Valeri Bragin

Valeri Nikolayevich Bragin (Валерий Николаевич Брагин); born on May 31, 1956 in Lesnoy, is a retired Russian ice hockey left winger. He is currently the head coach of the SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL and of the Russian National Team.

Club career
Bragin started his career with the Spartak Moskva where he played in the Soviet Championship League from 1974. In 1981 he joined the Khimik Voskresensk of the Soviet Championship League where he played for 8 seasons. In 1989 Bragin moved to Denmark where he played with the Rødovre SIK of the Metal Ligaen. He won the Metal Ligaen title with the Rødovre SIK in 1990. In that season he was also named league player of the year. The following season he won a silver medal with Rødovre and was named the Metal Ligaen player of the year. In 1992 and 1993 he led the Rødovre SIK team to consecutive bronze medals in the Danish league. Bragin ended his playing career at the age of 38 with the Rødovre SIK following the 1993-94 season.

International career
Bragin played with the Soviet Union at the 1975 European U19 Championship and at the 1975 and 1976 World Junior Championship s winning the gold medal at all tournaments.

Coaching career
As a coach, Bragin won the U18 gold medal at the 2004 World U18 Championship, U20 bronze medals at the 2017 and 2019 World Junior Championship s, U20 silver medals at the 2005, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2020 World Junior Championship s and U20 gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Championship.