Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Dec172009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Prospects » Team Russia WJC roster released

Team Russia WJC roster released (Photo © Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) The roster for the World Junior Championships has been released today by head coach Vladimir Plyuschev and Russian Hockey Federation. Just as usual it looks like that the team's strongest area will be the offensive front, with many high quality forwards. The defense looks a bit thin and there isn't a clear starting goaltender. The team's leader will be Nikita Filatov. This is how the roster appears to be: Goalkeepers Igor Bobkov, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, 1991 Alexander Pechursky, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, 1990 Ramis Sadikov, Erie Otters, OHL, 1991 Defensemen Dmitri Orlov, Metallurg Novokuznetsk, 1991 Maxim Chudinov, Severstal Cherepovets, 1990 Dmitri Kostromitin, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, QMJHL, 1990 Nikita Zaitsev, Sibir N...

Dec172009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Alexander Avtsin: From Vympel to Montreal

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Alexander Avtsin: From Vympel to Montreal (Photo © Bernard Brault, La Presse) RussianHockeyFans.com offers you the translation of an article about Alexander Avtsin published on Russian site Sport day by day by Roman Sergeev. The story sheds some light over Alexander's biography and also contains quotes from Alexander himself, his agent and his coaches. It’s not the first time that this week’s top KHL rookie, Dynamo Moscow player Alexander Avtsin didn’t get a chance to play for Vladimir Plyuschev’s national team. He thus directed his anger to his hometown club as this week he scored two goals and one assist, being picked up as first star in both matches. Avtsin’s career began in Moscow’s district of Perovo, in the central-eastern part of the city, where he used to play for the local team “...

Dec162009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

IIHF bars Sergey Ostapchuk from playing at WJC

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

IIHF bars Sergey Ostapchuk from playing at WJC (Photo © khl.ru) Russian forward Sergei Ostapchuk, who left Lokomotiv of the KHL to play for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL earlier this season, is denied by the IIHF from playing at the WJC which will take place in Saskatoon, says the official Russian Hockey Federation site. The site refers to the Russian team head coach Vladimir Plyuschev who says that the IIHF doesn't allow Ostapchuk to play due to unknown reasons. Ostapchuk was allowed to play at the previous WJC for Russia but he didn't make the team.

Dec152009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Alexander Avtsin KHL rookie of the week

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Alexander Avtsin KHL rookie of the week (Photo © Kp.ru) After notching his first KHL goal on Friday during a 4-0 home win against Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk and scoring the game-winner against SKA in St. Petersburg two days later, Dynamo's player and Habs' prospect Alexander Avtsin has been named KHL rookie of the week. Let's remember that he also had an assist in the game against Neftekhimik. In the two games played he finished +3 and had around 7 minutes of average ice time. The other awarded players were goalkeeper Vitaly Eremeev (Dynamo Moscow), blueliner Vitaly Atyushov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk) and forward Mikelis Redlihs (Dinamo Riga).

Dec122009 by Gary Laws1 Comment

Alexander Avtsin scores his first goal in KHL

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Alexander Avtsin scores his first goal in KHL (Photo © championat.ru) Dynamo Moscow forward Alexander Avtsin, drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, scored his first KHL goal. On December 11, 2009, Avtsin scored his team's fourth goal in a game against Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Dynamo won 4:0. "I think it was my best game in Dynamo jersey. I scored a goal, our line got some points too. We will work even harder. Now I feel great not only because I scored but also because the whole team played great," said Avtsin to a Russian site Championat.ru after the game. Below is the video of Avtsin's first KHL goal.

Dec112009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Prospects » Pens’ Alexander Pechursky called to WJC camp

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Pens' Alexander Pechursky called to WJC camp (Photo © fhr.ru) After Dynamo's goalie Alexander Zalivin suffered from a heavy arm injury during a training session at the WJC preparation camp in Novogorsk, Russian National Junior Team head coach Vladimir Plyuschev decided to replace him with Pens' prospect, 19 years old Alexander Pechursky. He will join the team on Friday. The young goalie played with U-20 National team two tournaments this season, the first one, in Finland, as starting goalie, where he allowed eight goals in three games. He also played one KHL match with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

Dec102009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Prospects » Vyacheslav Voinov not released for the WJC

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Vyacheslav Voinov not released for the WJC (Photo © Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) After Evgeny Grachev, also Vyacheslav Voinov won't be freed up by his NHL team for the upcoming 2010 World Junior Championships. The young defenseman, property of the Los Angeles Kings, is playing in the AHL for the Manchester Monarchs. According to Sport Express, the Russian Hockey Federation received today a fax which explained that both Grachev and Voinov can't skate in the WJC as they will be busy with their North American clubs. Team's head coach Vladimir Plyuschev added that the IIHF can't have a role in the matter. On the other hand team Russia, which is having a training camp in Novogorsk, has been joined by North American based Dmitry Kostromitin and Anton Klementyev.

Dec92009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Prospects » Maxim Kitsyn: “I think I earned a spot for the WJC”

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Maxim Kitsyn: "I think I earned a spot for the WJC" (Photo © iihf.com) 2010 NHL Entry Draft Eligible Maxim Kitsyn scored four goals in six matches in the 2009 Subway Superseries. He talked about his performances in this challenge, his impressions of Canada and about his chances in the upcoming WJC in an interview with Sport Novokuznetsk. RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation: Maxim, could you describe your impressions of your trip to Canada?? Did you have good ice time? With whom did you play? It was an interesting trip. We didn't had the time to go out in the cities, but we seen junior teams' arenas and we even managed to watch two games in Quebec and in Ontario. I played in the first line, but the partners constantly changed. At one moment it was Kirill Petrov, then it was guys...

Dec22009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Extended WJC roster for Team Russia released

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Extended WJC roster for Team Russia released (Photo © Shaun Best/Reuters) Today coach Vladimir Plyuschev released the extended list of the players called for the WJC. Nikita Filatov is there, as well as Evgeny Grachev, who recently has been ruled out by the Rangers. isn't part of the roster. The team will start the training camp in Novogorsk on December 7th and will go on until December 18th. This is how the roster appears to be: Goalkeepers Igor Bobkov, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, 1992 Alexander Zalivin, Dinamo Moscow, 1991 Ramis Sadikov, Erie Otters, OHL, 1991 Alexei Trifonov, Lada Togliatti, 1990 Defensemen Anton Klementyev, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 1990 Dmitri Orlov, Metallurg Novokuznetsk, 1991 Maxim Chudinov, Severstal Cherepovets, 1990 Dmitri Kostromitin, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, QMJHL, ...

Dec22009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Prospects » Rangers won’t let Evgeny Grachev go to WJC

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Rangers won't let Evgeny Grachev go to WJC (Photo © Getty Images) The New York Rangers refuse to allow Evgeny Grachev, currently playing for their AHL team Hartford Wolf Pack, to participate in the upcoming World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, says the official Russian Hockey Federation site. Yesterday the Rangers sent a fax to RHF where they say that Grachev can't go the WJC because he is expected to play in official games during the time the championship will take place. Russian Hockey Federation plans to appeal to the IIHF for explanation.