In March 2018, he took over as chairman of the board of directors of the Hawks, replacing Alexander Dybal in this position. Since then, the “Vanguard”, under the leadership of Krylov, has experienced enough epoch-making events. The club lost its home arena, which fell into disrepair and was inevitably demolished. Because of this, the future of Omsk in the Continental Hockey League was in question, and they found Balashikha as a place of salvation. Having moved to the Moscow region, the «hawks» started building a new arena and during this period twice reached the final of the Gagarin Cup.
Their second attempt was successful — in the 2020/21 season, Avangard won the Gagarin Cup for the first time in its history and became the national champion 17 years later. returned home, where the G-Drive Arena now flaunts — perhaps the best hockey facility in Russia today.
Krylov's 5 years of work at the club have become very eventful both for Avangard and for the functionary himself. This completes their collaboration. Or not? Krylov did not make a specific statement about his final departure from the club, although his profile on the official website of the hawks has already disappeared. Whether he will still somehow influence the policy of the club and the entire system of hockey Omsk is also not specified. Only one thing remains clear — another person will become responsible for managing the team.
“The sporting future of our club now remains in the hands of a person who knows firsthand what Avangard is. In the hands of a person who lives for hockey and cheers for the hawks with all his heart 24 hours a day. He is one of the symbols of Omsk hockey «I believe that Anton Kuryanov will cope with this challenge. I see him much higher than the position of general manager. After some time, Anton should be at the helm of all Omsk hockey and lead Avangard as president. Who, if not him? And you and my team will definitely help him with your support,» the Avangard press service quoted Krylov as saying.
For Anton Kuryanov, this development of events is a complete revolution in his career. Kuryanov gave Omsk many years of his career as a hockey player, and after its completion he began coaching in the camp of the «hawks». Over the past month, he managed to take the position of the club's general manager, and later — its full-fledged manager.
“The day has come when the club should be in the hands of a person who has all the necessary sports competencies, who lives for hockey and is ready to take responsibility for his work — and this is Anton Kuryanov. Now he will lead Avangard, as he once did with did it successfully on the ice,» Krylov emphasized.
What is the reason for the unexpected decision of one of the most media functionaries of the KHL? Alexander Krylov answered this question in his statement:
“I need to focus on my business projects, which require my 100% participation. I will no longer be able to give the club as much attention as I should. Therefore, to deceive myself, colleagues and you, dear fans, would be a betrayal on my part, and I I can't stand it. But, as I said above, I leave Avangard in good hands.»
Whether Krylov's decision to completely immerse himself in business is the sole reason for his parting with Avangard is anyone's guess. Perhaps Alexander Vladimirovich was influenced by the general situation in the country and in the world, restrictions in the regulations and the limit on legionnaires, against whom Krylov openly opposed, as well as the inability to be 100 percent sure of stability and the great difficulties of working on the international market. Perhaps everything is much more prosaic, and the functionary simply lost his former enthusiasm after he completed all the key tasks for the success of the club.
In any case, the event is epoch-making. And for Krylov himself, with whose departure the KHL has lost a tough manager, and for Avangard, which will have to go through a new stage of perestroika.