RUSSIA: ICE HOCKEY - Former world and OIympic champion Bykov named Russia's national ice hockey coach.

Record ID: 589583

  • Title: RUSSIA: ICE HOCKEY - Former world and OIympic champion Bykov named Russia's national ice hockey coach.
  • Date: 12th August 2006
  • Summary: EXTERIOR OF THE RUSSIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HEADQUARTERS CLOSE OF RUSSIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE SIGN OUTSIDE BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 27th August 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA798H5JWFI3HEKX5ISQOTOZFLH
  • Story Text: Former world and Olympic ice hockey champion Vyacheslav Bykov was named head coach of the Russian national team on Friday (August 11).
    The 46-year-old succeeds Vladimir Krikunov, who resigned in May after Russia's disappointing showing at the world championship in Riga.
    Next year's world championship will be held in Moscow and the Russians will be hoping to break an extended title drought. Russia has won a record 23 world and eight Olympic gold medals, but has not captured a major title since the 1993 world championships.
    Some experts had proposed hiring a foreign coach, but Russian hockey chief Vladislav Tretyak ruled that out.
    Bykov got the job only after Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, who led AK Bars Kazan to the Russian league title last season, turned down an offer to coach the national team.
    The new coach told journalists in Moscow on Friday that his priority was to assemble a national squad.
    Bykov also commented: "Our Soviet ice hockey used to be one of the best in the world and so I have high ambition, so we will aim to be the best and to achieve first place and that would be the best result."
    Bykov had a stellar playing career, winning 10 Soviet league titles with CSKA Moscow and five world and two Olympic titles. He also played in Switzerland.
    The former forward returned to Russia two years ago to coach Superleague side CSKA Moscow and will combine club and national coaching duties.
    It was also announced on Friday that another Superleague side, Spartak Moscow, has gone out of business due to mounting debts. The once-dominant club, which won four Soviet titles in the 1960s and 70s, has had huge financial problems in recent years.
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