---

Canadian Junior Leagues -  Many pages have been inked about the once thought to be one of the prime candidates for the 2010 Entry Draft #1 overall pick, Russian Kirill Kabanov, as he has experienced a serious downhill fall after his departure to Canada this fall. During the 2008-09 season the talented winger got the first taste of pro hockey experience skating in a bunch of regular season and playoff games (and getting knocked out by a hit from former NHL defenseman Vitaly Vishnevsky) with Spartak Moscow, then scored eleven points in the 2009 U18 WJC, being thus outscored by Vladimir Tarasenko and Evgeny Kuznetsov. (RussianHockeyFans.com article by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

---

U20 World Junior Championships -  After Evgeny Grachev and Vyacheslav Voinov (Los Angeles Kings), also Belarussian-born Sergei Ostapchuk has been left out of the WJC team, this time by the IIHF itself. This has been announced today directly by the National Junior team head coach Vladimir Plyuschev. Ostapchuk is the fifth player from the preliminary long list who won't skate at the WJC as we have to count also the injuries of Andrei Loktionov (Los Angeles Kings) and Alexander Zalivin. On the bright side, today the team has been joined by Anton Klementyev (New York Islanders).

---

Canadian Junior Leagues -  The IIHF has approved the disputed transfer of Russian forward Kirill Kabanov, 17, to the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL). The IIHF could not find any assertion that Kabanov was under a valid and binding contract with the KHL club Salavat Yulayev Ufa. (IIHF.com article) READ MORE

---

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) -  As he struggled finding any roster spot, Kirill Petrov (New York Islanders) has been sent by his KHL team, Ak Bars Kazan, back to the Russian junior league, where he already scored a goal in each of the two games he's been iced in. Getting demoted in the junior team is surely a step backwards for Petrov considering the role he had in the team a couple of seasons ago, but it might be good if he manages to rebound back with some good performances and earn a call-up with the pro team.

---

Canadian Junior Leagues -  The Kirill Kabanov 's saga might have reached an end after the Moncton Wildcats announced that the player arrived in the town and that he will presented to the media today itself. As stated by the team's official website: "The IIHF may have to rule on the situation after written submissions are presented. According to Danny Flynn, the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Wildcats, this process could take at least two weeks." Stay tuned on RP.com for more updates.

---

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)

---

Canadian Junior Leagues -  Russian popular newspaper Sovietskiy Sport had an interview with Russian agent Ilya Moliver, who works for Jay Grossman's agency. Some of his clients are Ilya Kovalchuk (New Jersey Devils), Nikolai Khabibulin (Edmonton Oilers) and Pekka Rinne. He talked about his relationships with Kirill Kabanov and his father, stating that Kirill isn't the one to be blamed. (SovSport.ru interview translated by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

---

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

---

Canadian Junior Leagues -  On the QMJHL this week there was a battle of giants as Kirill Kabanov 's Moncton Wildcats faced Stanislav Galiev 's Saint John's Sea Dogs. The Wildcats won 5-2, but their coach barely played Kabanov. He was iced on the third line and played on only one powerplay and got no PK time, even when there was a 5 minute major penalty. On the other hand, Galiev was on the first line for his team and had good Powerplay time. RP.com staff followed the game and presents you an evaluation of both 2010 NHL Draft Eligibles. (Exclusive RP.com Scout Evaluation by RP.com staff) 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 -  Canada and Russia got their expected victories over Switzerland and Slovakia and are now in the pole position of reaching the final on Sunday. In Group B, Russia stunned Slovakia by scoring three goals within the first 7 minutes, and another goal after 17" min to take a healthy 4-0 lead after the 1st period. Slovakia played a more balanced game the rest of the game, but could prevent a well-balanced Russian team from winning 7-1. In the other game in Group B, USA beat Finland 3-2. Kirill Kabanov scored another goal. (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 Øksnes)
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 Søvik, 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

---

U20 4 Nations Tournament (Russia) - 

SEMIFINALS - TEAM RUSSIA vs. TEAM USA 3:1 (1:0, 1:0, 1:1)
GOALS:
- 1:0 Vyacheslav Voinov (Nikita Filatov - 15:34pp)
- 2:0 Aslan Raisov (Anton Lazarev, Pavel Chernov - 37:24)
- 2:1 Raymond Borque (Morin - 54:11)
- 3:1 Kirill Petrov (Andrei Loktionov - 58:52)
GOALIES: Alexander Pechursky - Brandon Maxwell
PIM: 27-31
SHOTS: 38-28