Russia: Nikolai Kovalenko (winger) and Danila Zhuravlyov (defense)
Two more 2018 draft picks are joining their country’s team at this year’s Junior Championship: Nikolai Kovalenko (171st overall), and Danila Zhuravlyov (146th overall).
Kovalenko, son of KHL’s chairman Andrei Kovalenko (drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in 1990), is spending the season with the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL. In 24 games played so far, he has a total of five points (four goals and one assist). He was also a last-minute addition to Russia’s team as he was added after the initial list was submitted.
Zhuravlyov has been playing with Bars Kazan of the VHL. Although he hasn’t recorded any points in 24 games played with the Bars so far, we hope he will get some points at Juniors and show viewers why he was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche.
Neither Kovalenko not Zhuravlyov got any points at Russia’s first game (a 4-0 win against Denmark), but the tournament is only getting started. However, Kovalenko received the following honor:
Players of the game for CZE/RUS as selected by the teams: Lukas Dostal (ANA) and Nikolai Kovalenko (COL). Dostal has been named Czech's top player in both games of the tournament for them.
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) December 29, 2018
He was voted player of the game after recording a short-handed goal in the game.
Also, not much is known about these two (especially Zhuravlyov) so here’s to hoping their performance here will give them a little push and we get to see them with the Avs soon.