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UP NORTH HOCKEY BREAKING NEWS
Copyright 2009, Up North Hockey

Soviet Union U17 hockey stars G Boris Novichenkov and C Evgeny Kuznetsov — both sure-bet 2012 Russian Olympians, according to the Russian Olympic Development Hockey Federation (RODHF) — will attend Denfeld as foreign exchange students in the fall, Up North Hockey has learned.

And a third top Soviet prospect, 6-3, 176-pound D Kirill Kabanov (who led the Russian Olympic Development League in penalty minutes, 812 in 63 games, in 2008-09), will also join his current Team Russia teammates at Denfeld, once the final paperwork is notarized by his West Duluth host family and received by the RODHF — simply a final formality in the foreign exchange process between the United States and the Soviet Union, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Kabanov and Kuznetsov are considered Russia’s top two 92-born players.

All three players were named to the six-player all-tournament team for champion Team Russia in the recent 2009 U17 Winter European Youth Olympic Festival in Poland.

“Boris Novichenkov likely will be the Soviet’s starting goalie in the next Olympics, and Kabanov and Kuznetsov are elite, very elite young Russian prospects,” said Guy Meeker, head of Canadien Central Scouting. “My guess is they chose Minnesota schoolboy hockey over major juniors to give the kids sort of a break before they’re asked to ramp it up before the Olympics. I saw all three play in the European Olympic Festival, and any of the three could have been the tourney MVP. They were sort of like men among boys. Whatever barns they play in down there (Duluth area) will be packed every night with pro and college scouts, for sure.”

All three players will live with families residing in the Parkwood addition of Duluth, near Morris Thomas Road and Haines Road. Two players will live with one family. Novichenkov and Kuznetsov are scheduled to arrive in Duluth on May 4, and Kabanov about two weeks later after participating in a National Hockey League development camp in Toronto.

Both host families confirmed the information in this story and asked not be identified until the start of the 2009-10 school year. Novichenkov — a world-class soccer forward who has competed in several elite international tournaments — will also play soccer at Denfeld in the fall, a member of his host family said.

All three players are already signed up to play in the Minnesota fall high school elite league.

The RODHF, in a press release, said it chose to expose the elite players to North American hockey through the high-skilled and high-profile Minnesota high school program, which it said would aide in the players’ development both as players and students. The search led to the Duluth area, “by the big lake,” and eventually to Denfeld which, according to the press release, is “The Home of the Hunters. Kabanov and Kuznetsov love to hunt and fish. Hopefully they have wild buffalo and big carp.”

Oscar Hedlund, a foreign exchange student from Sweden, skated a regular shift for the Hunters in 2008-09.

The addition of the Russian players makes Denfeld a legitimate contender in Section 5A. The Hunters will graduate goaltender Matt Messina and scoring leader Cody Hotchkin, so goaltending and scoring are major concerns heading into next season. Minnesota high school coaches are not allowed to comment on foreign exchange students prior to the start of the school year.

sinbin006 wrote:http://www.howiehanson.com/?p=11860

UP NORTH HOCKEY BREAKING NEWS
Copyright 2009, Up North Hockey

Soviet Union U17 hockey stars G Boris Novichenkov and C Evgeny Kuznetsov — both sure-bet 2012 Russian Olympians, according to the Russian Olympic Development Hockey Federation (RODHF) — will attend Denfeld as foreign exchange students in the fall, Up North Hockey has learned.

And a third top Soviet prospect, 6-3, 176-pound D Kirill Kabanov (who led the Russian Olympic Development League in penalty minutes, 812 in 63 games, in 2008-09), will also join his current Team Russia teammates at Denfeld, once the final paperwork is notarized by his West Duluth host family and received by the RODHF — simply a final formality in the foreign exchange process between the United States and the Soviet Union, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Kabanov and Kuznetsov are considered Russia’s top two 92-born players.

