Ilya Kovalchuk

Ilya Valeryevich Kovalchuk is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League. He debuted in the Vysshaya Liga with Spartak Moscow, before continuing his career in the National Hockey League . Drafted first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, he began his NHL career with them in 200102. After eight seasons with the Thrashers, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in February 2010, and later signed a 15year, 100 million contract during the offseason after a 17year, 102 million was rejected by the league as being an attempt to circumvent salary cap restrictions. Three years later, he retired from the NHL on July 11, 2013, having playedseasons. Kovalchuk is fifth alltime in overtime goals scored , and 18th all time in goals per game average . He is the seventh highest scoring Russian in NHL history.

Ilya met his future wife, Nicole Andrazajtis, in 2002 after being introduced by mutual friends. Nicole was a well known singer at the time in Russia and was part of the group Mirage. They married in 2008 at Church of Dormition in Russia. Together they have four children, daughters Karolina and Eva, born in 2006 and 2015, and sons Philipp and Artem, born in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Source: Wikipedia