Man of the Week: Daniil Seroukh

KHL.ru continues its weekly column with Daniil Seroukh. The HC Sochi forward, in his second year in the league, has recently wrote a page in the book of records netting five goals in a single game when his  team defeated Dynamo Moscow last Wednesday.

In a historic performance on Wednesday, Sochi forward Daniil Seroukh single-handedly led his team to a 5:3 victory over Dynamo Moscow, netting all five of Sochi’s goals. This feat not only secured the win to his team but also etched Seroukh’s league’s record books. At 27, Seroukh is in the midst of a career-best season, amassing 30 points to date. His five-goal game marks only the second occurrence in KHL history where a player has scored five times in a single match. The first instance was in November 2008, when current KHL president Alexei Morozov achieved the milestone during Ak Bars’ 7:0 triumph over Barys.

Early years

Seroukh’s path to his Wednesday’s success has been anything but conventional. He was born in Gorkovskoye, a little town in the Omsk Region, as he started to play within the Avangard system. He then embarked on his professional career in the Junior Hockey League with the Taifun Primorsky Krai during the 2016-2017 season, he recorded modest numbers—2 goals and 1 assist over 29 games before ending the season in Kurgan in the NMHL. The subsequent years saw him honing his skills in the VHL. Between 2017 and 2023, Seroukh played for Zauralie Kurgan and later in Perm, gradually improving his performance. Notably, in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons with Molot-Prikamye, he tallied almost identical stats: 13 goals and 10 assists in 41 games, followed by 14 goals and 9 assists in 47 games, respectively.

Despite these steady improvements, a breakthrough into the KHL remained elusive. It wasn't until the 2023-2024 campaign that Seroukh earned his spot with HC Sochi. In his debut KHL season, he contributed 7 goals and 4 assists over 42 games—a respectable start, but not indicative of the potential he would soon show. The current 2024-2025 season has seen Seroukh elevate his numbers, already recording 16 goals and 14 assists in 49 games.

Sergei Popov

Seroukh’s background and career curiously remind those of his teammate, and sometimes linemate, Sergei Popov. Born on March 27, 2000, in Korolyov, Popov’s path to the KHL also traversed various leagues and countries. He began his junior career in the Ontario Hockey League with the Kingston Frontenacs during the 2016-2017 season. Over the next few seasons, Popov played for the London Knights and Owen Sound Attack, with his most productive campaign in 2019-2020, amassing 19 goals and 51 assists over 61 games.

Seeking further development, Popov returned to Europe, joining the Finland’s Mestis league for the 2021-2022 season, signing Peliitat Heinola. His strong performance caught the attention of KHL scouts, leading to his signing with HC Sochi for the 2022-2023 campaign. Popov has also elevated his play, recording 13 goals and 12 assists in 47 games so far this season.

The synergy between Seroukh and Popov has been palpable, with both players bringing a wealth of experience to the Black Sea ice. Their combined efforts have been instrumental in HC Sochi's offensive strategy, with the duo accounting for a significant portion of the team’s scoring output this season.

Legacy

Seroukh’s five-goal performance will be remembered long by both fans and players – he’ll be certain to try and repeat the feat. Unfortunately for the team, HC Sochi pretty much lost any hope for a postseason qualification – they lie twenty points behind eighth-placed Torpedo; the Black Sea franchise will try its best luck next season. And Daniil Seroukh will be ready to take on the challenge of returning to the playoffs after a six-year hiatus.