| The November break in the national hockey championship does not promise calm Holiday moods are increasingly permeating the Super League. There is very little left before the desired first break in the championship - only two rounds, after which 11 days off are planned in the brutal game schedule. There will be time to take a breath and restore strength. Now complaints about players’ fatigue have become a common theme in coaches’ statements. Another important sign of the beginning of November will be the pre-application campaign. And the tournament fate of most teams will largely depend on the quality of selection work. All clubs need to strengthen their individual positions, with the possible exception of Dynamo, which continues to lead the standings.
In recent days, the greatest attention of hockey fans has been focused on Yaroslavl and Omsk. During the off-season, Lokomotiv and Avangard were headed by young coaches who made their debut as mentors of Super League clubs - Vladimir Yurzinov Jr. and Sergei Gersonsky. The amazing similarity of their destinies is characterized by a paraphrased saying: they worked briefly and unhappily, but “died” on the same day. In both teams, the new government did not seem to please the experienced players very much, which immediately affected the results. By the end of October, the crisis situation in Yaroslavl and Omsk reached its climax. Prompt surgical intervention was required. On October 23, coach resignations occurred at Lokomotiv and Avangard simultaneously (for the first time in our history!). And in just a month and a half of the championship, mentors have already changed in five clubs. The pace is not only record-breaking, but also alarming. With such an attitude towards the coaching corps, it is naive to expect work for the future. The ball is ruled by His Majesty the immediate result.
Avangard found a replacement for Gersonsky instantly. And the figure of the successor suited everyone - both players and fans. Valery Belousov does not need any special recommendations; it is enough to recall the recent great successes of Magnitogorsk under his leadership. Two victories of the Urals in the Russian Championship and two triumphs in the Euroleague ensured Metallurg the title of the flagship of continental hockey at the turn of two centuries.
Belousov's debut on the banks of the Irtysh turned out to be exemplary. And demonstrative. Two convincing victories of Avangard over Ak Bars and Neftekhimik with an eloquent total score of 11:3 once again demonstrated the potential of the Omsk club. The miraculous transformation of the team adds arguments in favor of the version that the players “helped” Gersonsky leave the post of head coach. Although both sides stubbornly deny the fact of the conflict between them.
The ending of the Yaroslavl story differs significantly from the Omsk epic. The search for a new head coach continues to this day. After the release of Vladimir Yurzinov, Vladimir Kryuchkov was urgently called to the role of “firefighter” from Ufa, but the name of his current position is fairly spoiled by the prefix “acting.” And apparently, he is not destined to lead the team for long. Most likely, Lokomotiv will be led by a specialist from abroad during the November break. It is known that the Yaroslavl team contacted three famous coaches - Canadians Scotty Bowman and Larry Robinson, Finn Hannu Aravirta. But they all refused to accept the team for various reasons. Among other candidates are the names of the Czechs Ivan Hlinka and Jan Neliba, coaches from the USA, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
It is possible that our specialist will become Lokomotiv’s new coach. At least it is known that on the day of receiving the invitation from Omsk, representatives of two more super league clubs called Valery Belousov with offers. It is quite possible that Lokomotiv’s managers were among them. Many consider Severstal to be the third contender for Belousov. Four defeats in a row have dropped the silver medalist of the last championship to 11th place, and it is possible that Cherepovets’ helmsman Sergei Mikhalev will soon have to look for a job. Moreover, the break in the championship is considered the optimal time for replacements on the coaching bridge. In addition, such an eminent specialist as Gennady Tsygurov, who on October 6 parted ways with Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo, still remains idle on the hockey labor exchange.
Super League I V V N PO P S H O | 1. Dynamo | 19 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 44--25 | 41 | | 2. "Ak Bars" | 19 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 54--36 | 37 | | 3. CSKA | 19 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 43--32 | 35 | | 4. “Metallurg” Mg | 19 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 50--42 | 35 | | 5. Lada | 18 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 36--25 | 34 | | 6. "Lokomotiv" | 19 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 47--42 | 32 | | 7. “Salavat Yulaev” | 18 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 45--38 | 31 | | 8. “Metallurg” Nk | 19 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 44--37 | 31 | | 9. "Neftekhimik" | 19 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 46--39 | 29 | | 10. "Vanguard" | 18 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 44--42 | 24 | | 11. Severstal | 19 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 39--39 | 24 | | 12. SKA | 19 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 38--49 | 23 | | 13. "Siberia" | 19 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 35--39 | 20 | | 14. "Cupid" | 19 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 32--46 | 18 | | 15. "Torpedo" | 19 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 28--61 | 10 | | 16. "Chemist" | 18 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 31--64 | 8 |
Victor SHUMOV
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