This archive report was first published on 21 September 2019.
On September 11, 2019, a Russian hockey team, Izhstal Izhevsk, made headlines after awarding their goalkeeper, Saveli Kononov, an AK-47 for being named player of the match.
According to reports, the team's manager walked into the changing room with the AK-47, cocked it, and announced that it would be awarded to the best player chosen by his colleagues.
The manager reportedly claimed that this innovative tradition would boost the atmosphere within the team before handing the firearm over to the captain to name its first recipient.
As the city of Izhevsk is known for producing one of the world's most recognizable rifles, the Kalashnikov, the team's head coach, Ramil Saifullin, saw fit to introduce a new tradition.
Coach Saifullin told the squad, 'Lads, today we too are introducing a tradition. As we live in an arms manufacturing city, the city of the Kalashnikov, every match you will for yourselves name the best player, and the previous [recipient] will hand it over to him.'
After stopping 36 of the 38 shots he faced during the match, Kononov was presented with his new gun in the team's dressing room.
