The Official MySpace page of Ilya Kovalchuk

Hello everybody, My name is Ilya Kovalchuk and this is my official Myspace. I play for the Atlanta Thrashers. I was born April 14, 1983 in Tver, Russia. My dad, Valeri, played professional basketball, so it was no surprise that he started taking me to the gym for workouts and co-ordination drills when I was just three years old. When I stared playing road hockey at the age of five, my father sent me to hockey school to improve my skills. By the time I was seven, I was skating circles around other players his age, so I started playing against older kids. As a teenager, I soon developed into a left winger with great size, blazing speed and a gifted scoring touch. Scouts were calling me the best player my age in the world and were predicting I would be an NHL superstar. In 2001, I became the first player from Russia to be picked first overall in the NHL Draft, when I was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers. From Moscow to Atlanta I definitely lived up to expectations during my first year in the NHL. I led all rookies with 29 goals and finished second to teammate, Dany Heatley in points. My coaches would sometimes bench me for hanging on to the puck too long or not backchecking on defense and some players weren't too impressed with my enthusiastic celebrations after I scored a goal. I am now one of the top hockey players in the world and I helped the Thrashers become playoff contenders for the first time in the team's short history. Me and the Atlanta Thrashers' accomplishments this season are even more impressive, considering the team has had to deal with the death of teammate, Dan Snyder and the injury of star Dany Heatley, after the two players were in a serious car accident in September 2003. I am a favorite to win the NHL's MVP Award. I also have a pet dog named Image. One of my favorite hobbies is bowling. I wear number 17, in tribute of former Russian hockey great, Valeri Kharlamov. Feel free to post comments any time you fans would like on my page. Thanks for your continued support!