Due to such team stuff, Donbass secondly won the Cup, outclassed such teams as [[Bilyi Bars]] from Belaya Tserkov, [[Vityaz Kharkiv]] and [[HK Kremenchuk]] from the Poltava region.

Prior to the 2015-16 Ukrainian Hockey Extra League season, Donbass had conducted three matches in [[Latvia]], playing against local teams [[HK Mogo]], [[HK Zemgale]] and [[HK Kurbads]], winning two out of three games. On the 26th of September the club held its first match within the scope of the national championship, which also involved another seven teams this season. Before the New Year Anatoliy Stepanichev’s team also held two unofficial games abroad in Belarus and finished that year being in the lead of the Ukrainian championship table.

HC Donbas continued to lead in the regular season, and at the same time having renewed club record of the greatest wins. Within the scope of away game, [[Yunost Kharkiv]] was beaten with a score of 27-1. The club won the regular season, with the nearest competitor 7 points behind. The semifinal playoff series against [[Vityaz Kharkiv]], Donbass completed for the minimum three games (5-2, 6-1 and 3-1). In the final of season Donetsk team had to play against the second team of the regular season – [[Generals Kyiv]]. In the final, Donbass won in four straigth games (2-1, 3-2, 2-1 and 3-1) and became champions of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hel.net.ua/2016/04/01/v-reshayushhem-matche-plej-off-donbass-oderzhal-pobedu-nad-dzheneralz/ |title=В решающем матче плей-офф «Донбасс» одержал победу над «Дженералз» |accessdate=1 April 2016 }}</ref>

==Team identity==

===Logo===
The team's original colours of 2001 were blue and grey and featured a logo representing a hockey puck, with a hockey stick overlain. On November 14, 2008 the club changed their logo and team colours to the current scheme of red, black, and white. As part of this change, the team's name was changed from the Ukrainian spelling (Хокейний Клуб Донбас, ''Khokeinyi Klub Donbas'') to Russian (Хоккейный Клуб Донбасс, ''Khokkeynyi Klub Donbass''). The team again altered its logo in 2010, where it remains currently. The modern Donbass logos feature prominently two spoil tips, which represent the city's strong ties to the steel and coal mining industry. The change from a metallic script to white is meant to symbolize "a blank page".<ref name=hcdonbasslogo>{{cite web|title=Club Logo|url=http://hcdonbass.com/home/club/attributes?lang=en|work=HCDonbass.com|accessdate=11 September 2011}}</ref>
<gallery class="center" widths="150px" heights="120px">

Image:HCDonbasold.png|Original Donbass logo, in English, 2001–02, 2006–08
Image:HCDonbasold2.png|Second Donbass logo, in Russian, 2008–11
Image:HC Donbass.png|Current logo, 2011–Present
</gallery>

==Honours==

===Ukraine===
*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|Ukrainian Hockey Championship Regular Season]]
** [[File:Gold medal icon.png|15px]] '''Winners (2):''' [[2010–11 UkHL season|2010-11]], [[2015–16 Ukrainian Hockey Extra League season|2015-16]]

*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|Ukrainian Hockey Championship Playoffs]]
** [[File:Gold medal icon.png|15px]] '''Winners (2):''' [[2010–11 UkHL season|2011]], [[2015–16 Ukrainian Hockey Extra League season|2015-16]]

====Affiliate honours====
Farm-club [[HC Donbass-2]]:
*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|Ukrainian Professional Hockey League Regular Season]]
** [[File:Silver medal icon.png|15px]] '''Runners-Up (1):''' [[2011–12 Professional Hockey League season|2011-12]]

*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|Ukrainian Professional Hockey League Playoffs]]
** [[File:Gold medal icon.png|15px]] '''Winners (2):''' [[2011–12 Professional Hockey League season|2012]], [[2012–13 Professional Hockey League season|2013]]

Farm-club [[Bilyi Bars]]:
*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|Ukrainian Professional Hockey League Regular Season]]
** [[File:Silver medal icon.png|15px]] '''Runners-Up (1):''' [[2013–14 Ukrainian Hockey Championship|2013-14]]

*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|Ukrainian Professional Hockey League Playoffs]]
** [[File:Silver medal icon.png|15px]] '''Runners-Up (1):''' [[2013–14 Ukrainian Hockey Championship|2014]]

===Europe===
* [[IIHF Continental Cup]]
** [[File:Gold medal icon.png|15px]] '''Winners (1):''' [[IIHF Continental Cup 2013|2013]]
** [[File:Silver medal icon.png|15px]] '''Runners-Up (1):''' [[IIHF Continental Cup 2014|2014]]
** [[File:Bronze medal icon.png|15px]] '''Third place (1):''' [[IIHF Continental Cup 2012|2012]]

==Seasons and records==

===Season by season results===
{{Main|List of HC Donbass seasons}}

===League history and results===
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:676 height:60
PlotArea = left:10 right:10 bottom:30 top:10
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/2005 till:01/07/2016
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:2005
Colors =
id:elite value:rgb(0.4,0.6,1)
id:1 value:rgb(0.5,0.8,0.5)
id:1b value:rgb(0.6,0.9,0.6)
id:2 value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.3)
id:2b value:rgb(1,1,0.4)
id:3 value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.1)
id:4 value:rgb(0.9,0.1,0.1)
id:champ value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.6)

PlotData=
bar:Position width:15 color:white align:center

from:01/07/2005 till:01/07/2006 shift:(0,-4) text:2
from:01/07/2006 till:01/07/2007 shift:(0,-4) text:
from:01/07/2007 till:01/07/2008 shift:(0,-4) text:
from:01/07/2008 till:01/07/2009 shift:(0,-4) text:6
from:01/07/2009 till:01/07/2010 shift:(0,-4) text:5
from:01/07/2010 till:01/07/2011 shift:(0,-4) text:1
from:01/07/2011 till:01/07/2012 shift:(0,-4) text:3
from:01/07/2012 till:01/07/2013 shift:(0,-4) text:[[2012–13 KHL season|18]]
from:01/07/2013 till:01/07/2014 shift:(0,-4) text:[[2012–13 KHL season|6]]
from:01/07/2014 till:01/07/2015 shift:(0,-4) text:
from:01/07/2015 till:01/07/2016 shift:(0,-4) text:[[2015–16 Ukrainian Hockey Extra League season|1]]

from:01/07/2005 till:01/07/2006 color:4 shift:(0,13) text: "[[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|UKR-2]]"
from:01/07/2008 till:01/07/2009 color:4 shift:(0,13) text: "[[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|UKR-East]]"
from:01/07/2009 till:01/07/2011 color:3 shift:(0,13) text: "[[Ukrainian Hockey Championship|UKR]]"
from:01/07/2011 till:01/07/2012 color:2 shift:(0,13) text: "[[Russian Major League|VHL]]"
from:01/07/2012 till:01/07/2014 color:1 shift:(0,13) text: "[[Kontinental Hockey League|KHL]]"
from:01/07/2015 till:01/07/2016 color:3 shift:(0,13) text: "[[Ukrainian Hockey Extra League|HEL]]"
</timeline>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [http://hcdonbass.com Official website]
* [http://old.hcdonbass.com/home?lang=en Old official website archive]
* [http://eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=4209 Team roster and statistics]

{{Wikipedia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Donbass}}
[[Category:Ice hockey teams in Ukraine]]