Head coach gets ambushed on the street going to practice, forcing him to the hospital for repairs

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Cooper Godin
January 20, 2024 (10:51)

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A KHL coach was attacked by strangers while heading to practice this week and sent to the hospital..

This past week, a KHL head coach was attacked by strangers while heading to the team's practice.

According to Russian media outlet Sport Express, HC Neftekhimik head coach Oleg Leontyev was attacked by three strangers who pushed him and hit him in the head, forcing him to seek medical attention. Thankfully, Leontyev avoided serious injuries and only needed two stitches.

"Neftekhimik head coach Oleg Leontyev was attacked in Nizhnekamsk. #KHL

An unknown person pushed the 53-year-old as he passed by and then hit him on the head.

Leontyev managed to avoid serious injuries; he received two stitches."

After the incident, HC Neftekhimik released a statement, which confirmed that law enforcement are looking into what happened and that their coach is feeling fine.

"On the morning of January 20, while going to pick up a car, the head coach of HC Neftekhimik met three young people on his way, who unexpectedly provoked the incident. As a result, he was forced to seek medical help.

Law enforcement agencies are investigating this incident!

At the moment, Oleg Leontyev feels fine and held a training session with the team."

"It's no big deal, a couple of stitches were put in, and everything was fine, it was before the training. I was walking along the path, a trio as walking, pushing me." Leontyev said.

He went on to say he was hit with a roundhouse without even talking and added, "I asked, 'Do you know who I am?' He recognizes me, those two also recognized me, he ran away, they followed him. I recorded them on video. I went to the arena, they 'stitched me up', everything is fine, I was not hospitalized, it's difficult to put me in a bed."

Leontyev, 53, has been head coach of HC Neftekhimik in the KHL for the last three seasons, including the 2023-24 campaign. In his first two seasons with the club, he led them to the playoffs, where they lost in the first round, both years.