Youngster report – second week

The KHL season continues, and so the youngster report – let’s see who performed better this time around among the U23 players in the league.

Matvei Michkov

F, HC Sochi, 2004

Week stats: 3 G, 3 (2+1) points, +3

On Thursday, Michkov had potted his first goals of the season when he recorded a double in HC Sochi’s 4:3 win over Traktor. With the Chelyabinsk team coming to town, Michkov got full advantage of a rebound off the boards to net the 2:2 goal in the start of the closing frame. Traktor scored again, with Alexander Sharov, but Sochi managed to grab the win. Following the 3:3 goal by Kirill Rasskazov, the guests found themselves in a good position in the offensive zone after a Traktor’s turnover. Michkov got the puck from Artur Tyanulin, then used his linemate as a screen to unleash a laser-like wristshot that went in with millimetric precision with just 49 seconds to the final hooter. It was Sochi’s fifth consecutive win as the Black Sea franchise climbed up to third position in the Western Conference. Earlier, Michkov had an assist in Sochi’s 5:3 win over Severstal.

Anton Silayev

D, Torpedo, 2006

Week stats: 3 G, 2 (1+1) points, +1

The young Torpedo defenseman is having a tremendous season, being one of the busiest players among the team’s blueliner. The large-framed d-man opened his goal-scoring account in the league in Torpedo’s 3:4 defeat in Kazan; his excellent performance – he also had an assist that night – wasn’t enough to avoid the team’s first loss of the season. However, Silayev is showing a steady progress under Igor Larionov’s guidance, and he has still plenty of room to further improve his game. His age should be taken into consideration – he’s not even 18. He also became the youngest Torpedo player to score in the KHL, finding the net against Ak Bars at the age of 17 years, 158 days. For his efforts, he was awarded rookie of the week honors for the second straight time.

Yaroslav Likhachyov

F, Lokomotiv, 2001

Week stats: 3 G, 4 (3+1) points, +4

One of last year’s top rookies, Likhachyov is suffering no second-year syndrome as he’s currently on a four-game scoring streak, netting tallies in each game. Most importantly, Likhachyov scored Lokomotiv’s first goal in his team’s 2:1 win over CSKA on Monday, a big goal in a big game as Max Shalunov won the puck off Darren Dietz on a deep forecheck, sending it across the crease for the rushing Likhachyov on the right, who hit Ivan Fedotov’s net with a quick one-timer. The 22-years-old forward has helped the Railwaymen climbing up to being tied for third place in the Western Conference’s standings, and added a goal and an assist in Wednesday’s clash against Dinamo Minsk, which Loko won 4:1.

Daniil Gutik

F, Admiral, 2001

Week stats: 2 G, 2 (1+1) points, +2

On Wednesday, Admiral has finally returned to celebrations, achieving a much-needed victory over Kunlun Red Star with a 3:1 score. The Sailors had a strong start, with Daniil Gutik tallying the game-winner after a mere five minutes in the opening frame. The forward scored a beauty, juggling with the puck in the offensive zone, showing fantastic hands, and hitting Matt Jurusik’s net with a top-shelf wrist shot on the goalie’s blocker side. Earlier in the week, Gutik had an assist in Admiral’s 3:4 loss to Barys. The forward is currently on a five-game scoring streak, while Admiral needs to find its shape and game, as the team lies on the eleventh place in the Eastern standings.

Bogdan Konyushkov

D, Torpedo, 2002

Week stats: 3 G, 3 (1+2) points, -1

Silayev isn’t the only young defenseman improving for Torpedo, Bogdan Konyushkov is also having another strong season after an excellent debut last year in Nizhny Novgorod. This week, the Penza native blueliner was instrumental in Wednesday’s 3:1 Torpedo win over Vityaz. The blueliner participated in all his team’s goals, with two assists in Torpedo’s first couple of goals, and adding an empty netter late in the closing frame. Konyushkov was a nomination for last year’s Alexei Cherepanov award, but he’s playing even better this season. Torpedo is also showing excellent hockey, and is currently the second seed in the Western Conference.