In an industrial town in a remote corner of Russia, a former Canadian Olympic hockey coach is carving out a name for himself all over again. In a big way.

Dave King, a three-time Canadian men's Olympic hockey coach, has settled into life in Magnitogorsk, in Russia's Ural Mountains, where Europe is left behind and Siberia begins.

Remote and industrial though it is, Magnitogorsk is a hockey town, steeped in the Russian tradition. And since King has taken over as coach of the Metallurg, the team has quickly risen to the top of the Russian Super League under his leadership, making King something of a local hero.

King and his wife moved to Russia so that he could take over the team, study their style, and influence them with his own. He is the first North American to do so. And he is setting an impressive precedent. In 18 games this season, the Metallurg have only lost two games, launching them to first place over Russia's two big-budget teams.

His performance has won over skeptics, and earned him a salary on par with NHL coaches

"Some people thought King's best days were long behind him, but he's proven he's still a very good coach," local hockey commentator Pavel Zaitsev told CTV.

King also gets to coach two former Maple Leafs, Dmitri Yushkevich and Igor Korolev, and the only Canadian on the team -- goalie Travis Scott, who hails from Ottawa.

But the coaching process is a learning experience for King and for the players. He's bringing a synergy of Russian and Canadian styles, something that may be providing the unique edge that has put his team at the top of the league.

"I've come over as a foreign coach, and I've pretty much respected how they do things," King said. "And I'll adapt to their way of doing it. I'm not going to ask them to change and say here's a better idea."

He did focus on the areas that he saw needed improvement, however. Those were areas where Canadian players tend to be strong.

"Dave came over and he started working on all these little things: face off, break out, lots of different things," Yushkevich said.

His Canadian teammate agreed.

"That's more of a Canadian style and I think he definitely bought that to the team," Scott said.

King moved to Russia despite horror stories from the 1990s of coaches not getting paid, the hardships of Russian life, but so far he has looked at it as an adventure.

King and his wife are even writing a book about the experience.

With a report from CTV's Ellen Pinchuk