Sergei Kostitsyn

Sergei Kostitsyn
Sergei Kostitsyn
Born	March 20, 1987 (age 37); Novopolotsk, BLR
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft	200th overall, 2005; Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	2007–present

Sergei Kostitsyn (Russian: Сергей Костицын) (born March 20, 1987 in Novopolotsk, Belarus) is an ice hockey player and the younger brother of Andrei Kostitsyn. He currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL. Like his older brother, Sergei excelled in the Belarusian junior hockey programme. Sergei was one of the leading scorers for HK Gomel in Belarus and was drafted in the CHL Import Draft to the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights. Sergei was also drafted in the seventh round, 200th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, the team that also had drafted Andrei in the first round (10th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing Career

Sergei had 78 points, 26 goals and 52 assists, leading all Ontario Hockey League rookies in scoring during the 2005/06 season. The 19-year-old was the second runner-up (third in voting) for the Emms Family Award, the OHL Rookie of the Year award, which was won by John Tavares, a 15-year-old for the Oshawa Generals. Second place went to Logan Couture of the Ottawa 67's. Sergei was instrumental in the London Knights' 2006 playoff run, which saw them lose to the Peterborough Petes in the OHL final. In his first ever OHL playoff game against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Sergei had 6 points, a goal and five assists, in a 6-1 London win.

The London Knights named him the team's rookie of the year and the playoff performer of the year.

Kostitsyn is accomplished on the international stage as well. In only four years, he has participated in four World Under-17 tournaments, three World Under-18 tourneys, and two World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, one of which was with his brother Andrei. In the 2006 tournament, he was named tournament MVP of the B-pool, leading Belarus to promotion.

The Montreal Canadiens returned Kostitsyn to London for the 2006-07 season. Upon his return, he was placed on a line with young superstars Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner. For his efforts, he was named an alternate captain. Kostitsyn finished third in OHL and CHL scoring behind teammate Patrick Kane and Oshawa's John Tavares, tallying 40 goals and 131 points in only 59 games. His 91 assists broke the London Knights franchise record of 89 set in 1972-73 by Dennis Ververgaart.

Kostitsyn was also named to the Belarus team for the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. In the teams' first game against Finland, he scored a goal and added two assists in a 4-3 upset victory.

On May 1st, 2007, Kostitsyn was signed to an amateur tryout contract with the Hamilton Bulldogs to assist the team in its playoff run. After not cracking the lineup, he returned home to Belarus to see his family. On May 26th, Kostitsyn signed with the Montreal Canadiens for a 3 year entry level contract. He returned to be with the Hamilton team during their Calder Cup championship, although he did not see action in any games.

On December 12th, 2007, Kostitsyn was called up by the Montreal Canadiens. On December 13th, 2007, Kostistyn played his first career NHL game against the Philadelphia Flyers. On December 15th, Sergei got his first career NHL point against Toronto Maple Leafs

Career statistics

			Regular Season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005-06	London Knights	OHL	63	26	52	78	78	19	13	24	37	44
2006-07	London Knights	OHL	59	40	91	131	76	16	9	12	21	39
OHL Totals			122	66	143	209	154	35	22	36	58	83

References

External links