 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ilya KOVALCHUK (koh-vuhl-CHUHK, IHL-yah) |
Atlanta Thrashers |
|
NHL'S ‘SELFISH' SNIPER
Steve Simmons writes in the Toronto Sun, "The many sides of Ilya Kovalchuk offer up a confounding, compelling and contradictory portrait of the most skilled offensive player in a National Hockey League crying out for skill. He loves to play the game, but hates to watch it on television. He loves living in Atlanta and playing for the Thrashers, but hates losing. He hits his drives a country mile, but can't stand golf. He'd rather go on vacation than play in the all-star game, but he wants to play this year because the game happens to be here." |
NHL'S LEADING SCORER ON A MISSION
Pierre LeBrun writes in the Canadian Press, "Sidney Crosby is the face of the league and Vincent Lecavalier may be the best player right now, but the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators face the NHL's most potent goal scorer this weekend. And they better beware. Atlanta Thrashers star winger Ilya Kovalchuk is on a mission. The NHL's leading goal scorer with 24 is on pace to become the first player since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 to eclipse the 60-goal barrier." |
HOW CAN HE GET ANY BETTER?
Craig Custance writes in the Atlanta Journal, "Even as a teenager, he knew the Russian roads were dangerous. The family Audi had four-wheel drive, yet no car was a match for the roads into Moscow. Especially when the snow got bad. By the time 16-year-old Ilya Kovalchuk was playing for Spartak, a Russian hockey team, those 100-mile trips to Moscow became a twice-weekly temptation of fate. But he always felt safe, simply because his father was behind the wheel. Kovalchuk, the kid hockey player, was usually fast asleep. "I was always sleeping," Kovalchuk said. "I trusted him 100 percent. Now when I go somewhere, with a cab driver or whoever, I can't sleep." |
|
|
|
