The Junior League (Russian: Молодёжка, romanized: Molodezhka) is a Russian TV series which airs on STS. The series tells the story of a junior hockey club named The Bears (Russian: МедведиMedvedi). The series was produced by Fyodor Bondarchuk and his Art Pictures Studio.[2]
The first season was aired beginning on October 7, 2013. The second season was aired starting on November 17, 2014. The third season started filming since April 27, 2015, to October 19, 2015,[2] and was aired since October 26, 2015, to February 26, 2016. The fourth season is aired on STS since October 17, 2016.[3]
On November 19, 2016, the series was officially greenlighted for a 40-webisode fifth season.[4] The series would then air a 5th season starting autumn 2017.
The events take place in the town of Podolsk when The Bears hockey club hires a new coach, Sergei Makeyev, a former National Hockey League player, who sets out to get the club to the Junior Hockey League and make The Bears a successful team. It will be not easy, because the players do not feel as a whole, and work as individuals. In addition, they have other things to do: family, love life, and studies.
There are also those who are trying as quickly as possible to get rid of the new coach.[2]
Alexander Sokolovsky as Yegor "Shchuka" Andreyevich Shchukin, is a center forward, player number 10, The Bears` captain and main character. After injury, Yegor began to train amateur hockey team Nivea Men. Since episode 40, season 3, he becomes a coach of the team.
Makar Zaporozhsky as Dmitry "Dima" Andreyevich Shchukin, is a goaltender, player number 1 and Yegor's brother. In episode 3, season 2, Dima had to leave The Bears forever because of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In episode 6, season 2, he went in Moscow to study in Bauman University
Ivan Zhvakin as Alexander "Kostyor" Stanislavovich Kostrov, is a forward, player number 9
Ivan Dubrovsky as Vadim "Nazar" Yurievich Nazarov, is a forward, player number 16
Ivan Mulin as Anton Vladimirovich Antipov, is a forward, player number 17
Vlad Kanopka as Andrei "Kisly" Viktorovich Kislyak, is a forward, player number 24
Igor Ogurtsov as Semyon Nikolayevich Bakin, is a goaltender, player number 38
Ilya Korobko as Mikhail Vasilievich Ponomaryov, is a defenceman, player number 95
Mikhail Konov as Petrovsky
Anton Mishin as Artyom Vorobyov, is a goalkeeper (since season 2, episodes 6 to 40)
Matvei Zubalevich as Alexei "Smirny" Petrovich Smirnov, is a defenseman, player number 13 (since episode 13, season 2)
Nikolai Alexeyev as Igor Gavrilov
Nikita Yelenev as Denis Vasiliev, is a forward, player number 8 (since episode 6, season 3)
Mikhail Gavrilov as Yevgeny "Tsar" Andreyevich Tsaryov, is a center forward, player number 45 (since episode 1, season 3)
Pyotr Kovrizhnykh as Ilya "Beryoza" Berezin, is a forward, player number 47, former player of hockey club The Torch (since season 4)[5]
Andriy Pinzaru as Danila Bondar, is a defenseman, player number 11, former player of hockey club The Torch (since season 4)[5]
Vladimir Steklov as Ilya Romanovich Pakhomov, is an owner and the general sponsor of the hockey team The Bears
Vladimir Sterzhakov as Semyon Valerievich Krasnitsky, is a manager of the hockey club Ice Kings
Maxim Shchyogolev as Alexander Valerievich Tochilin, is a former player of Czech hockey club Vityaz and second coach of The Bears
Andrei Merzlikin as Maxim "Russian Bonecrusher" Eduardovich Streltsov, is a head coach of the hockey team Ice Kings, a former player of Canadian ice hockey club Ottawa Senators
Mikhail Zhigalov as Stepan Arkadevich Zharsky, is a former coach of The Bears
The hockey scenes (in seasons 1 and 2) were managed by Yevgeny Polynskikh, who previously worked with Canadian specialists on the set of the movie Legend №17.
In October 2013, Eksmo released first book called "Molodezhka:The First Match" (Russian: Молодёжка.Первый матч) written by Yekaterina Nevolina based on the first season of the series.[6] On January 12, 2015, Eksmo released second book called "Molodezhka:Chance for a Victory" (Russian: Молодёжка.Шанс на победу) written by Anna Antonova based on the second season of the series.[7]
