Prospect Weekly Special: Fun Overseas

As training camps are gearing up in North America, the hockey season is beginning in Europe. Final events on the verge of kickoff occurred over the past week with several Colorado Avalanche prospects participating.

Danila Zhuravlyov was a part of Russia’s Under-20 Four Nations team which is a tune up for the likely World Junior Championship team. As a returning member it’s expected he will be counted on the back end for Russia. In this event Zhuravlyov was able to generate some offense good for two assists in seven games including this slick pass seen below. For now Zhuravlyov will play in the Ak Bars Kazan system with hope for some time in the KHL this season.

Update: Zhuravlyov made his KHL debut for Ak Bars on September 3rd and played over 15 minutes. Great start to his KHL career!

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Nikolai Kovalenko had been productive in KHL preseason with Lokomotiv but was added to their junior club Loko’s roster in the final stages of the Junior Club World Cup. There Loko hoped to avenge their title where Kovalenko won MVP honors last year. In his brief stay of two games Kovalenko posted four assists and helped Loko capture their third JCWC title which was also a tournament sweep in each. Kovalenko was especially dangerous on the power play executing some phenomenal passes including one seen below. Kovalenko will now begin the season in the KHL with Lokomotiv  on September 4th.

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Justus Annunen started his season in the Liiga with Oulu Kapat in a Champions League game as they defeated Grenoble from France by a score of 3-1. Annunen got the start and made 22 of 23 saves, good for a .956 save percentage. Petr Kvaca also got his own start in the Champions League tournament with Ocelari Trinec in the top Czech men’s league but fell 2-0 to Yunost Minsk from Belarus. Kvaca held his own as he posted a .931 save percentage. Both will try to earn as many starts as they can get on their respective top men’s league teams.

Prospect Weekly will return regularly in early October