2024/25: Goals of the season

12 April 2025

The 2024/25 campaign was Kunlun’s most productive in history. With 171 goals scored, we set a new record, up 12 from last year’s 159. And, of course, there were some highlight reel moments along the way. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and pick out 10 of the best from the season just gone.

10) Yury Pautov vs Amur (Sep. 15)

A slightly sentimental choice here. The early stages of the season marked the closing days of two legendary Dragons’ time in the first team. And both were involved in this goal as Yury Pautov scored his first for the club. Tyler Wong got the assist, combining with Pautov on the left, then going behind the net to set up a shot for the defenseman. And Brandon Yip’s presence on the slot forced Ivan Mishchenko into a misjudged attempted clearance that sliced the puck into the Amur net. This game saw Wonger collect the last of his 131 points for Red Star, while Yip’s 185 points from 310 games remain a club record.

9) Yaroslav Likhachyov vs Dynamo Moscow (Dec. 1)

First night nerves? Not an issue. At least, not for Yaroslav Likhachyov. The 22-year-old forward joined us in mid-season on loan from Lokomotiv and went straight into action in a tough game at Dynamo. And that turned out to be the perfect stage to introduce himself properly to Red Star’s fans. With four seconds on the clock, and the Blue-and-Whites a goal to the good, the moment arrived. Likhachyov grabbed a sensational debut goal, taking the game to overtime and immediately earning a point for his new team.

8) Stepan Zvyagin vs Dinamo Minsk (March 9)

Another loan player, this time up against his permanent employer. That would be a story in itself, but Stepan’s neatly chipped finish to the top shelf was none too shabby either. And we haven’t even talked about the technique on display from Jan Drozg to send Zvyagin clear of Dillon Dube for the finish. That goal, coming hard on the heels of a Luke Lockhart effort, put us up 2-1 in the game but the lead did not hold.

7) Rourke Chartier vs SKA (Nov. 4)

This was straight out of the playbook. Rourke won the draw against Mikhail Vorobyov and then had to wriggle free of his opponent’s clutches. While he was doing that, the puck went back to Ryan Merkley at the point. He fired in the shot just as Chartier was arriving in acres of space on the doorstep to steer the puck home for an overtime winner. Perfectly planned, perfectly executed – and a first ever home win over SKA in the KHL.

6) Tyler Graovac vs Sochi (Feb. 24)

This was the first of Tyler’s first hat-trick for Red Star, and it came off a superb play by Jayden Halbgewachs. Picking up possession in his own zone, Jayden got his wheels turning to drive through the heart of the Sochi defense. Opposing players were left floundering in his wake as Halbgewachs got to the net and fired a shot into ???? pads. The rush deserved a goal and got it as Graovac followed up to pot the rebound. By the end of the evening, Gravy was the fifth KRS player to record a hat-trick, Jayden had two assists, and we won 5-2.

5) Kyle Rau vs Salavat Yulaev (Feb. 11)

Kyle Rau kept up the family tradition of goals for Red Star this season, following in the footsteps of his brother Chad. And this one, to seal our second win of the campaign against Salavat Yulaev, was possibly the pick of the bunch. Rau’s contribution was notable: winning possession in the corner, reigniting the offense, then getting into position between the hash marks to steer the puck home. But Adam Clendening’s work also deserves plenty of applause for a fantastic feed.

4) Spencer Foo vs Vityaz (Jan. 3)

What a way to start the New Year! Our first game of 2025 had the Dragons hunting down a club record winning streak. And, fittingly, captain and leading goalscorer Spencer Foo took a big step towards getting us there with this OT winner against Vityaz. Racing onto Joey Duszak’s pass, Spencer had plenty to do. But a fake spin-o-rama wrongfooted Ruslan Pedan and opened a lane for a top shelf finish worthy of winning any game.

3) Nail Yakupov vs Amur (Sep. 6)

Although he wasn’t with us for long, Nail Yakupov left some great memories. Of his seven goals for the Dragons, this was perhaps his best. Not just for the quality of the play, an extended tour of the Amur zone as the visiting defense struggled get near him. Nor the blistering backhand finish, impressive as it was. But also the context – an OT winner and the second time in two games that Nail the fire-breathing Dragon had potted a game-winner for his new club.

2) Tomas Jurco vs Amur (Jan. 5)

That winning streak continued in the next game, with this beauty from Tomas Jurco making the breakthrough. It was a timely effort at the start of the second period, belatedly reaping the rewards of a dominant display in a goalless opening frame. The play was all about teamwork, with Likhachyov, Lockhart and Graovac sending the puck fizzing around the Tigers’ zone before Jurco supplied an emphatic finish. Amur’s defense was in a spin, and remained dizzy to the end of a 5-0 Red Star win.

1) Luke Lockhart vs SKA (Feb. 22)

And this one had more than a touch of class about it. Luke did it all by himself on the PK, forcing a turnover in our zone to start the play. Alexander Sharov joined him on a two-man rush, but Lockie didn’t need the help this time. Instead, he dangled his way around Alexander Nikishin before beating the goalie to put us up for the first time in the game. And that set the Dragons on the way to a 6-4 win, our third victory of the season against SKA.