Look up Ilya in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Ilya, Illya, Iliya, Ilja, or Ilia is the Slavic form of the male Hebrew name Eliyahu (Elijah), meaning "My god is He". It is pronounced with stress on the second syllable. The diminutive form is Ilyusha or Ilyushenka. The Russian patronymic for a son of Ilya is "Ilyich", and a daughter is "Ilyinichna".

Ilya is also a Kurdish name meaning great and glorious.

Places[link]

• Ilya, Belarus

Famous namesakes[link]

Real people[link]

• Ilya Averbukh, Russian ice dancer
• Ilja Bereznickas, Lithuanian animator, illustrator scriptwriter and caricaturist
• Ilya Bryzgalov, Russian ice hockey goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers
• Ilya Ehrenburg, Russian writer and Soviet cultural ambassador
• Ilya Ilf, Russian author of Twelve Chairs and the Golden Calf
• Ilya Kabakov, Russian-American conceptual artist of Jewish origin
• Ilya Kovalchuk, Russian ice hockey winger for the New Jersey Devils
• Ilia Kulik, Russian figure skater
• Elia Abu Madi, Lebanese-American poet
• Ilya Mechnikov, Russian Nobel Prize-winning microbiologist
• Ilya Prigogine, Nobel Prize-winning physicist
• Ilya Yefimovich Repin (1844–1930), Russian painter
• Ilya Salkind, movie producer
• Ilja Szrajbman, Polish swimmer
• Ilya Ulyanov, father of Soviet revolutionary Vladimir Lenin
• Ilja Ylikangas, Finnish film director, screenwriter
• Ilya Zhitomirskiy American/Russian founder of Diaspora

Mythical/Biblical figures[link]

• Ilya Muromets, Russian folk hero
• Elijah, a Hebrew prophet of the ninth century BC
• Elias, another name for the prophet Elias (St Ilya in Russian)
• Ali (Arabic, Persian ایلیا), cousin, son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the first Imam of shias. (There is a quote from Imam Ali "I'm called Elia among jews, Ilya among christians, Ali for my father, and Heydar for my mother"),^[1][2]

Fictional characters[link]

• Ilya Pasternak, fictional character from the video game Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
• Illya Kuryakin, a main character in the TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
• Ilya Tretiak, a character in the 1997 film The Saint
• Ilya in the book Letters from Rifka
• Ilya Afanasyevich Shamrayev, a character in Anton Chekhov's The Seagull
• Ilya Stepanovich Igolkin, a character in Vladimir Obruchev's Plutonia
• Ilia, daughter of King Priam of Troy, in Mozart's opera Idomeneo
• Ilya Prakenskii, seventh son of a seventh son and husband of Joley Drake, in Christine Feehan's Turbulent Sea

Music[link]

• Ilya (Bristol band), from Bristol
• Ilya (San Diego band)
• "Ilya", a song by Martina Topley-Bird from Quixotic
• Ilya Kaler, violinist
• Ilya Grubert, violinist
• Ilya Lagutenko, lead singer of the Russian rock band Mumiy Troll
• Ilya Petrov, Ceremonial Perfection band, bass guitarist

References[link]

Related[link]

• Branch, in East African languages
• "There is" (il y a), in French
• "Irya" (Powerful, Energy, Glorious, Sun), in Sanskrit

See also[link]

• Elia
• Ilias (disambiguation)
• Ilyin
• Ilyinka
• Ilyinsky (disambiguation)
• Ilyino

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Ilya Ilin

Personal information
Nationality	Kazakhstan
Born	(1988-05-24) May 24, 1988 (age 24) Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan
Height	1.75 metres (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	94 kilograms (207 lb)
Sport
Country	Kazakhstan
Sport	Weightlifting
Event(s)	– 94 kg
Medal record Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing -94 kg World Championships Total Gold 2005 Doha -85 kg Gold 2006 Santo Domingo -94 kg Gold 2011 Paris -94 kg Asian Games Gold 2010 Guangzhou -94 kg

Ilya Ilin (Kazakh: Ильин Илья Александрұлы) (born 24 May 1988) is a Kazakh weightlifter. He is 175cm tall.^[1]

Ilin participated in the men's -85 kg class at the 2005 World Weightlifting Championships and won the gold medal, snatching 170 kg and jerking 216 kg for a total of 386 kg.^[2] His clean and jerk of 216 and total of 386 are the current junior men's world records in the -85 kilo class.^[3]

Ilin competed in the men's -94 kg class at the 2006 World Weightlifting Championships and won the gold medal, snatching 175 kg and jerking 217 kg for a total of 392 kg.^[4] He attempted to set a world record in the clean and jerk with 233 kg on his last two attempts but was unsuccessful on both.

