Boga flies home for the holidays

[Bojovnik 487]

Seattle Bears forward Yaroslav Bogatyrev was spotted at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on Christmas Day as he flew back to his homeland to spend the New Year’s holidays with his family and friends in the Russian capital.

 

Russians don’t observe Christmas on December 25, due to the Orthodox Church continuing to observe the dates set out by the Julian calendar. As a result, Bogatyrev flew home to spend New Year, the most important holiday in the modern Russian calendar, with his loved ones.

 

The time away from America should be a positive one for Bogatyrev. The big bodied Russian forward struggled at times in his rookie season, registering just 31 points in 72 games, and once the holidays are over, many believe that Bogatyrev will begin his pre-season training under the tutelage of former junior coach Anatolii Tikhonov.

 

Bogatyrev was a major name in the Russian hockey world before making the move several seasons ago to the Houston Bulls of the VHLM. He may be making his name in North America at the present time, but many in his homeland still remembering fondly the play of Bogatyrev during his time with Metallurg Chelyabinsk and Soyuz Nizhnii Tagil in the Vysshaya Hokkeynaya Liga.