Nikolay Zherdev


Mykola Olehovych Nikolay Zherdev is a UkrainianRussian professional ice hockey right winger who is currently playing for HC Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League . He previously played in the National Hockey League for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Zherdev began playing hockey at the age of four. He began his training with the Sokil Kyiv junior hockey affiliate. Due to complications with organizing a team for his age group, he was pushed to play a year ahead with the 1983 born players a group which included fellow future Ukrainian NHLer Anton Babchuk. While participating in an overseas peewee tournament in Quebec, Canada, Zherdevs team found itself competing against a team from Elektrostal, Russia. The rival teams coach, Ravil Iskhakov, took note of both Zherdev and Babchuk, and invited the pair to further their development with the Elemash Elektrostal hockey club of the Russian Major League, to which they accepted together. The desire to play at a higher level came at a price his nationality. In order to play in Russia, he would be forced to apply for Russian citizenship.

Source: Wikipedia


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