Russia: U20 WJC Defensive Candidates

The following players are the most likely candidates being considered by coach Sergei Gersonsky for Russia’s U20 WJC training camp roster.

Definite (on roster barring injury)

Andrei Pervyshin (StL) - The former U18 Team Russia captain remains one of the top playmaking blueliners in Russia. Blessed with a unique vision of the ice, Pervyshin is responsible yet creative with the puck, and has been a regular with Ak Bars (Kazan) of the Super League this season.

Dmitri Vorobiev (Tor) - Vorobiev has taken over a top-six spot on Lada’s (Togliatti) roster in the Super League. A reliable, defensive defenseman with an impressive slapshot, he has impressed all season and even come on stronger in November.

Denis Ezhov (Buf) - Though among the more seasoned candidates, Ezhov has struggled for a second straight season to earn Super League icetime. However, he appears to have finally found his ‘home’ with Metallurg (Novokuznetsk). The reliable utility defenseman has a wealth of international experience already under his belt, including two U20 WJC tournaments.

Grigori Misharin (Min) - Grigori Misharin brings size and stability in the defensive zone. He has skated the entire season in the Super League with Neftkhimik (Nizhnekamsk), and also has experience with North American-style hockey, having spent the 2003-04 season in the OHL.

Likely (likely on roster barring injury)

Dmitri Megalinsky (2005) - One of the top overlooked ’85-born defensemen in Russia, Megalinsky vastly improved during the past season in the High League. Though his skating still needs to improve, his overall game is impressive. His solid performance at the Canada-Russia Challenge tournament will improve his chances of making the squad, and he has already been a regular at a couple of previous U20 tournaments this season.

Yakov Rylov (2005) - Rylov seemingly came out of nowhere to earn a spot on the Dynamo (Moscow) roster in the Super League. Initially put in the lineup to fill the U20 player requirement, he now gets regular shifts throughout the game. While his skating and decision-making with the puck need to improve, Rylov’s poise, maturity and lack of intimidation in the crease make him a full-fledged member of Russia’s current top club. His Super League experience has already earned him one trip to a U20 tournament this season, and will likely mean a nod for the U20 WJC.

Grigori Panin (2005) - Panin’s offensive upside and slight mean streak make him an attractive player to have on the U20 WJC roster. He is a longtime partner of Dmitri Vorobiev on the national team, and the two are known as a ‘Lada defensive pairing’. Panin has also been a regular in Lada’s lineup this season in the Super League, which has helped to significantly develop his game plus boost his confidence.

Possible (up to two of following will make roster)

Roman Tesliuk (Edm) - Tesliuk was recognized as one of the top ’86-born blueliners in Russia before he left for North America during the summer of 2003. In his second season in the WHL, he has adjusted well and would add bring plenty of value to the Russian squad on North American ice. However, his long absence from Team Russia’s roster will likely hurt him. He did get a chance to impress national team coach Sergei Gersonsky having suited up for the WHL leg of the Canada-Russia Challenge tour.

Anton Belov (2005) - It was a bit of a surprise that Belov did not make the roster of the U20 Russian squad that competed at a Four Nations Tournament early this past November. He has been a regular in the Super League on CSKA (Moscow) roster and widely regarded by his coaches as a stronger defenseman than either Dmitri Kosmachev (CBJ) or Kirill Lyamin (Ott). He is not included in the ‘likely’ category having already been released once by Gersonsky from the U20 squad, and, though he will likely get a second chance, will need to really impress this time around.

Kirill Lyamin (Ott) - After an impressive Super League debut during the 2003-04 season, Kirill Lyamin’s absence from CSKA’s starting roster this season was a slight mystery. Thus far, the hard-hitting rearguard has spent the `04-5 season with CSKA’s junior farm club in the 1st League (Russia 3). He has fallen down the depth charts behind Anton Belov (2005) for the only U20 spot available on CSKA’s defensive corps, and is unlikely to get any Super League icetime before the U20 WJC. His appearance at the Canada-Russia Challenge tournament will likely merit an invitation to the U20 WJC training camp, but he will have to fight hard to earn a roster spot. He is clearly on Gersonsky’s radar, since the Canada Challenge is Lyamin’s second tournament on the U20 squad this year.

Dmitri Plekhanov (CBJ) - Plekhanov missed all of last season due to injury, but is widely regarded as one of Russia’s top ’86-born defensemen. Still, he has only played in a couple of Super League games this season, and is not better than other competing players in his age group such as Lyamin and Belov. Plekhanov possesses size and speed, and has already skated for Russia in one U20 tournament, as well as the Canada-Russia Challenge, but will need to really impress to merit an invitation.

Valeri Klimov (NJ) - Klimov has impressed with his achievements thus far this season, making Spartak Moscow’s roster early in the year and sticking thus far. After barely missing the cut last season on the U18 squad, he finally made the national team earlier this season, competing for Russia at a U20 Four Nations Tournament. Klimov appears to have the mobility, maturity and reliability in his own end to be a spare utility defenseman on the U20 WJC roster. Considering his experience, he would be a safe choice by Gersonsky, though he would not likely even be used. He is an Ezhov-type player, however, Ezhov is more effective in this role.

Fringe (will not make roster)

Dmitri Kosmachev (CBJ) - If someone asked last season whether Kosmachev would be on Russia’s U20 squad at the end of 2004, the answer would be a definite ‘yes’ without a second thought. However, it appears that the young defenseman has fallen into a bit of trouble this season. He first was unable to secure a spot on CSKA’s lineup in his third Super League season, losing out to Anton Belov. While Kiril Lyamin also missed the cut, he remained with the club’s immediate reserves on the junior farm club. Kosmachev, on the other hand, was loaned by CSKA to Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod, a club in the High League (Russia 2).

Alexander Mikhailishin (NJ) - Mikhailishin was a surprisingly early pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, but New Jersey does like size on their blueline, and Mikhailshin has plenty of that. He has, however, regressed somewhat this season, failing to make the Spartak (Moscow) opening-day roster, and spending the past several months skating for Spartak’s junior farm club in the 1st League (Russia 3). He brings great work ethic and heart to the ice, but his overall skill level and skating are merely average, which makes it unlikely that he’ll earn a spot.