Blog

Apr182010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Prospects » 2010 U18 WJC: Russia makes it through to quarterfinals

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

2010 U18 WJC: Russia makes it through to quarterfinals (Photo © fhr.ru) In the 2010 U18 WJC's fourth game Team Russia defeated Team Slovakia 3-1. Thanks to this result Vasiliev's team clinched the second spot in the Group B standings and will face Team Switzerland in the quarterfinals. Team Russia scored all three goals with defensemen and interestingly all the game's goals have been scored in the first period. Team Russia got the early lead on the first shift with 93-born blue liner Nikita Nesterov. After five minutes third line defenseman Efim Gurkin made it a 2-0 game for Russia. At the fifteenth minute Tomas Matousek cut down Russia's lead by one goal, but less than three minutes later Efim Gurkin scored again and restored Russia's two-goal lead. In the second and third period Team Rus...

Apr162010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

2010 U18 WJC: Finland prevails over Russia 5-4

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

2010 U18 WJC: Finland prevails over Russia 5-4 (Photo © fhr.ru) In the third match of the 2010 U18 WJC Team Russia lost to Finland 4-5. Markus Granlund opened the score after less than two minutes in the first period, but Emil Galimov made it an 1-1 game just before the first horn. In the second period Finland got a quick two goals lead thanks to two goals by Teemu Pullkinen. After Finland's third goal, head coach Mikhail Vasiliev swapped goalie Sergei Kostenko for Andrei Vasilevski. In the third period Russia tried hard to get back on track and it paid off when captain Evgeny Kuznetsov cut down the opponents' lead spoiling a mistake by a defenseman midway through the latest stanza. Two minutes later center Vladislav Namestnikov scored the game tying goal. But it didn't last long as Makine...

Apr142010 by Gary Laws6 Comments

2010 U18 WJC: Russia routs Latvia 9-0

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

2010 U18 WJC: Russia routs Latvia 9-0 (Photo © iihf.com) In the second day of the 2010 U18 WJC Team Russia faced Team Latvia and easily beaten them with a score of 9-0. Head Coach Mikhail Vasiliev decided to give Sergei Kostenko a rest and thus 94-born Andrei Vasilevski started between the pipes. In the first period team Russia got the early lead with young defenseman Nikita Nesterov during a powerplay. Two minutes later, at the seventh minute, Vladislav Namestnikov gave team Russia a two goals lead. In the second period team Russia pushed the gas and scored four unanswered goals. Team Russia's captain Evgeny Kuznetsov made it a 3-0 game, then Namestnikov added other two goals to complete his hat-trick. After the fifth goal Latvia changed the goalie and iced Kristers Gudlevskis, but after ...

Apr132010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

2010 U18 WJC: Russia defeat Czech Republic 4-1

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

2010 U18 WJC: Russia defeat Czech Republic 4-1 (Photo © wikimedia.org) Team Russia won its 2010 U18 WJC inaugural match against Czech Republic with a comfortable 4-1 score. Sergei Barbashev opened the score after Vasiliev's team killed a penalty whistled against Roman Berdnikov. On the last minutes of the first period team Russia had a powerplay, but they weren't able to score. Midway through the second period 93-born Maxim Shalunov doubled the score for Team Russia, but Michal Vacovek made it a 1-2 game at the thirty-ninth minute of play. In the third period defenseman Viktor Antipin restored team Russia's two goal lead during a double powerplay, then center Vladislav Namestnikov sealed the deal with a goal at the fifty-seventh minute. Team Russia's star of the tournament is supposed to b...

Mar302010 by Gary Laws1 Comment

Kirill Petrov invited to Islanders’ rookie camp

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Kirill Petrov invited to Islanders' rookie camp (Photo © Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) Kirill Petrov of Ak Bars Kazan was invited to New York Islanders' rookie camp. The 20 years old player will most likely leave the KHL this summer and will report to North America, according to Petrov's agent Vyacheslav Makhrensky. Petrov was U20 team Russia's top scorer at the latest WJC. He's got little chances with Ak Bars this year and he has been demoted down to Kazan's affiliates in the Russian First League, Neftyanik Almetievsk. In the KHL he played only eight regular season games, without getting any point.

