Man of the Week: Vasily Atanasov
KHL.ru continues its ‘Man of the Week’ column with Vasily Atanasov. The young forward has been a force for Torpedo, netting a double in game one against SKA St. Petersburg in the first round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
One of the top young players in the league is Torpedo’s Vasily Atanasov. The 21-years-old forward has been excellent for the Igor Larionov’s side this year, as well as last term, albeit his production wasn’t stellar due to injuries. This year, the forward is leading Torpedo in the postseason as well, as he potted a double in the first game of the series against SKA in the Gagarin Cup playoffs’s first round. This year, Atanasov scored 40 (19+21) points in 46 regular-season games, trailing only Maxim Letunov, who however played twenty games more.
Early years
Vasily Atanasov was born on Sep 25, 2002, in Nizhny Tagil, Russia. Hailing from there are the Radulov brothers and other acclaimed players like Traktor’s Nikita Soshnikov, Admiral’s Dmitry Buchelnikov, Pavel Dorofeyev, and former KHL veteran Sergei Gusev. Atanasov’s journey began in his hometown, where he played for the youth team of Sputnik Nizhny Tagil. In his early years he already showcased a strong hockey sense and excellent anticipation. These skills, coupled with his strong passing ability, set the stage for his future success.
Atanasov’s career took off when he joined the Mamonty Yugry team in the JHL after moving from the Dynamo St. Petersburg’s system. In the 2019-2020 season, he scored 7 goals and made 8 assists in 49 games. The following season, he improved his performance significantly, scoring 20 goals and making 21 assists in 56 games. His performance caught the attention of scouts and fans alike, marking him as a player to watch – he also captained the team in the JHL, showing that he was ready to climb up the rankings.
Keeping on improving
In the 2021-2022 season, Atanasov continued to impress. He scored 39 goals and made 28 assists in 54 games for the Yugra junior team in the JHL, then also played 5 games for in the VHL, gaining valuable experience. His performance in the playoffs was particularly noteworthy, with 3 goals and 1 assist in 9 games for the senior team – strong numbers for a player of his age and size.
The 2022-2023 season saw Atanasov make the leap to the KHL, joining Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod lead by Igor Larionov. In his debut season in the KHL, he scored 8 goals and made 5 assists in 32 games. He also played 2 games for Chaika in the JHL, scoring 1 goal. His performance in the playoffs with Torpedo was solid, despite scoring only one goal in 10 games.
Breakout season
The current 2023-24 season has been a breakout one for Atanasov. He has scored 19 goals and made 21 assists in 46 games for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL. This performance places him among the top players in the league and marks him as a rising star in Russian hockey, accolades confirmed by his call to the Russia 25 team and one Forward of the Week award in the thirteen week, when he scored 4 (3+1) points in three games. The Torpedo forward also netted the game-winner in his game’s win over Dynamo Moscow.
Vasily Atanasov is a player with a bright future. His journey from a youth player in Nizhny Tagil to a rising star in the KHL is a testament to his talent, hard work, and dedication. As he continues to develop and refine his game, there is no doubt that he will continue to make a significant impact in the world of hockey. And he is having an impact today, with Torpedo facing SKA in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
