Athletic Republic returns in Russian

   Athletic Republic came full-circle when we were invited back to Russia to demonstrate our Athletic Republic Hockey Performance System and provide expertise to the city of Yekaterinburg and their city's professional, junior and Olympic Academy hockey players.

   The city of Yekaterinburg is considered a hotbed for young, aspiring hockey talent. The city boasts two Olympic development academies, for athletes ranging from 7 to 16 years of age, the Automobilist Authority and Automobilist Unost. In addition, the town is home to one of the region's elite junior programs as well as a professional team, in the 2nd Division Russian Liga, the Yekaterinburg Automobilist. Over the years, Yekaterinburg has produced such NHL superstars as Alexei Yashin (Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders), Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Redwings), Nikolai Khabibulin (Chicago Blackhawks) as well as hundreds of others who star in the Russian KHL and 2nd Divisions.

   Russian entrepreneur Igor Balandin first approached Athletic Republic in the fall of 2008, after returning home with his son Ivan, an aspiring hockey standout. Ivan had spent weeks training in one of Athletic Republic's many Chicago-based facilities with trainer Tyler Bosch and had seen incredible improvement in his skating. So much so the head coach of the academy team took special notice that Ivan was clearly a stride ahead of his opponents. Igor decided to examine the possibility of opening an Athletic Republic facility in Yekaterinburg. After researching Athletic Republic and traveling to the U.S. to visit our performance sports centers in Libertyville, Illinois; Albany, New York; Stamford, Connecticut; and at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, Igor was hooked on the concept of developing his very own center in Russia.

   So, 23 years later, the goodwill shown John Frappier on his trip to Russia comes full circle. State-of-the-art, patented equipment, like Athletic Republic's Hockey Treadmill, and scientifically tested and proven training methods offer hockey players in Yekaterinburg the best of both worlds.

   "It is with great pleasure we bring an Athletic Republic facility to Yekaterinburg, Russia. The results that I have seen firsthand with my own son - and the fact that Athletic Republic has trained so many NHL stars is incredible - it's an opportunity that I am excited to give back to the hockey community, helping to provide a safe and effective way for hockey players to gain speed, power and efficiency."
- Igor Balandin Owner
 

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