KHL: Lokomotiv’s major changes to coaching staff

On the 24th of September, the Lokomotiv’s management announced their decision to dismiss the new head coach Craig MacTavish. A Canadian specialist led the Lokomotiv in May 2019. Under his leadership, the Yaroslavl team took 11th place in the standings of the Western Conference of the regular championship of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) this season.
Until the 22nd of October, the GM of Lokomotiv Alexander Ardashev has been appointed as acting head coach. As a player, Ardashev twice became the champion of Russia. As a coach, he worked with the Lokomotiv farm club and other Supreme Hockey League clubs.

Assistant head coach of Yaroslavl Lokomotiv Mike Pelino was appointed head coach of the team. Pelino was one of Craig MacTavish’s assistants.
He’s got some excellent experience in coaching, working with team Canada, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers and other teams in North America. He helped Canada men’s team to win gold in several competitions as assistant head coach and also helped Magnitogorsk winning Gagarin Cup twice.
Lokomotiv has already held the first match under the leadership of a new coach and lost 1: 2 to Chelyabinsk Traktor. The only goal of the Yaroslavl team was scored by Grigory Denisenko. Yaroslavl conceded both goals while killing the penalty, then Lokomotiv could not score, playing five against three.

Acting head coach Alexander Ardashev returns to his GM duties of the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. The next game Yaroslavl will be on Thursday, the 24th of October against Barys from Nur-Sultan. Let’s follow this squad and see if their new head coach can turn around the current situation and help Lokomotiv reaching playoffs this year.