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Jan262010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Kirill Petrov: “I will finish the season in Russia, come to America next year”

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Kirill Petrov: "I will finish the season in Russia, come to America next year" (Photo © Jana Chytilova/NHLI) Kirill Petrov is likely to join the New York Islanders of the NHL at the end of this season. His KHL team, Ak Bars Kazan, isn't giving him ice time as he was demoted down to the Russian High League. "I wasn’t getting ice time and I was going to leave for the second half of the season," Petrov said through a translator to The Hockey News. "But management told me after the World (Junior) Championship I will get ice time. I will finish the season in Russia and maybe come to North America next year." Kirill Petrov was a big part of this year's WJC Team Russia. In the six games of the tournament he scored four points an six assists. He also got the C on the chest after head coach Vladimi...

Jan262010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Alexander Semin: “Why pay attention when someone provokes you?”

Russian Players In NHL

Alexander Semin: "Why pay attention when someone provokes you?" (Photo © capitals.nhl.com) NHL star Alexander Semin gave an interview to Russian newspaper Sovsport.ru which was translated on the popular Washington Capitals' blog Japers' Rink. In this interview he talked about the upcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver, about 2008 WC final match and about his composed personality. Special guest of the interview: Ovechkin's dad. RussianHockeyFans.com collected the most interesting parts of the interview. The Olympics are approaching. Are you nervous? Semin: "There's no need to get butterflies. That might even hamper you a little bit. You just need to go out on the ice and play, like any other game. If you remember Quebec, well yeah, the finale is the finale. There was seething passion and excit...

Jan252010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

NHL » Flyers sign Denis Bodrov

Russian Players In NHL

Flyers sign Denis Bodrov (Photo © khl.ru) The Philadelphia Flyers signed Denis Bodrov to an AHL deal. The Russian defenseman was a second round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and was released by KHL's Atlant Mytischi in November due to bad performances. "He hasn't played in about a month," GM Holmgren said to philly.com. "I don't really know the process over there in Russia, but it worked out where he was free to do what he wanted. He's been here the last few days." Bodrov, 23, started his pro career with Lada Togliatti. He was drafted by the Flyers after his good performances at 2006 WJC, where he won the silver medal with Team Russia. He was then traded to Atlant Mytischi after he was rumored to have a bad influence on the team's youngest players. In the Moscow Region team he didn't ma...

Jan242010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Mikhail Grigorenko: “I don’t think about the NHL for now”

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Mikhail Grigorenko: "I don't think about the NHL for now" (Photo © Hockeybook.ru) Mikhail Grigorenko is arguably the best 1994 born player in Russia. He plays with the 1993 national team and has played in this summer's Ivan Hlinka Tournament, playing against 1992 born players. In the latest World Under-17 Hockey Challenge he scored six goals and ten points in six games, and Team Russia finished the tournament at the fourth place. In this interview given to Russian website allhockey.ru he talked about his performances with the national teams, about his future plans and he also replied to some personal questions. RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation. How did you start playing hockey? Grigorenko: "My parents brought me there. We were still living in Khabarovsk, I was five. At the be...

Jan222010 by Gary Laws1 Comment

Fedorov, Babchuk, Kalinin, Simon added to All-Star Game roster

KHL News and Interviews

Fedorov, Babchuk, Kalinin, Simon added to All-Star Game roster (Photo © khlallstar.ru) Sergei Fedorov, Anton Babchuk, Dmitri Kalinin, Chris Simon and others were added to the All-Star game roster today as KHL journalists decided the teams' second lines. The All-Star Game will be played in Minsk, Belarus, on January 30th and it will be a challenge between Team Yashin (Russian Stars) and Team Jagr (International Stars). The second lines look like that: Team Yashin (Russian stars) Goalkeepers: Andrei Mezin (Dynamo Minsk) Defenders: Dmitriy Kalinin (Salavat Yulaev Ufa); Anton Babchuk (Avangard Omsk) Forwards: Danis Zaripov (Ak Bars Kazan); Sergei Fedorov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk); Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant Mytischi) Team Jagr (International Stars) Goaltender: Michael Garnett (HC MVD) Defenders: M...

