To mark the end of the nineteenth week’s play of the ninth season of the Championship, the Kontinental Hockey League has named the best players of the week in four categories.

– Best goaltender was Andrei Kareyev (Neftekhimik), who played in three matches, recording two shutout wins and allowing just a solitary goal all week. The 22-year-old claimed the highest save percentage (99.21) and lowest goals against average (0.33) of any goalie in the League;

– Best defenseman was Juuso Hietanen (Dynamo Moscow), who helped his team win all three games, contributing 10 shots at goal and 3 points (1+2), including the game-winner against Metallurg Novokuznetsk. The 31-year-old Finn did not receive a single negative rating on his way to earning a +2 for the week;

– Best forward was Nikolai Lemtyugov (Avangard), who after three appearances finished the week with two victories and 5 points (3+2), thanks in part to a double against Lokomotiv. The 30-year-old Russian also contributed 6 hits and received no minus ratings, meriting a +2 for the week;

– Best rookie was 21-year-old Ugra forward Yegor Ivanov, who enjoyed three outings and ended the week with two wins, an average of 16 minutes 20 seconds on the ice, no negative ratings and a +1 for the week. Ivanov’s strike against HC Sochi was his first ever goal in the KHL and it sealed victory for the Khanty-Mansiysk men.