Boga on track for career season

[Bojovnik 487]

It’s taken a little over three seasons, but it looks like Yaroslav Bogatyrev is finally living up to the draft hype. The big-bodied Russian forward was taken second overall in the S86 VHL Entry Draft, behind The Frenchman who went to Riga. At the time, many thought that the Seattle management had reached to select the Nizhnii Tagil native, and his first two seasons in the show were perpetuated by struggle and frustration.

 

Last season, Bogatyrev shone in a second-line role, registering 77 points in 72 regular season games before a disappointing playoff run saw the 6’6’’ winger muster a paltry 9 points in 19 games.

 

This time around, Bogatyrev appears to be a man on a mission. He has 30 points through his first 22 games, good for 10^th in the league. Now on the team’s first line, Bogatyrev appears to be finding consistent form alongside the Bears’ top line center, Hulk Hogan 2. Alongside his exploits on the scoresheet, Bogatyrev is continuing to play a heavier, physical game with 73 hits through 22 games.

 

All in all, while Bogatyrev may not challenge the likes of Daniel Janser and Ronan Lavelle for the scoring title, it could be a sign that he is ready to become one of the true leaders in the VHL.