Fans blast Admiral captain Shulak for own goal amid losing streak

An own goal by Admiral hockey club captain Libor Shulak in a match against Kazan«s Ak Bars and the ongoing losing streak have sparked a real explosion of indignation among fans of the Primorye team. After a 2:5 home defeat, fans massively unleashed sharp criticism on the players, coaching staff, and club management, leaving hundreds of emotional comments on social media.

The match, held in Vladivostok on 19 January, was Admiral«s sixth consecutive loss after the appointment of new head coach Oleg Bratash. The climax of the game was an episode in the third period when, during a power play, team captain Libor Shulak deflected the puck into his own net.

After that, the score became 2:4, and the hosts« attempts to save the match were unsuccessful — the final 2:5 only intensified the feeling of hopelessness.

Fans were particularly outraged that the fatal mistake occurred precisely at the moment when the team should have been cutting the deficit. As fans note, the own goal became the quintessence of the entire season.

“A normal captain wouldn«t have done that…,” wrote user roman_pandaman in comments under the match publication.

“The forward can«t — Shulak will help,” ironized nikita_kutcaev, hinting at the defender»s own goal.

“Beat your own to scare the others. It will be the best quirky goal of the week. If not the whole season,” stated one of the fans with the nickname PalAndreych in Admiral«s Telegram channel.

Tactical decisions by the coaching staff also came under criticism.

“Was the coaching staff afraid until the last moment that they would lose by three goals, not two? Why not put out a sixth player on the power play?” outraged leshaslam.

Many fans agreed that the problem goes far beyond one episode. Against the backdrop of the sixth consecutive loss, some Primorye residents openly expressed disappointment, loss of emotional connection with the club, and loss of faith in the team.

“So what«s strange, in every match in the third period the team just falls apart,” wrote kirillfedorov.kf.

“To be honest, I stopped watching, it«s upsetting… I gave away all the merchandise,” shared nataleiloo, adding that she still hopes to come to the arena “not in vain” one day.

“Fire everyone, don«t take a single one for the new season! HC Admiral needs a new team,” wrote kdv1775_.

Some fans allowed themselves harsh irony: “Shouldn«t the players work as loaders, taxi drivers, cooks? Maybe enlightenment will come to their heads,” wrote markoslav.

“Admiral is a cash cow, easy points for any team,” supported the commentators moooomei.

At the same time, part of the audience tried to defend Admiral HC captain Libor Shulak, pointing to the human factor.

“Libor is an excellent player, but people forget that he is also human and can make mistakes,” wrote user Uncle Badya, emphasizing that the key error was related to a risky pass near his own goal, and risky decisions in one«s zone almost “always end in punishment.”

Nevertheless, even Shulak«s defenders admit that a single mistake only exposed deeper problems.

“If it weren«t for that stupid pass, there wouldn»t be such resonance. But the team as a whole doesn«t hold the game,” fans agreed, adding that the captain tried to redeem himself in the next attack, but the puck “treacherously didn»t go in.”

A special place in the discussions was taken by the topic of the dismissal of former head coach Leonid Tambiev. Many fans believe that this decision became the starting point of the crisis.

“Under Tambiev, the team found its game, spectators returned, and we again cheered with pleasure. Now we face records of losing streaks,” wrote norov_m_s_.

“As soon as Tambiev had difficulties, instead of support, «vultures» swooped down on the team and simply killed it by firing the coach,” noted baichorov_m_s_.

After the defeat to Ak Bars, Admiral remains in last, 11th place in the KHL Eastern Conference. As of 20 January, the team occupies 20th place in the overall league table, with 34 points. In the 2025/2026 season, the «sailors» have played 45 matches, won only 9 in regulation time, and conceded 140 goals with 101 scored.

The appointment of Oleg Bratash, whose contract is signed until the end of the 2026/27 season, has not yet brought the expected results. The new mentor faces the task of leading the team out of a prolonged crisis and regaining the trust of fans, but against the backdrop of a series of defeats and the emotional reaction of fans, this is becoming increasingly difficult.

For many, the captain«s own goal in the match with Ak Bars was not a random mistake, but a symbol of the season in which Admiral is rapidly losing not only points, but also the support of the stands.

Earlier, we listed for readers the names of the highest-paid players of Admiral and found out what salaries the «sailors» will receive in 2026. Details can be read via the link.