Yuri K. became professional hockey player at the age of 16. He represented his country in numerous USSR Junior World Championships, European Championships and Olympics. In 1984-1988 he was a captain of USSR Junior National Team.

In 1989-1991 he played for USSR National team and was coached by hockey legend Viktor Tikhonov. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, he was a member of National Team Belarus from 1998-2005.

Yuri spent 18 years playing professional hockey as a defenseman in the USA, Sweden, Austria and Russia. In 1988 Yuri was drafted by Montreal Canadians in 10th round, 209th overall.

Yuri has earned a Master’s Degree in hockey coaching and physical education from Belarus State University. In 2005 he retired from professional playing at the age of 36 and began his coaching career in the Pittsburgh Area.

In recent years, he has won Penguins Cup and State Championship Cups with Quaker Valley as an assistant coach. In 2009 he won the Penguins Cup with Canon Mac as Head coach.

He took U-16AAA Pittsburgh Viper Stars to the National Championship in Buffalo, NY and to the International Ice Hockey Federation Championship in Minsk, Belarus in 2008.

He has worked with a lot of players from all over the world in numerous summer camps and elite hockey programs.

In 2014 Yuri was invited as a leading TV/Radio hockey analyst at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Minsk, Belarus.

Currently, Yuri is a head coach Esmark Stars AAA U-16 team and assistant coach for U-18 teams.

He uses a unique style of coaching by combining Eastern European and North American visions of play and techniques.

Yuri is the founder and the Head Coach of the International Eite Hockey Academy and is very excited to share his experience, knowledge and passion of the game with young, eager and willing to learn athletes.

Our coaches, top row from left to right:

Carter Eckberg
NAHL player/ Instructor for Interel

Nylan Nagy
Holy Cross, Division 1

Parkes Knepshield
Certified strength and conditioning specialist  MS, CSCS, PES

Yuri Krivokhija
Head Coach and Owner IntEl Hockey Academy; Head Coach Esmark Stars U-16 AAA, U-13 AAA, Director of Hockey Operations Mt. Lebanon, Head Coach Varsity AAA, Former Professional Hockey Player

Michael Mazzotto
Instructor for Interel

Mike Heltman
Head coach for Pittsburgh Esmark Stars/ lead coach for Interel

Alex Baskakov
Power skating coach and head instructor for Interel

Bottom row from left to right:

Adam Alavi
NAHL player/ instructor for Interel

Like Kopchak
Pittsburgh Viper Stars head coach/ instructor for Interel

Not pictured:
David McNaughton – Certified Personal Trainer/Certified Sports Nutritionist/ owner at www.evolutionary-fitness.com