Mar292010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Johan Harju and Linus Omark leave Dynamo Moscow

KHL News and Interviews

Johan Harju and Linus Omark leave Dynamo Moscow (Photo © khl.ru) Swedish players Johan Harju and Linus Omark decided to leave KHL and Dynamo Moscow. Both players had an out clause in their contract after the first season and they decided to use it. "I was happy about the KHL, but one season is enough", Johan Harju told Aftonbladet. "Not everything went according to my plans. There was the possibility to walk away from the contract with Dynamo after the first season and I decided to do so. I can't say anything about my future right now, we'll see." Harju finished the season with four goals and 18 points in 55 regular season games, while he scored one goal in two playoff clashes. Omark scored more in the regular season, 20 goals and 36 points, but was pointless in the post season.

Mar262010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Jaromir Jagr: “I would like to stay in Omsk”

KHL News and Interviews

Jaromir Jagr: "I would like to stay in Omsk" (Photo © sports.ru) During an interview with Sovietskiy Sport Jaromir Jagr declared that he would like to spend another season with Avangard Omsk. Jaromir Jagr: "I really love Omsk and its inhabitants, their character. Maybe it's strange to hear this from a Czech, and they won't believe me. But I like everything here. I would like to stay in Russia, but I want to get something serious next year. My career will be over soon and thus I can't waste my chances. I wanted to win something with Avangard, but we couldn't. This is my fault too. I never blame others. I've always hoped that if I would be playing well, then also other players would perform better. I'm not looking for other teams now. I would like to stay in Avangard, but it's not up to me o...

Mar252010 by Gary Laws3 Comments

Prospects » Flyers going after Sergei Bobrovsky

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Flyers going after Sergei Bobrovsky (Photo © metallurg-nk.ru) After the reported interest in Evgeny Bodrov, the Philadelphia Flyers seems to be going after young goalie Sergei Bobrovsky of Metallurg Novokuznetsk, as per Sport-Express. Bobrovsky, 21, spent his entire career with Metallurg Novokuznetsk and is the team's starter goalie for the past three seasons and he always had a saves percentage of more than .900. Playing for one of the weakest KHL teams he faced every night a good amount of shots and showed that he can deal well with pressure. In his career Bobrovsky represented Russia at the 2008 WJC and at the 2007 Super Series against Canada. His contract will run out in April and the Flyers will have to work hard to secure him as surely most of the top KHL teams are going to offer him...

Mar242010 by Gary Laws2 Comments

Flyers interested in Evgeny Bodrov?

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Flyers interested in Evgeny Bodrov? (Photo © ak-bars.ru) Evgeny Bodrov of the Ak Bars Kazan might be under the radar of the Philadelphia Flyers, as reported by Tatar-Inform. The Flyers signed Evgeny's brother, Denis Bodrov, on the last January. Bodrov started the season with Lada Togliatti, then was traded to the Ak Bars Kazan when the season was still young. He scored a total of 25 points this season, with eight goals and 17 assists. He won the bronze medal at 2008 WJC. He is a center who plays hard and is good on the face-off dots. He has a very good technique and stickhandling, as well as good skating abilities. He plays with poise. Bodrov's contract is set to expire in April 2011.

Mar212010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Prospects » Andrei Nazarov: “Traktor holds Dadonov and Voinov’s rights”

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Andrei Nazarov: "Traktor holds Dadonov and Voinov's rights" (Photo © uralpress.ru) Andrei Nazarov, head coach of the Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, invited Vyacheslav Voinov and Evgeni Dadonov to get back to their mother club during an interview with Sport-Express. Andrei Nazarov: "Both Evgeni Dadonov and Vyacheslav Voinov have a valid contract with Traktor and, according to KHL rules, we hold rights on them. I was really upset when they left for North America and didn't get an NHL spot. We had the chance to get them back through the court's decision, but we decided not to harm the players' careers. But now there is such a scenario in which it would be better for them and for their development to get back to Traktor in the KHL." - Did you already talk to them? Andrei Nazarov: "It's all up...