Nikolai Kovalenko

Nikolai Kovalenko (born October 17, 1999) is an American-born Russian professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected in the sixth round, 171st overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He is the son of former NHL player, Andrei Kovalenko.

Nikolai Kovalenko
Born (1999-10-17) October 17, 1999
Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 174 lb (79 kg; 12 st 6 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Left
KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
NHL Draft 171st overall, 2018
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2018–present

Early life

Kovalenko was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the beginning of the 1999–2000 season, in which his father Andrei Kovalenko, was playing with the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. Kovalenko returned to Russia as a two-year-old following the conclusion of Andrei's 9-year career in the NHL, and lived in Yaroslavl.[1]

Playing career

Kovalenko learned to played as youth within the ranks of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey school, while his father played with the KHL club. Unable to play in the renowned style of his father, who was known as "The Tank", Nikolai focused on a more technical skill based game. He made his debut in the MHL with Loko Yaroslavl during the 2015–16 season, scoring 4 goals and 5 points in 4 games as a 16-year-old. Showing offensive potential, through Loko's second tier junior club, Loko juniors, Kovalenko was promoted to remain for the majority of the 2016–17 season in the MHL, producing a modest 14 points in 35 games.

In continuing in the MHL in the 2017–18 season, Kovalenko's improved strength was evident as he increased his offensive output with Loko in scoring 10 goals and 31 points in just 33 games appearing in the MHL All-Star Game. On February 27, 2018, he was promoted to make his professional debut in the Kontinental Hockey League as an 18-year-old, playing 11 minutes in a 2–0 road victory over Spartak Moscow.[2] Remaining on the roster for the playoffs, Kovalenko made his post-season debut in the first-round series victory over Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, and appeared scoreless in four post-season games before he was returned to the MHL following defeat to SKA Saint Petersburg. Kovalenko continued upon his successful season in producing 12 points in 13 playoff games with Loko, helping capture the Kharlamov Cup.[1]

Gaining the attention of NHL scouts, Kovalenko was ranked 33rd amongst international skaters, before he was selected in the sixth round, 171st overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He followed in his father's footsteps who was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft and played three-plus seasons with the Quebec/Colorado franchise.[3]

On August 2, 2018, Kovalenko was signed to an improved three-year contract to continue his development and remain within Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.[4] In the 2018–19 season, Kovalenko scored his first professional goal in an opening night 5–0 victory over Sibir Novosibirsk on September 4, 2018.[5] Playing in an reduced role due to his youth, Kovalenko still contributed offensively, scoring 2 goals, including the game-winner, in a 4–3 victory over HC Vityaz on September 20, 2018.[6] He was later named as the KHL's best rookie of the week for a second occasion.[7]

International play
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
2019 Canada

Kovalenko first represented Russia at the junior level at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, featuring in 6 games. He went on to appear with Russia at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge, there, he would score a key goal in the Finals, ending the tournament with three goals and five assists.

Kovalenko returned to the national stage after he was selected to the Russian team for the 2019 World Junior Championships in Vancouver, Canada.[8] In Russia's second tournament game, Kovalenko was selected as the player of the game after scoring his first goal and point, notching the game-winner shorthanded, in a 2–1 victory over the Czech Republic on December 28, 2018.[9] He ended the tournament with 3 points in 6 games, helping Russia claim the Bronze medal against Switzerland on January 6, 2019.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2015–16 Loko Yaroslavl MHL 4 4 1 5 0 — — — — —
2015–16 Loko-Junior Yaroslavl MHLB 17 6 12 18 8 — — — — —
2016–17 Loko Yaroslavl MHL 35 3 11 14 35 3 0 1 1 12
2016–17 Loko-Junior Yaroslavl NMHL 2 3 5 8 0 9 1 5 6 6
2017–18 Loko Yaroslavl MHL 33 10 21 31 34 13 1 11 12 22
2017–18 Loko-Junior Yaroslavl NMHL 2 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 7
2018–19 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL 33 5 1 6 14 7 0 2 2 2
2018–19 Loko Yaroslavl MHL — — — — — 11 3 6 9 8
2019–20 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL 54 10 11 21 26 6 0 0 0 0
KHL totals 89 15 12 27 40 17 0 2 2 9

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2015 Russia U17 6 0 0 0 2
2019 Russia WJC 6 1 2 3 12
Junior totals 12 1 2 3 14

Awards and honours
Award Year
MHL
Forward of the Month (December) 2017–18
All-Star Game 2018
Kharlamov Cup (Loko Yaroslavl) 2018

References
  1. "Nikolai Kovalenko: more then a hockey players son". Kontinental Hockey League. 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  2. "Lokomotiv 2 Spartak 0". Kontinental Hockey League. 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  3. "Colorado selectes Nikolai Kovalenko at 171st overall". Colorado Avalanche. 2018-06-23. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
  4. "Kovalenko signs new contract with Lokomotiv" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 2018-08-02. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
  5. "Lokomotiv open the season with 5-0 victory" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  6. "Lokomotiv, Vityaz game summary". Kontinental Hockey League. 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  7. "Players of the week". Kontinental Hockey League. 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  8. "Russia announces team roster for 2019 World Junior Championships". tass.com. 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  9. "Kovalenko scores in Russia's win". Colorado Avalanche. 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  10. "Russia tops Swiss for Bronze". IIHF. 2019-01-06. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
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