Originally published in Eishockey News in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd In a parallel universe where the Soviet Union didn’t collapse, Sergei Fedorov might still be centering USSR national team coach Viktor Tikhonov’s top line with Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilny. In actuality, this NHL legend celebrated his 37th birthday on December 12 with a fifth […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2001 By Lucas Aykroyd Last year, the less-informed hockey fan might have wondered if his surname was a misspelling of “Nabob Tea.” This year, the whole NHL knows who Evgeni Nabokov is. Combining sharp reflexes with an aggressive challenging style, the San Jose Sharks rookie is bidding to become the […]

Originally published in the 2001 NHL Playoff Program By Lucas Aykroyd Who will become the first European player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy? Given the prevalence of Europeans in today’s NHL, it might come as a surprise to you that none of them has won playoff MVP honors yet. However, in the past, many […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000 By Lucas Aykroyd With no goals and 10 assists last year, Danny Markov didn’t exactly tear up the NHL offensively. But entering his fourth season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Moscow-born defenseman is looking to improve on those numbers and his overall game. Chosen as Toronto’s seventh pick […]

By Lucas Aykroyd On December 31, 1975, Vladislav Tretiak put on his own fireworks display. But instead of lighting up the night sky that New Year’s Eve, the legendary Russian goalie dazzled hockey fans at the Montreal Forum. He made 35 saves as his Red Army earned a 3-3 exhibition tie with the Montreal Canadiens. […]

Originally published on EuroReport in 2000 By Lucas Aykroyd Vancouver Canucks GM Brian Burke recently told EuroReport about his expectations for several of the team’s European prospects in 2000-01. Jarkko Ruutu (LW, Finland): “He’s a very aggravating presence, like Esa Tikkanen was in his prime, only bigger and stronger. He likes to bang and he […]

Originally published in Prospects Hockey in 2005 By Lucas Aykroyd By now, Canadian hockey fans are accustomed to watching touring Russian junior teams. In addition to the Canada/Russia Challenge we’re enjoying for the third straight year, the Russians have participated in numerous Canadian-hosted World Junior tournaments: 1978, 1986, 1991, 1995, 1999, and 2003. And that’s […]

Originally published in Rinkside in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd For most of the 20th century, North Americans and Europeans feared Russia, and that applied on two levels. The most serious confrontation, of course, was the 45-year-long Cold War, which pitted the democratic nations of the West versus the Soviet Union’s Communist bloc and thankfully never […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000 By Lucas Aykroyd Titanic is Sergei Berezin’s favorite movie. That fits. The 28-year-old Russian left wing must have had a sinking feeling over Toronto’s last 14 games, as a hamstring injury kept him out of the lineup. Lacking the opportunity to waltz around opposing defensemen or rescue his club […]