Meet the Russia Hockey Players Who Will Be Competing in the Winter Olympics

Meet the Russian Hockey Players who will be competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea Get to know the team and learn about their Olympic experience.

Introduction

The Russian Hockey Team is one of the most successful teams in Olympic history, winning more medals than any other nation. The team has a long tradition of success, dating back to the Soviet Union days when they dominated the sport. While the team has seen some struggles in recent years they are still a force to be reckoned with and are always a contender for a medal.

The 2018 Russian Olympic team will be made up of mostly NHL players as was the case in 2014. However, there are some notable exceptions this time around. First and foremost is veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who returns to the Olympic stage after a 12-year absence. Kovalchuk is one of the most talented players in Russia and will be looking to lead his team to victory.

Other notable players on the 2018 Russian Olympic Hockey Team include goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Evgeni Malkin, and defenseman Dmitri Orlov. With a mix of experienced veterans and young stars the Russian team is always a tough opponent and will be looking to make some noise in Pyeongchang.

Early life and family

Ilya Kovalchuk was born on April 15, 1983, in Tver, Russia. His parents, Vladimir and Tatyana, were both former athletes. Vladimir was a professional soccer player, and Tatyana was a world-class rhythmic gymnast. Kovalchuk has an older brother, Sergei, who is also a professional hockey player

Kovalchuk began playing hockey at the age of four. He quickly showed himself to be a natural talent, and at six years old he was already playing with children who were nine and 10 years old. When he was nine years old, he began playing for HC Spartak Moscow’s youth team. He played there for three years before moving to HC Dynamo Moscow’s youth team.

Playing career

Ilya Kovalchuk played in the NHL for 14 seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings He was a two-time All-Star and won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal-scorer in 2003-04.

Dmitri Kulikov played in the NHL for nine seasons with the Florida Panthers Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets He was a member of Russia’s silver medal-winning team at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Vladislav Namestnikov played in the NHL for six seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning New York Rangers Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche He was a member of Russia’s gold medal winning team at the 2018 Winter Olympics

International career

Many of the Russian hockey players who will be competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics have had long and successful careers playing for international teams. Here are some of the most notable ones:

-Ilya Kovalchuk: Kovalchuk is one of the most prolific scorers in Russian hockey history. He’s played in three Olympic Games two World Championships and one World Cup of Hockey. He’s currently the captain of the Olympic team.

-Pavel Datsyuk: Datsyuk is a veteran of international play, having competed in four Olympic Games seven World Championships and three World Cups of Hockey. He’s considered one of the best two-way forwards in the world, and he’ll be counted on to provide leadership for the Olympic team.

-Alexander Ovechkin: Ovechkin is perhaps the most recognizable name on the Russian roster. He’s a six-time NHL All-Star and he’s won three MVP Awards He’s played in two Olympic Games four World Championships, and one World Cup of Hockey.

Personal life

In 2006, Ovechkin was the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft He began his NHL career with the Washington Capitals in 2005–06, scoring two goals in his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets In his rookie season, he scored 52 goals, which set an NHL record for most goals by a rookie and led the Capitals to their first playoff berth in five years.
He quickly became one of the league’s most popular players and averaged more than a point per game in each of his first seven seasons. His combination of skill, strength, charisma and freshness helped revitalize not only the Capitals franchise but also fan interest throughout the entire NHL.

Business ventures

Sports and business have always had a close relationship, with athletes often launching businesses or investing in existing ones. But in recent years that relationship has become even closer, with an increasing number of athletes using their business acumen to launch successful startups.

One prime example is a group of Russian Hockey players who are using their business skills to prepare for the 2018 Winter Olympics The team, which includes former NHL players Nikolai Antropov and Alexander Radulov, has started a company called Olympic Hockey Group. The company is focused on helping hockey players from Russia and other countries prepare for the Olympics by providing training and support services.

So far, the company has been a success, with several Russian players already signing up for its services. And with the 2018 Winter Olympics just around the corner, it’s likely that Olympic hockey Group will only continue to grow.

Endorsements

Many of the Russian hockey players who will be competing in the Winter Olympics have endorsement deals with companies like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Visa. These deals are worth millions of dollars, and help to offset the cost of training and competing in the Olympics.

Some of the Russian Hockey players who have endorsement deals include:

Ilya Kovalchuk – Coca-Cola
Alexander Ovechkin – Gillette
Evgeni Malkin – McDonald’s
Pavel Datsyuk – Adidas
Sergei Gonchar – Visa

Charity work

Though they spend most of their time training and competing, the Russia Hockey Team also finds time to give back. The team has been involved in a number of charity projects, including an annual event called “Skate for the Homeless.”

During the event, members of the team skate around a public rink collecting donations for a local homeless shelter. The team also visits schools and hospitals to talk to kids about the importance of staying active and eating healthy.

Media appearances

Since the announcement that Russia would be ban from the 2018 Winter Olympics the NHL has been fielding questions about whether or not its players will be allowed to compete. In a statement on Twitter, the NHL said that “the Games are about athletes, not politics.”

For the most part, the Russian Hockey players who will be competing in the Olympics have stayed out of the spotlight. But a few have made media appearances to discuss their involvement in the Games.

Igor Larionov, a retired NHL player who is now a hockey analyst, said that he thinks it’s “great” that Russian players are still able to compete in the Olympics. “It just shows you how strong and powerful Russia is in hockey,” he told USA Today

Larionov’s sentiment was echoed by Vladislav Tretiak, president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation. “We respect the decision of the IOC,” he said in an interview with NBC News. “But we believe that our athletes did nothing wrong.”

“The most important thing is that our athletes can go and represent their country,” Tretiak added.

Controversies

Since the rise of the Soviet Union Russian hockey players have been considered some of the best in the world. They’ve won the most Olympic gold medals and have produced some of the greatest players to ever skate on ice. But as the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang get underway, the Russian team will be without some of its star power as a result of a doping scandal that has plagued the sport for years.

As part of an ongoing investigation into state-sponsored doping, 168 Russian athletes were banned from competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Among those banned were several prominent hockey players including Alexei Kovalev and Anton Belov. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) then allowed some Russian athletes to compete under a neutral flag as “Olympic Athletes from Russia” (OAR), but they were not allowed to wear their country’s colors or flag.

The Russian team that will be competing in Pyeongchang is made up mostly of young players who were not part of the Sochi team, but there are a few veterans, like Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk, who will be representing their country once again. The team is still considered a favorite to medal, but they will have to do it without the support of their home fans.