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Canadian Junior Leagues - BARRIE -- He did not speak English. He did not have any friends or family in Canada. He did not know what to expect. All Alexander Burmistrov knew when he signed on to play in the Canadian Hockey League was that it was his best bet to make it to the NHL. So the teenager from Russia left his hometown of Kazan this season to play for the Barrie Colts, coming to a coach who was wary of Russian players from a previous experience, trying to integrate into a billet family and playing for a team that had high expectations of going deep in the playoffs. (National Post article by Mark Masters) READ MORE

Sr. World Championships - Many prospects made the roster for the two friendly matches Team Russia will play in Italy on April 23rd and 24th. Vasily Koshechkin (Tampa Bay Lightning), Anton Khudobin (Minnesota Wild) and Sergei Bobrovsky are the goalies, with Khudobin most likely as starter. On the blue line Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers) will make his first appearence, and will be joined by Vitaly Atyushov, Konstantin Korneev (Montreal Canadiens), Denis Kulyash (Nashville Predators), Evgeny Biryukov, Denis Denisov (Buffalo Sabres), Dmitri Vorobiev (Toronto Maple Leafs), Evgeny Ryasensky and Nikolai Belov. The forwards corps will be led by NHLers Maxim Afinogenov (Buffalo Sabres), Evgeny Artyukhin (Atlanta Thrashers), Artem Anisimov (New York Rangers) and Nikolai Kulemin (Toronto Maple Leafs). First call for Vladimir Tarasenko and Nikita Filatov (Columbus Blue Jackets). Other players are Konstantin Gorovikov, Denis Parshin (Colorado Avalanche), Maxim Rybin , Evgeny Skachkov (St. Louis Blues), Anton Krysanov (Phoenix Coyotes), Mikhail Varnakov , Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Oleg Saprykin (Ottawa Senators).

National Hockey League (NHL) - The NHL trade deadline came and further Russian players changed team. The first trade, the most important one, has been completed before the Olympics and brought Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers) from the Atlanta Thrashers to the New Jersey Devils. Kovalchuk's contract will run out in next June. Other two players have been moved on the trade deadline day: Evgeny Artyukhin (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Denis Grebeshkov (Edmonton Oilers). Artyukhin has been traded to the Atlanta Thrashers, while Grebeshkov to the Nashville Predators. Both players scored in their debut game and their contracts will run out in next June too.

Canadian Junior Leagues - Alexander Burmistrov is one of the finest Russian prospects heading towards the next NHL Entry Draft. He plays for Barrie Colts of the OHL and so far he scored 35 points in 29 regular season games, with 11 goals and 24 assists. Russianprospects.com offers you a report from one of his games. (Exclusive RP.com report by RP.com staff) READ MORE

U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament - In their first preparation match, Team Russia Under 18 beaten the Norwegian counterpart 5-1. Despite being outshot 11-8, coach Kryuchkov's guys finished the first period up by one goal thanks to a SH goal by Bogdan Potekhin . In the second period the Russians scored other three times with Kirill Kabanov (twice) and Stanislav Galiev . In the third period 2012 eligible Nail Yakupov found the net for the fifth goal, and Norwegia scored their only goal with a powerplay marker by Fredrik Sommerseth.

Russia - Norway 5-1 (1-0; 3-0; 1-1)

1-0 15:32 Bogdan Potekhin (Alexander Savoskin ) SH
2-0 24:11 Kirill Kabanov (Alexei Marchenko )
3-0 29:21 Kirill Kabanov (Alexei Marchenko, Ivan Telegin ) PP2
4-0 36:06 Stanislav Galiev (Kirill Kabanov) SH
5-0 45:57 Nail Yakupov ( Emil Galimov )
5-1 59:44 Fredrik Sommerseth (Daniel Sovik) PP

National Hockey League (NHL) - A total of eight Russian players got picked during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

#8 - Alexander Burmistrov (Atlanta Thrashers)
#16 - Vladimir Tarasenko (St. Louis Blues)
#26 - Evgeny Kuznetsov (Washington Capitals)
#65 - Kirill Kabanov (New York Islanders)
#86 - Stanislav Galiev (Washington Capitals)
#101 - Ivan Telegin (Atlanta Thrashers)
#158 - Maxim Kitsyn (Los Angeles Kings)
#195 - Maxim Chudinov (Boston Bruins)

U18 World Junior Championships - Team Russia U18's head coach Mikhail Vasiliev released the roster for the upcoming U18 WJC that will be played in Minsk, Belarus, on April 13-23. Kirill Kabanov has been left out of the roster because of disciplinary issues continuing in his free fall for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The other notable player who missed the cut was Ivan Telegin of the Saginaw Spirit. (Roster information) READ MORE

U18 World Junior Championships - Team Russia U18's head coach Mikhail Vasiliev released the long roster for the upcoming U18 WJC that will be played in Minsk, Belarus, on April 13-23. 27 players are present in the camp and will be joined by Kirill Kabanov , Stanislav Galiev and Ivan Telegin . Unfortunately team Russia's number one defenseman, Alexei Marchenko , is injured and will have to miss the tournament. 2010 eligible Evgeny Kuznetsov will be one of the team's stars.(Roster information) READ MORE

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) - Despite the difficulties of late for Russia producting defensive prospects, the top-end is certainly interesting, with many players who might adapt well in the jump overseas. Recently it has been very tough to decipher who would report to the NHL and who would not, and the apparent drive towards North America played its role in these rankings.

