Vasily Podkolzin

Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin (Russian: Василий Александрович Подколзин; born 24 June 2001) is a Russian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected tenth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Vasily Podkolzin
Born (2001-06-24) 24 June 2001
Moscow, Russia
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Left
KHL team SKA Saint Petersburg
NHL Draft 10th overall, 2019
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2018present

Playing career

Podkolzin played for the Belye Medvedi club until he was 12 years old, when he moved to Vityaz Podolsk. The move was done both because Belye Medvedi has no professional affiliate, and their leadership had changed.[1] He spent four years with Vityaz at their school, but was not given a chance to play for their club in the Junior Hockey League (MHL), the top junior league in Russia, so in 2018 he decided to transfer to powerhouse SKA Saint Petersburg.[1]

On 12 November 2018, Podkolzin made his Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) debut with SKA Saint Petersburg, becoming the first player born in the 21st century to play in the KHL.[2] He split the 2018–19 season between three teams and leagues: three games with SKA; fourteen with SKA-Neva of the Supreme Hockey League (VHL), the minor league for the KHL; and twelve games with SKA-1946 of the MHL.[3]

Rated by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau as the second-best international (playing outside of North America) skater, Podkolzin was a highly regarded prospect going into the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.[4] He was selected tenth overall by the Vancouver Canucks.[3] As he still has a contract with SKA for two more seasons, Podkolzin is expected to remain in Russia before moving to the NHL.[5]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Russia
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
2020 Czech Republic
2019 Canada

In 2018, Podkolzin captained Russia in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he won a bronze medal. In the bronze medal game against the United States, Podkolzin scored a hat trick in a 5–4 victory.[6] He led the tournament in scoring with 8 goals, 3 assists and 11 total points in 5 games.[5]

Podkolzin next played internationally at the 2019 World Junior Championships in Vancouver, Canada. He recorded 3 assists in 7 games, helping Russia win bronze.[7] He also played at the 2019 Under-18 World Championships, scoring four points in seven games.[5]

Personal life

Podkolzin was born in Moscow and grew up in the Maryino District of the city. He has one younger brother, Mikhail (born 2011), who also plays hockey. Podkozlin's father, Alexander, is an entrepreneur, while his mother teaches piano.[1] He first skated at the age of four, and began to play hockey shortly after that. His grandfather played for Khimik Voskresensk, and his father plays in an amateur league. When he was eight, Podkolzin joined the Belye Medvedi (White Bears) club.[2] The Belye Medvedi facilities were on the opposite side of the city from the Podkolzin home (north-west and south-east, respectively); it took over an hour via metro and bus for Podkolzin to reach the rink.[1] When he moved to Saint Petersburg, Podkolzin stayed in an apartment with a teammate, Ivan Manin.[8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeague GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2016–17 Vityaz Podolsk Russia U16 2916233945
2017–18 Vityaz Podolsk Russia U17 2113173020
2018–19 SKA Saint Petersburg KHL 30000
2018–19 SKA-Neva VHL 142354 82130
2018–19 SKA-1946 MHL 126282 32130
2019–20 SKA Saint Petersburg KHL 302687 41230
2019–20 SKA-Neva VHL 163586 10000
2019–20 SKA-1946 MHL 20446
KHL totals 332687 41230

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2017 Russia U17 5th 515610
2018 Russia U18 6th 42240
2018 Russia HG18 583118
2019 Russia WJC 70334
2020 Russia WJC 71458
2021 Russia WJC 4th 72248
Junior totals 3514193338

References

  1. Belousov, Yevgeni; Klimovitski, Pavel (17 August 2018). "История нового русского суперталанта. Он не захотел ехать в Канаду и перешел в СКА" [The history of the new Russian super talent. He did not want to go to Canada and moved to SKA]. Sport-express.ru. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  2. Seren Rosso, Alessandro (20 June 2019). "Vasily Podkozlin: A Star in the Making". KHL.ru. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  3. Biech, Ryan (21 June 2019). "Deep Dive: Vasily Podkolzin". NHL.com. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  4. Morreale, Mike G. (15 April 2019). "Kakko No. 1 in Central Scouting final ranking of International skaters". NHL.com. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  5. Kimelman, Adam (14 June 2019). "Podkolzin preaches patience for NHL arrival ahead of 2019 Draft". NHL.com. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  6. Kuzma, Ben (22 June 2019). "Canucks had options, but were always sold on Russian Vasili Podkolzin". The Province. Vancouver. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  7. Aykroyd, Lucas (6 January 2019). "Russia tops Swiss for Bronze". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  8. Yeronko, Igor (21 September 2018). ""Говорят, Америка, Канада – это круто. Но сейчас я не хочу туда ехать". Интервью нового русского суперталанта" ["They say America, Canada is great. But now I don't want to go there." Interview of the new Russian super talent]. Sport=express.ru. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Quinn Hughes
Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick
2019
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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