Aleksey Nikiforov (April 24, 1957 in Elektrėnai, Lithuania) is a former professional hockey player for the Dynamo Riga team of the Russian Elite League. He is the father of New York Islanders prospect Vladimir Nikiforov. He resides on Long Island where he still teaches hundreds of adults and children of various skill capabilities how to play the game.
Coaching career[]
Aleksey currently coaches the Suffolk PAL Squirt AAA (Minor) team and Suffolk PAL Junior B team. He previously coached the New York Bobcats of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League where he boasted great placement for many of his students. He is credited with teaching many Long Island hockey products the game. He teaches a European style of hockey, as opposed to the North American style. This European style focuses on skating speed, puck possession, and puck movement, while the North American style focuses more on bodychecking and overall physical domination. The translation of this style is very apparent in his American-born students such as Christopher Higgins of the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils 2006 NHL Entry Draft pick Tony Romano.
Notable students[]
- Darius Kasparaitis
- Dainius Zubrus
- Alexei Yashin
- Michael Komisarek
- Christopher Higgins
- Bryan McCabe
- Vladimir Malakhov
- Alexei Kovalev
- Rob Scuderi
- Eric Nystrom
- Ryan Vesce
- Matt Gilroy
- Tony Romano