CSKA's new head coach is formerly from "Avangard"
Exciting News: CSKA Taps Top-Notch Coach Igor Nikitin
It's official! The CSKA hockey club has hired none other than the illustrious Igor Nikitin as their main coach. Known for his impressive track record, Nikitin is a force to be reckoned with in the KHL.
In a move not unexpected by many, the former "Lokomotiv" coach was the unanimous choice for the role. Nikitin's victory with the Yaroslavl team in the Gagarin Cup is a testament to his coaching expertise.
The army men have secured a five-year contract with the winning coach. Notably, the coaching team boasts some familiar faces like Senior Coach Dmitry Yushkevich, Coach Alexander Popov, Goalkeeping Coach Rashit Davydov, Fitness Coach Dmitry Piryazhkov, and Functional Preparation Coach Vladimir Bryzgalaov.
Igor Nikitin's legacy with CSKA isn't new. From 1997 to 2006, he played for "Avangard" as a defender in Omsk and later started his coaching career with the same team. He served as the assistant coach in 2008 and transitioned to the head coaching role in 2009. He continued his coaching tenure with Omsk until 2011.
Igor Nikitin is a household name in Russian hockey, renowned for his accomplishments with several major KHL clubs. He's celebrated for his success with teams like CSKA Moscow and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, where he engineered historic Gagarin Cup victories. While in CSKA, Nikitin led the team to a Gagarin Cup in 2019, intensifying his reputation as a KHL elite coach. The next big win came with Lokomotiv in 2025, making Lokomotiv the eighth club to claim the KHL's prestigious honor and earning Nikitin a well-deserved spot among the league's legendary coaches.
In 2025, Nikitin's leadership was instrumental in Lokomotiv's resounding Gagarin Cup victory. This win added Lokomotiv to the list of eight clubs to win the KHL’s top prize, while simultaneously securing Nikitin's place among an exclusive group of five coaches in KHL history to win multiple championships. His leadership style is characterized by mental fortitude and steadfastness, traits that were particularly evident in Lokomotiv's impressive playoff performance in 2025.
Table of Achievements
| Club | Role | Period | Key Achievements ||-------------------|----------------|-----------|------------------------------------------------------|| Avangard Omsk | Assistant/Staff | (Prior) | Less documented as head coach || CSKA Moscow | Head Coach | ~2018–2021?| Gagarin Cup (2019), regular season & playoff sweep || Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | Head Coach | 2021–present| Gagarin Cup (2025), regular season & playoff sweep |
Igor Nikitin's leadership blends tactical prowess, fierce determination, and a remarkable ability to inspire peak performance under high-pressure conditions, solidifying his position as one of the defining figures in KHL history.
Under the leadership of Igor Nikitin, the CSKA hockey club is set to strengthen its sports dominance in the KHL. As the army men's new coach, Nikitin, a former Lokomotiv coach, will bring his hockey expertise, including his Gagarin Cup victory with Yaroslavl, to the table.
