Max Gratchev is ready to start coaching hockey in Somerville.

By William Tauro

Max Gratchev of the Russian KHL Hockey League will be coaching the Boston Stars Hockey Team here in Somerville.

The young left wing will be joining his dad Igor, coaching the select Somerville Youth Hockey players on the “Boston Stars” team this coming summer at the ice skating rink that’s located on Somerville Avenue.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in Max’s family being the son of the famous great hockey legend Igor Gratchev, a former hockey player of the Russian Red Army Team.

Max’s values as a hockey player were instilled upon him through his father’s love and respect for hockey and by Igor Hockey / Boston Stars Hockey which was created by his dad, Igor Gratchev, to help young hockey players pursue their dreams of playing hockey at the very highest levels of international competition.

Max inspiration to first play hockey began with his dad, Igor, who was born and raised in Novosibirsk, Siberia. His dad didn’t play organized hockey until he was 12 years old. Still, that didn’t stop Igor from being selected to play for the U18 Central Red Army team. And after just one year of skating on the Central Red Army team, Igor was signed his first pro contract.

His dad, Igor, later went on to play in the Super Hockey League in Russia for several years where he competed with many of the world’s most accomplished hockey professionals. His professional career spanned fourteen years as a premier Russian Hockey player.

In the 1990s, Igor relocated to the United States where he began to organize an elite hockey Program, known today as Igor Hockey and Boston Stars.

Max’s dad, Igor Gratchev, used to share the same ice with many famous Boston Bruins hockey greats like Christopher John Nilan and Bobby Orr.

Max said that “someday he himself just might be playing for the Boston Bruins as well, you never know!”