Yury LYAPKIN

Yury Lyapkin began playing hockey with Khimik Voskresensk in 1964, joining Spartak Moskva in 1972 and playing there until 1976. He won his only Soviet title with them in 1976. He then played two seasons again with Khimik, then had one season again with Spartak until finishing his sporting career in Japan with the Oji Eagles in 1979-82. Internationally Lyapkin won Olympic gold in 1976, was World champion four times (1971, 1973-75), European champion three times (1973-75), also winning a silver at the 1976 World Championships and silvers at the 1971 and 1976 European Championships. He took part in both the 1972 and 1974 Summit Series. After his playing career Lyapkin worked as a hockey coach in Nagano, Japan from 1992-98 and from 1999-2002 was the manager of Krylya Sovetov Moskva.