Shanghai Dragons (ice hockey)
| Shanghai Dragons | |
|---|---|
| City | Shanghai, China Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| League | KHL |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | Tarasov |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Home arena | SKA Arena (capacity: 22,500) |
| Colours | |
| General manager | Igor Varitsky |
| Head coach | Gerard Gallant |
| Captain | Spencer Foo |
| Website | hc-dragons |
| Franchise history | |
| 2016–2025 | Kunlun Red Star |
| 2025–present | Shanghai Dragons |
| Current season | |
The Shanghai Dragons (Chinese: 上海龙之队; pinyin: Shànghǎi Lóngzhīduì) are a professional ice hockey team based in Shanghai, China. It is a member of the Tarasov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The club joined the KHL as Kunlun Red Star prior to the 2016–17 season, moving to Shanghai on 7 August 2025.[1]
History
The team, originally known as Kunlun Red Star, was originally established as part of China's preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.[2] In March 2016, representatives of Kunlun Red Star and the KHL signed a protocol of intent to have a Chinese-based team enter the KHL. The protocol was signed by the representative from the Russian Ice Hockey Federation Vladislav Tretiak, the chairman of the KHL Gennady Timchenko, and the board of Kunlun Red Star. In mid-April, the president of IIHF, René Fasel, shared his opinion about the intention of the Chinese club to join the KHL, expressing hope that this would help China bring their hockey to a higher level.[3] However, despite the high ambitions, the team only made the playoffs once, in 2017, and haven't played a game in China since the 2019–20 KHL season due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in China.
After playing their games in Mytishchi Arena outside of Moscow since August 2020, the team announced they were going to play their home games at SKA Arena in Saint Petersburg for the 2025–26 KHL season, with the intent on returning to China the next year.
On 7 August 2025, with Kunlun undergoing new ownership, the club announced they would rebrand as the Shanghai Dragons, and relocate from Beijing to Shanghai, while still being initially based in St. Petersburg, Russia.[4] Former Vityaz executive was brought in place as the Shanghai's new General Manager and on 13 August 2025, the high-profile hiring of former NHL head coach Gerard Gallant to lead the club on the ice.[5][6]
The Shanghai Dragons played their first game under the new name on 29 August 2025, defeating HC Spartak Moscow 3–2 in a preseason tournament.[7] They played their first regular season game on 6 September, defeating SKA Saint Petersburg 7–4.[8]
Players
Current roster
Updated 22 August 2025.[9][10]
References
- ^ "Unleashing The Dragon: Meet The New KHL Franchise - Shanghai Dragons". Kunlun Red Star. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- ^ Boka, Tom (16 March 2025). "China Hockey Team at the 2022 Olympics – Part I: How it All Began". AsianIceHockey.com. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Фазель: я был бы счастлив, если бы русские помогли китайцам в развитии хоккея (in Russian). 16 April 2016. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- ^ "KHL welcomes Shanghai Dragons for 2025-26 season" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- ^ "Enter the Dragons" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- ^ "Gerard Gallant named head coach of the Shanghai Dragons". Shanghai Dragons. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ "Traktor, Magnitka triumph on home ice; Shanghai Dragons start with win". Kontinental Hockey League. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Flying start for Dragons, Nikitin returns with big win". Kontinental Hockey League. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Shanghai Dragons current roster". eliteprospects.com. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ^ "Shanghai Dragons current roster" (in Russian). Shangahi Dragons. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.