Jan222010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Kovalev, Frolov, Zubov and Kulemin added to Olympics squad

Russian National Hockey Team News

Kovalev, Frolov, Zubov and Kulemin added to Olympics squad (Photo © vancouver2010.com) Alexei Kovalev, Alexander Frolov, Sergei Zubov and Nikolai Kulemin are going to the Olympic Games in Vancouver as substitutes for the Russian team. It is not officially announced yet but according to Russian site infox.ru Kovalev, Frolov, Zubov and Kulemin have received the Olympics equipment as well as other players from the official Team Russia roster. It means they are going to the Olympics in the status of substitute players. Overall Russia will have 9 substitute players, three from the NHL and six from the KHL. The list of Russian Olympics substitute players NHL 1. Alexei Kovalev, Ottawa Senators 2. Alexander Frolov, Los Angeles Kings 3. Nikolai Kulemin, Toronto Maple Leafs KHL...

Jan202010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Alexander Pechurski: “I played pretty well”

Russian Players In NHL

Alexander Pechurski: "I played pretty well" (Photo © AP Photo) Russian goalie Alexander Pechurski played his first game on Saturday and he was named 3rd star of the match thanks to his 12 saves in 35 minutes. In an interview with Russian website allhockey.ru he talked about his eventful weekend and his NHL experience. RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation. Alexander, I don't even know if I should congratulate you for your NHL debut or encourage you for your team's defeat... Pechurski: "Yeah, I have a lot of emotions. My first NHL match came as surprise. Marc-Andre Fleury got an injury and they asked me to arrive here (Pechursky played the night before in Tri-City, around 600 kms from Vancouver - ASR). My team mates supported me a lot and thus I wasn't baffled (smiles). I think I p...

Jan202010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Alexei Zhamnov: “I decided to return”

KHL News and Interviews

Alexei Zhamnov: "I decided to return" (Photo © newsru.com) Former NHL and Team Russia center Alexei Zhamnov decided to lace them up again after more than three years of absence. The 39 years old from Moscow, Russia, spent the last seasons as KHL's Vityaz Chekhov General Manager. This is what he declared to Sport-Express: Zhamnov: "It's extremely unpleasant that they consider us guilty for the fight during the game against Avangard. It's not correct, and I want people to talk well about Vityaz. Therefore I decided to return on ice, but for now I will only train with the team so to understand my physical conditions. After this, probably, I will sign a contract with the club until the end of this season." Alexei Zhamnov played a total of 807 NHL games, with 249 goals, 470 assists and 719 po...

Jan172010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Alexander Pechurski debuts in the NHL, makes 12 saves

Russian Players In NHL

Alexander Pechurski debuts in the NHL, makes 12 saves (Photo © Reuters Pictures) Russian goalie Alexander Pechurski of the Pittsburgh Penguins played his first NHL match against the Vancouver Canucks at General Motors Place on January 16th. The young goalie played a WHL regular season clash on friday night and then he has been signed by the Pens to a one-game amateur try out after their starting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury suffered from a broken finger and was forced out of the game. Pechursky had to play in Fleury's pads as the ones he wears in Tri-City don't meet NHL regulations. But even if he didn't use his own equipment, had to travel a lot and played in back-to-back games he showed that he is a NHL-bound player as he stopped 12 shots and has been named the match's third star even if the...

Jan172010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Martin Karsums refuses HC MVD, signs with Dinamo Riga

KHL News and Interviews

Martin Karsums refuses HC MVD, signs with Dinamo Riga (Photo © Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Latvian Martins Karsums signed with Dinamo Riga a contract up to April 2010, opposite to the news that were spread through Tampa Bay's official site, which reported that the 23 years old right winger signed with HC MVD. Instead of his national team head coach Olegs Znaroks, Karsums will join many of his future team mates in 2010 Olympic Games as Team Latvia roster will feature 16 players from Dinamo Riga. Most likely Karsums will play his first game with Dinamo in their home match against Metallurg Magnitogorsk scheduled for January 16th.