Evolution Elite Hockey

The Evolution’ success can be largely attributed to our professional staff of hockey coaches. We are one of the only Tier II and Rec hockey programs in State of Colorado that employs full time professional hockey coaches. On ice instruction focuses on individual player skill development to include skating (speed, quickness and agility), stick handling, passing and shooting, all in the context of a team environment. Please contact our hockey director Andrei Krivokrasov to learn more about our hockey program.

Andrei started playing hockey in the small Siberian town of Angarsk.  He had already won two national championships and a national tournament MVP by the age of 14.  After this success, he was recruited by the Red Army Organization.  At age 15, he was rated as one of the top 3 players in the country.  He was now playing professionally in Russia.  Shortly thereafter, he moved to Boston, playing junior A with the Tyngsboro Jr. Huskies, and led the league in scoring two years in a row recording 155 and 165 points.  Thereafter, Andrei received a full scholarship to Elmira College earning Rookie Of The Year, several MVP's, and the ECAC All Star Game MVP.  He also received a "Top 20 Sniper's in Elmira College History" Award.  After graduation, Andrei joined A.G. Edwards and then moved on to JP Morgan Private Wealth Management.  Keeping his passion alive, Andrei coached at the Chicago Young Americans AAA Hockey Organization.  His first year with a U-16 girl's team brought them to Nationals, losing in the quarterfinals.  10 out of 15 girls on this team went on to play in Division 1 programs.  The last two seasons, Andrei has coached Chicago Young Americans 97 team ranked high in the country both years.

“Since making his NHL debut in 1990-91, defenceman Alexei Gusarov has been a fine positional player with an ability to make useful passes on offense. A veteran of several years in the Soviet League, he adapted quickly to the rigours of the NHL season and accepted a variety of roles to keep himself in the line up.

Shawn played in Oklahoma City for Junior Blazers and for his leadership qualities, he was voted to be a Captain in 1999-2000 seasons. After a great performance in Junior Hockey, Shawn was recruited to play at the University of Oklahoma D1 ACHA, where he competed and studied until 2006. Currently, Shawn is coaching Midget A team in Foothills, Colorado. Shawn is a valuable addition to Evolution Elite Hockey Academy and will be leading our Bantam program.

“Evgenijs ''Gino'' Linkevitch grew up and played his minor hockey in Riga, Latvia (former USSR).After graduating the Latvian Sport Academy - Riga Latvia, B.S. with Honors in Physical Education and Hockey Development he began work as a hockey coach for Latvia's Birch Hockey Club, the largest club in the country,where he later was appointed Senior Coach / Director of Hockey Operations.During the 1988-89 season,he was Head Coach of the Riga Dynamo under 17 team with two of his players later recruited to play for the  Soviet World Junior Championship Team.

        1992-1995 Head Coach/General Manager of Hockey Club ''Riga''(Latvia)
        1992-1994 Head Coach of the Latvian National Junior Hockey Team

    Year of 1994 brought him the highest recognition in his country: he was elected the President of the Latvian National Coaches Association.
    More than a dozen his former Latvian players have gone on to play Pro Hockey in north America.Five of them have reached the pinnacle of hockey -   the National Hockey League( Grigorij Panteleev-''Boston Bruins'',Sergei Zholtok-''Boston bruins,Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers,Minnesota Wild,Karlis Skrastinsh-Nashville Predators,Colorado Avalanche,Dallas stars,Raitis Ivanans-Montreal Canadiens,Los Angeles Kings) including seven times All Star defensmen and Stanley Cup Winner with Colorado Avalanche Sandis Ozolinsh.
   Linkevitch began coaching in the United states, serving as the Assistant Coach for the Dubuque Fighting Saints(United States hockey League Tier 1 
   1997-2005 Hockey Director for the Huskies Hockey Club,Darien, IL.Responsible for overall hockey program development,instruction and training of coaching staff,development of Power Scating program,development of off-ice training regime,supervision of conditioning clinics as well as tryouts,and instructor of specialized skills clinics.  
   2005-2007 Hockey Director for the Blues hockey club, Bensenville, IL
   2007-2010 work independently as Scatting and Skills instructor.

Christopher Kawano is a former Division I Colorado College goaltender, born and trained in Denver. Christopher played with the Dallas Stars Midget AAA organization and Pikes Peak Miners AAA and for his impressive performance was recruited to Colorado College. At Colorado College, Christopher competed against top collegiate national competition at in the WCHA, participating in the 2006 NCAA Frozen Four. Christopher brings tremendous knowledge and experience coaching Division I goal tenders at Bemidji State University from 2007-2009. Evolution Elite Hockey Academy is proud to have Chris in its coaching team.