Vitaly Yachmenev named Traktor’s new assistant coach
Ivan Senichev, Chairman of HC Traktor Council, Head of Governor of Chelyabinsk
Oblast Administration: We are closing in on the
formation of the new coaching staff. Today team’s President Boris Dubrovski has
agreed with management’s decision to appoint Vitaly Yachmenev as Karri Kivi’s
assistant coach. I don’t think Vitaly needs any introduction. He is Chelyabinsk’s
own which further fortifies the strategy chosen for the development of the
team. Vitaly has left his mark in the NHL, played along with the icon, Wayne
Gretzky, and won Russian championship’s medals multiple times. His skill, his experience
and self-discipline coupled with his connections in the hockey world, his perfect
knowledge of English were the deciding factors in appointing Vitaly Yachmenev
as team’s assistant coach. Karri Kivi has backed up our decision since he knows
Vitaly quite well. We hope that Yachmenev’s authority will help the team in further honing
their skills.
Vitaly Yachmenev, Traktor’s new assistant coach: When one
is offered a contract with their native team, one cannot refuse. I didn’t
hesitate to accept this offer. Chelyabinsk and Traktor have always been known
for their hockey traditions, and for me personally it is one of the key
elements in achieving the best possible result. I grew up and began my hockey
career here in Chelyabinsk. This city and this team are always in my heart, and
I will do my best to try to make Traktor one of the best teams in KHL. It is
also appealing to me that the new coaching staff is being formed from
specialists with rich experience both as players and coaches. Current trends in
the hockey world point to the fact that only such combination can lead to
better performance. I am an ambitious man, and that is why I am here.
Bio
Vitaly Yachmenev
Born January 8, 1975 in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Hockey school: Traktor
NHL draft: 3rd round, overall #59, Los Angeles Kings
(1994)
Career (as player): Traktor-2, North Bay Centennials (OHL), Phoenix Roadrunners
(IHL), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Long Beach Ice Dogs (IHL), Nashville Predators
(NHL), Milwaukee Admirals (IHL), Amur Khabarovsk, Ak Bars Kazan, Avangard Omsk,
Dynamo Moscow, Traktor, Rubin Tyumen.
Career (as coach): Rubin Tyumen (senior coach).
Trophies and achievements: U18 European Championship silver medalist (1993), CHL
Rookie of the Year and Top Line (1994), OHL Rookie of the Year (1994), OHL
champion (1994), U20 WJC silver medalist (1995), Russian Superleague silver
medalist (2006), Russian Superleague bronze medalist (2007), Sportsmanship
prize, Russian Superleague (2008), Spengler Cup winner (2008).
Vitaly Yachmenev is a Chelyabinsk hockey school alumnus. At the age of
17, he began playing for Traktor’s junior team and, after participating in U18
European Championship, went over the pond where he was drafted by LA Kings.
Yachmenev had a breakthrough rookie season and was named CHL Rookie of the Year
and OHL champion as part of North Bay Centennials. In 1995 Yachmenev became U20
WJC silver medalist and debuted in NHL. He played a total of 487 NHL games and
tallied 83 goals and 133 assists (total of 216 points). One of the brightest
spots of his career was his tenure in Los Angeles Kings where he played in the
same line as the one and only Wayne Gretzky. In 2003 Vitaly returned to Russia
where he changed several teams, including Amur, Ak Bars, Avangard, Dynamo,
Traktor and Rubin. During his stint in Avangard, Yachmenev won Russian
Superleague’s bronze and silver medals. Yachmenev captained Traktor during the
2010/2011 season. During the summer of 2013 Yachmenev hung up his skates and
changed his hockey gear to a suit as he became VHL’s Rubin Tyumen senior coach.
r-hockey profile – http://r-hockey.ru/player.asp?TXT=3727
eliteprospects.com profile – http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=16742
KHL profile – http://www.khl.ru/players/13030/
VHL profile – http://www.vhlru.ru/players/13030/#c
NHL profile – http://www.nhl.com/ice/ru/player.htm?id=8460551
