Claimed:Konstantin Jaroslav Azhishchenkov

[d3vilsfire 132]

 

Growing up in a hockey household, Konstantin Jaroslav Azhishchenkov's (KJA) brother, Mikhail, who played in the KHL for CSKA Moscow, and his sister, Maria, who played for the Woman's Russian National Team, was stuck in the shadows of his siblings from the very start. 

 

Despite being born in Moscow, Russia, KJA only lived in Moscow until he was 7 years old. Most of his childhood was actually spent in Port Huron, Michigan. Immigrating from Russia at the late age of 7, KJA had trouble learning English, and was therefore the subject of a lot of bullying throughout Elementary and Middle school. As a result, he had little to no friends, and therefore took comfort in playing ice hockey on the frozen pond behind his house. KJA learned to skate at the age of 5, so KJA could skate like he could walk, but unfortunately, his stick handling needed a lot of work.

 

On his 8th birthday, KJA's parents bought him hockey gear, and signed him up with the local ice hockey team to participate in the winter season. It was immediately prevalent that KJA was a loner in the locker room where, despite his best efforts, he was alienated because of his inability to speak English. Stepping onto the ice for his first game of his life, KJA knew that ice hockey was going to become his life, like it became his brother's and sister's lives. In his first game, he had 5 assists in a 5-0 victory. This opened everyone's eyes in the locker room. KJA finished the 25 game season off with 30 assists and 39 points. By season's end, KJA was no more the loner he started off the season as, but as a brother in that hockey family.

 

Before the start of the next season, he was asked to play for the U11 travel team despite being only 9 years old. He hesitated at first because he was unsure about leaving the first group of friends he had made in the two years that he had been in the country. However, the U11 travel coach, Regan Harris, was able to convince young KJA that this was the right step for him. Two days before the start of the U11 travel season, KJA accepted Coach Harris's offer, and took the steps necessary to begin his season.

 

Unfortunately his first game could have gone much better. At 9 years old, KJA was merely 5'. KJA was pounded by the older kids, and finished the game with nothing but a damaged body and ego. His team lost the game 3-0, and KJA began to question if he made the correct decision. KJA decided that he had made the right decision, and that the reason why he was not doing well was because he was not working hard enough. After a strong week of practice, KJA finished off his second game with 1G and 2 Assists. KJA finished the 42 game season with 38 assists and 50 points.

 

By age 15, KJA had shown hints that the Azhishchenkov family may have produced another hockey great. Also questions about his size were put aside. Luckily for KJA, puberty did well for him as he had a major growth spurt hitting 6' 3" and weighed around 195 lbs. Unfortunately, English continued to elude KJA, and it was difficult for him to make friends. This language barrier would continue to plague KJA.

 

Instead of attending High School, KJA made the jump the QMJHL and joined the Saint John Sea Dogs. Donning his Sea Dog sweater, KJA was ready to make his mark in the CHL. Through working hard in practice, KJA worked his way up to centering the first line. That was when KJA was truly able to make his mark in the QMJHL. In KJA's freshman season in the QMJHL, KJA broke two team records. Having 65 assists and 108 points, KJA broke Jonathan Huberdeau's team records, but unfortunately missed out on the Rookie of the Year trophy. He did receive, however, 1st Team Rookie All-Star honors. Heading into his sophomore season, a lot was expected of KJA. could he break a QMJHL record? Could the Sea Dogs come back and win a cup?

 

Unfortunately, KJA did not break a QMJHL record and the Sea Dogs did not win a cup, but KJA closed out his sophomore campaign with a relatively similar stats as his first season. KJA broke two team records again with 155 career assists and 256 career points, breaking Huberdeau's team records.

 

At 18 years old, KJA decide that it was time to look at the pro leagues. He received offers from several teams coming from the KHL and VHL. His brother's team, CSKA Moscow, offered him a lucrative contract, but KJA did not want to play in the shadows of his superstar brother, plus, he did not even want to play in the KHL, so he kindly rejected all of his KHL offers. 

 

KJA believes that the right path for him will be the VHL, and he is willing to do what it takes to make it.

 

 

 

Pros

 

Hardworking - Having so many people doubting him and alienating him because of his language differences, KJA knew that he had to prove himself on the ice. KJA is always the first one on the ice and the last one off. He fights every shift and is dedicated to becoming number one.

 

Very Fast - KJA started skating when he was 5, and he continued to practice skating and improving his speed and agility. This practice worked for him as he has been nicknamed, "The 2nd Russian Rocket." His speed is very helpful in chasing down the puck, going around defensemen, and back-checking.

 

High Endurance - All that skating and hard work have helped KJA have a high level of endurance. His coaches have claimed that his energy is at 110% through out the entire game. His high endurance makes him an excellent choice for penalty kills where a lot of energy is expensed. 

 

Cons

 

Lone Wolf - Because of his bad experience as a child and throughout his hockey career, KJA has become what is known as a Lone Wolf. On the ice, he is completely selfless: passing the puck around and generating chances all over the ice. Off the ice, however, he is shy and keeps to himself. Unlike his hardworking mentality, in social gatherings, he is the last to arrive and the first to leave.

 

Stick Handling - Despite possessing an amazing speed, KJA's stick handling skills dropped as a result. He is so fast that has trouble keeping the puck on his stick. Though he has practiced to improve this issue, sometimes when making a push down the ice, he will lose the puck destroying the offensive momentum. 

 

Passes the puck too often - Because of his stick handling issue, KJA would pass to his teammates a lot. Though this is what you would like in a playmaker, KJA took too much of a good thing and made it bad. Many times he passes it too much and soon becomes an easy player for defenses to adjust too.

Edited January 1, 2014 by d3vilsfire

[Fire Tortorella 2,653]

This looks very good, but I'd re-read the part of the rubric about the pros and cons section.

[d3vilsfire 132]

This looks very good, but I'd re-read the part of the rubric about the pros and cons section.

So sorry.. I fixed it.. each are 3 sentences except for one which is 4 sentences.. sorry about that

[AwfulHomesick 148]

Overview: 3/3 - KJA's road to the VHL looked to be one that many young hockey players of the world can relate to. Having an older sibling making a name for himself before you even had the chance to lace up skates almost seems unfair, but KJA made the best choice for himself. Glad to have you here in the league and your work ethic thus far is superb. Keep it up!

 

Grammar: 2/2 - Just one! Good work.

 

through out - throughout

 

Presentation: 1/1 - Really enjoyed the little baseball card-esque pic for KJA. Perhaps a smaller font size next time but nonetheless everything looks neat.

 

Pros: 2/2 - Yup.

 

Cons: 2/2 - Yup.

 

Overall: 10/10

 

Final: 10/10

 

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