Top 10 at a glance
1. Maxim Goncharov (Phoenix Coyotes)
2. Yuri Alexandrov (Boston Bruins)
3. Dmitri Orlov (Washington Capitals)
4. Pavel Valentenko (New York Rangers)
5. Mikhail Pashnin (New York Rangers)
6. Andrei Zubarev (Atlanta Thrashers)
7. Denis Bodrov (Philadelphia Flyers)
8. Vyacheslav Buravchikov (Buffalo Sabres)
9. Alexei Emelin (Montreal Canadiens)
10. Vitali Anikienko (Ottawa Senators)
(Hockey's Future article by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

U20 World Junior Championships - SASKATOON � Finland exploited Russia's poor team discipline to prevail 4-3 in the fifth-place game on Monday at Credit Union Centre. Teemu Hartikainen scored the winner on the power play with under six minutes to play. Ramis Sadikov started between the pipes for Russia, while goals were scored by Maxim Trunev (Montreal Canadiens) and Alexander Burmistrov (two). (IIHF Official Site article by Lucas Aykroyd) READ MORE

U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament - The 2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial final on Saturday is ready for another showdown between the two super hockey powers, Canada and Russia. On the final day of the group stage, Canada demolished Czech Republic 9-0 while Russia beat Finland 8-4. Sweden and USA will play for the bronze. Kirill Kabanov, Nail Yakupov, Vladislav Namestnikov and Pavel Kulikov are Russia's top scorers with 5 points, while Ivan Telegin won't play in the final match as he got an elbow injury during the first period of the last game. (Internationalhockey.net article by Karsten Skjalm) READ MORE

U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament - In the second match against the Norwegian junior national team, Kryuchkov's Russia got yet another victory, this time 7-2. Kirill Kabanov didn't play in this game.

Norway (U20) - Russia (U18) 2-7 (1-1; 0-3; 1-3)

10:30 1-0 Rasmuss Juell (Hans K. Hollstedt, Anders �ksnes)
15:49 1-1 Sergei Barbashev (Vladislav Namestnikov ) SH
28:44 1-2 Pavel Kulikov (Nail Yakupov, Artur Amirov) PP2
29:17 1-3 Viktor Postnikov (Ainars Podzinsh, Bogdan Potekhin) PP2
30:13 1-4 Stefan Stepanov (Ivan Telegin) PP
46:58 2-4 Rasmuss T. Juell (Daniel S�vik, Mats R. Olsen) PP
47:07 2-5 Mikhail Grigorenko (Bogdan Potekhin)
53:41 2-6 Emil Galimov (Viktor Postnikov, Pavel Kulikov) PP
57:11 2-7 Pavel Kulikov (Ildar Isangulov, Viktor Postnikov)

U18 World Junior Championships - In the unique test match planned in the USA prior the WJC Under 18, Plyuschev's team Russia beaten Switzerland 7-3. The team led by Kirill Kabanov did fairly well, being up 7-1 until the first five minutes of the match. A couple of late goals by the opponents set the final result at 7-3. Kabanov finished the match with three points (1+2), but also Kirill Yuriev , Alexander Burmistrov , Evgeny Kuznetsov , Vladimir Tarasenko and Dmitri Orlov had a multipoints performance. Igor Bobkov 's play has been okay till the last few minutes, finishing with sixteen saves in nineteen shots faced. (Game's boxscore) READ MORE

EuroTour Karjala Cup -

GOALIES: Alexander Eremenko ("Salavat Yulaev"), Semen Varlamov (Washington Capitals) ("Lokomotiv"), Yachanov (SKA), , Biryukov (KhK MVD),
DEFENSEMAN: Ilya Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers), Evgeni Medvedev, Alexei Emelin (Montreal Canadiens) (all - "Ak Bars"), Denis Kulyash (Nashville Predators), Konstantin Korneev (Montreal Canadiens), Anton Belov (all - CSKA), Vitaly Proshkin, Kuteykin (oba - "Salavat Yulaev"), Vitaly Atyushov ("Metallurg" Mg), Dmitri Bykov (Detroit Red Wings) ("Khimik"), Yakov Rylov "(Dynamo"), Peretyagin (SKA),
FORWARDS: Fedor Fedorov (New York Rangers), Alexander Kharitonov , Dmitri Afanasenkov , Badyukov (all - "Dynamo"), Vladimir Antipov (Toronto Maple Leafs), Alexander Perezhogin (Montreal Canadiens), Alexei Tereschenko (Dallas Stars) (all - "Salavat Yulaev"), Nikolai Kulemin (Toronto Maple Leafs), Alexei Kaigorodov (Phoenix Coyotes) (oba - "Metallurg" Mg), Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets), Anton Kuryanov (oba - "Avangard"), Oleg Saprykin (Ottawa Senators), Alexei Simakov (both - CSKA), Ivan Nepryaev, Alexei Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) (both - "Lokomotiv"), Sergei Zinovjev (Boston Bruins) ("Ak Bars"), Sergei Mozyakin (Columbus Blue Jackets) ("Khimik"), Igor Makarov (Chicago Blackhawks) (SKA), Pestushko ("Neftekhimik").

EuroTour Karjala Cup -