Oleg Petrovich Yashin has passed away

With deep sorrow and pain in my heart, I announce that at the age of 75, a legendary coach of Nizhnekamsk hockey, an Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, has passed away.

His journey in hockey began back in 1968, when a seventeen-year-old young man came to Nizhnekamsk and stepped into the net of a newly formed team Neftekhimik. From that moment on, his entire life was unreservedly devoted to our city and the game of hockey.

After finishing his playing career, Oleg Yashin chose the path of a coach. First, the yard team Chaika, then Neftekhimik Hockey School, where he became one of the first professional coach-educators. For 37 years, he patiently and lovingly passed on his skill, experience, and dedication to the young hockey players.

The results of his work speak for themselves: the coach’s pupils became winners and prize-winners of the Volga Region and Russian championships, earned medals at European Championships, World Championships, and the World Universiade as members of the national youth team. His contribution to training the reserve for Reaktor and to the development of children’s hockey in Nizhnekamsk cannot be overestimated.

Oleg Yashin raised more than one generation of hockey players. Many of them have become coaches, fathers, accomplished people – and each of them remembers how he taught them not only to play hockey, but also to approach their work with great commitment.

He has left, leaving behind something that does not disappear – his pupils, traditions, and fond memory in the hearts of everyone who had the chance to work with him and to learn from him.

On behalf of Neftekhimik organization and myself, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family, relatives, and loved ones of Oleg Petrovich Yashin.

We share your pain and grief. We will remember the legend of Nizhnekamsk hockey. He will forever remain in the history of the club and in the hearts of those he managed to teach to love hockey.

Neftekhimik General Director
I.V. Larionov