Oleg Bratash becomes head coach of the Russian U20 national team after having serves as assistant coach for three years.
photo: Matt Zambonin / HHOF-IIHF Images
The Russian Ice Hockey Federation has named Oleg Bratash as new head coach of the Russian U20 national team that will compete at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Canada in two months.
The 55-year-old played two World Juniors as a goalkeeper with the Soviet U20 national team winning gold in 1986 and bronze in 1985.
He has been in the coaching staff of various teams in the Russian national team program since 2015 including as assistant coach at three IIHF World Junior Championships (2016, 2017, 2018). For five years he was the head coach of the reserve national team that competes in international breaks at events such as the Deutschland Cup in Germany and NaturEnergie Challenge in Switzerland – a position that will be taken by Igor Larionov, who was the U20 national team head coach last season and will thus swap roles with Bratash.
“The changes to the coaches have been made in order to prepare more effectively for the upcoming tournaments,” said Russian Ice Hockey Federation President Vladislav Tretiak.
“Igor Larionov's experience will help the reserve players for the senior national team train well. Oleg Bratash has been working with Russian national teams for many years, and he's achieved success with junior teams at club level.”
Russia will play the upcoming World Juniors in Group A in Red Deer against the United States, Sweden, Slovakia and Switzerland.
Prior to travelling to Canada, the Russian U20 national team will compete at the Four Nations Tournament in Angelholm, Sweden, 12-14 November.
The 55-year-old played two World Juniors as a goalkeeper with the Soviet U20 national team winning gold in 1986 and bronze in 1985.
He has been in the coaching staff of various teams in the Russian national team program since 2015 including as assistant coach at three IIHF World Junior Championships (2016, 2017, 2018). For five years he was the head coach of the reserve national team that competes in international breaks at events such as the Deutschland Cup in Germany and NaturEnergie Challenge in Switzerland – a position that will be taken by Igor Larionov, who was the U20 national team head coach last season and will thus swap roles with Bratash.
“The changes to the coaches have been made in order to prepare more effectively for the upcoming tournaments,” said Russian Ice Hockey Federation President Vladislav Tretiak.
“Igor Larionov's experience will help the reserve players for the senior national team train well. Oleg Bratash has been working with Russian national teams for many years, and he's achieved success with junior teams at club level.”
Russia will play the upcoming World Juniors in Group A in Red Deer against the United States, Sweden, Slovakia and Switzerland.
Prior to travelling to Canada, the Russian U20 national team will compete at the Four Nations Tournament in Angelholm, Sweden, 12-14 November.