Olga Filipchik

The Stroitel club was once a successful team, and its owner dreamed of a chance to outgrow its league and advance to the KHL. But the players and coaches fell into a slump, and the team found itself at the bottom of the standings and couldn't climb back up. Now it seems easier to close the club and its arena. Unsure of its future, the Stroitel owner has appointed a figure skating coach as director. The club's survival now depends on how well the former figure skater can unite the players, connect them with the fans, who are considered a sixth man on the ice, and become the club's "seventh man," achieving success at the management table.

The Stroitel club was once a successful team, and its owner dreamed of a chance to outgrow its league and advance to the KHL. But the players and coaches fell into a slump, and the team found itself at the bottom of the standings and couldn't climb back up. Now it seems easier to close the club and its arena. Unsure of its future, the Stroitel owner has appointed a figure skating coach as director. The club's survival now depends on how well the former figure skater can unite the players, connect them with the fans, who are considered a sixth man on the ice, and become the club's "seventh man," achieving success at the management table.