The Seventh Player

What it’s about

The Builder hockey club was once successful, with its owner dreaming of promotion to the KHL. But a game crisis has left the team at the bottom of the standings, unable to climb out. With the club on the verge of closure along with its arena, the owner makes a surprising decision: he appoints a figure skating coach as the new director. The central conflict is whether this ex-figure skater can unite the players, connect them with the fans—traditionally considered the sixth player on the ice—and become the club's 'seventh player' by succeeding at the managerial table.

What hooks you

Anton Lapenko leads the cast as Артем, with Grigory Vernik as Денис and Nikolay Fomenko as Михаил Альшевский. Directed by Sergey Pikalov, the series blends drama, sports, and comedy. The premise of a figure skating coach taking over a hockey club offers a fresh angle on sports management stories.

Who it’s for

It will appeal to those who like sports stories with a comedic twist and underdog narratives. It will also attract viewers who enjoy character-driven dramas about teamwork and unconventional leadership.