All three players were named to the six-player all-tournament team for champion Team Russia in the recent 2009 U17 Winter European Youth Olympic Festival in Poland.

“Boris Novichenkov likely will be the Soviet’s starting goalie in the next Olympics, and Kabanov and Kuznetsov are elite, very elite young Russian prospects,” said Guy Meeker, head of Canadien Central Scouting. “My guess is they chose Minnesota schoolboy hockey over major juniors to give the kids sort of a break before they’re asked to ramp it up before the Olympics. I saw all three play in the European Olympic Festival, and any of the three could have been the tourney MVP. They were sort of like men among boys. Whatever barns they play in down there (Duluth area) will be packed every night with pro and college scouts, for sure.”

All three players will live with families residing in the Parkwood addition of Duluth, near Morris Thomas Road and Haines Road. Two players will live with one family. Novichenkov and Kuznetsov are scheduled to arrive in Duluth on May 4, and Kabanov about two weeks later after participating in a National Hockey League development camp in Toronto.

Both host families confirmed the information in this story and asked not be identified until the start of the 2009-10 school year. Novichenkov — a world-class soccer forward who has competed in several elite international tournaments — will also play soccer at Denfeld in the fall, a member of his host family said.

All three players are already signed up to play in the Minnesota fall high school elite league.

The RODHF, in a press release, said it chose to expose the elite players to North American hockey through the high-skilled and high-profile Minnesota high school program, which it said would aide in the players’ development both as players and students. The search led to the Duluth area, “by the big lake,” and eventually to Denfeld which, according to the press release, is “The Home of the Hunters. Kabanov and Kuznetsov love to hunt and fish. Hopefully they have wild buffalo and big carp.”

Oscar Hedlund, a foreign exchange student from Sweden, skated a regular shift for the Hunters in 2008-09.

The addition of the Russian players makes Denfeld a legitimate contender in Section 5A. The Hunters will graduate goaltender Matt Messina and scoring leader Cody Hotchkin, so goaltending and scoring are major concerns heading into next season. Minnesota high school coaches are not allowed to comment on foreign exchange students prior to the start of the school year.

karl(east) wrote:This is...interesting.

In the past I have supported foreign exchange students playing hockey in MN, so I guess I will stick to my principles here and say that I'm fine with it.

This is also somewhat strange because I heard a rumor, through a somewhat dubious source, that a bunch of very talented Russians were coming to East this past year. I just dismissed it as silliness. Apparently, this person was saying things based on fact...just with the wrong school and the wrong year.

Not quite sure what to make of this yet.

hshckfan08 wrote:Ha wow, the top 2 Russian 92's and a 6'3 Russian Defender who leads in penalty minutes would have me pissing my pants if i was a hermantown player.

Lord Stanley wrote:I wonder why they are repeatedly called Soviets? Don't they know that communism has ended?

MrBoDangles wrote:

Lord Stanley wrote:I wonder why they are repeatedly called Soviets? Don't they know that communism has ended?

I get it! A week long joke with a April fools ending- GOOD ONE!

east hockey wrote:

MrBoDangles wrote:

Lord Stanley wrote:I wonder why they are repeatedly called Soviets? Don't they know that communism has ended?

I get it! A week long joke with a April fools ending- GOOD ONE!

Well, the 812 penalty minutes in 63 games was a bit of a tip.

This might be the best piece Howie has wrote. Not that this is saying much....

Lee

deacon wrote:Imagine what people would be saying if STA or Breck were getting Russian foreign exchange students.....hahaha

ACTUALFORMERPLAYER wrote:

deacon wrote:Imagine what people would be saying if STA or Breck were getting Russian foreign exchange students.....hahaha

They aren't?

observer wrote:And they'd have to play JV for a season like the top rated cross country runner this last fall.

buddish4mrhockey wrote:why would they go to denfeld? Why not a powerhouse like Edina jeff tonka Bsm or aha