Ilin competed in the men's -94 kg class at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (in group A) and won the gold medal, snatching 180 kg and jerking 226 kg for a total of 406 kg. He won in sudden death fashion over the Polish competitor Szymon Kołecki who took Silver in the event. Akkaev Khadzhimurat took Bronze.

In 2011, he competed in the men's -94 kg class at the world championships and won the gold medal, snatching 181 kg and jerking 226 kg for a total of 407 kg.

Achievements[link]

2011 World Weightlifting Championships, -94 kg;

2006 World Weightlifting Championships, -94 kg;

2005 World Weightlifting Championships, -85 kg;

2008 Beijing Olympic Games, -94 kg.

References[link]

This Kazakhstani biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Ilya Mikhailovich Ilyin (Russian: Илья Михайлович Ильин; born August 10, 1982) is a Russian professional football player. Currently, he plays for FC Yenisey Krasnoyarsk.

He played for the main squad of FC Rotor Volgograd in the Russian Cup.

External links[link]

• Career summary at KLISF

This biographical article related to a Russian football goalkeeper is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Ilya Bryzgalov
Bryzgalov with the Philadelphia Flyers
Born	(1980-06-22) June 22, 1980 (age 32) Togliatti, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team Former teams	Philadelphia Flyers Anaheim Ducks Phoenix Coyotes
National team	Russia
NHL Draft	44th overall, 2000 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Playing career	1999–present

Ilya Nikolayevich Bryzgalov (Russian: Илья́ Никола́евич Брызга́лов; born June 22, 1980) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, 44th overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

In 2006–07 NHL season, Bryzgalov won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks. Internationally, he has earned a Bronze Medal with Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and a Silver Medal at the 2000 World Junior Championships. Ilya also competed in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and is a 3-time Olympian. He helped Team Russia as starting goaltender win back to back Gold Medals at the 2009 World Ice Hockey Championships, making them ranked number one in the world. He was also runner-up for the Vezina Trophy and a top 5 finalist for the Hart Trophy in the 2009–10 NHL season.

Playing career[link]

Early years and Anaheim tenure[link]

Bryzgalov started his professional career in his native Russia, splitting the 1999–2000 season between Spartak Moscow of the Russian Supreme League (RSL-2) and Lada Togliatti of the Russian Superleague (RSL). Bryzgalov played two seasons with Lada Togliatti, before joining the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, who had drafted him in the second round, 44th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Ilya Bryzgalov playing for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.

However, with Jean-Sébastien Giguère and Martin Gerber ahead of him in the club's depth chart, Bryzgalov spent the better part of his first four seasons in North America with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his Mighty Ducks debut in 2001–02, playing in his first of two games during that four-season stretch.

With the departure of backup Gerber, Bryzgalov took over behind Giguère in 2005–06 season. However, injuries to the Ducks starter^[1][2][3] allowed Bryzgalov to play more games than he otherwise would have and he responded to the challenge with a 13-12-1 record with a 2.51 goals against average (GAA) and .910 save percentage. In the subsequent playoffs, Bryzgalov made three starts and one relief appearance for the Ducks in their first-round series against the Calgary Flames. In Game One, he filled in for an injured Giguère, taking a 2–1 overtime loss.^[4] He relieved Giguère once more in Game 5 and stopped all 19 shots he faced in a 3–2 loss.^[4] He then took over the starting job for Games 6 and 7 of the series, winning 2–1 in Game 6 and recording a shutout in the decisive Game 7. Moving past the Flames, Bryzgalov then recorded 5–0 and 3–0 shutouts in the first two games of the second series against the Colorado Avalanche for three consecutive shutouts. He tied Frank McCool's 1945 playoff record for most consecutive shutouts by a rookie and passed Giguère, who had recorded consecutive shutouts in 2003 for the third longest playoff shutout streak of all time.^[5] Despite his success in the first two rounds, Bryzgalov struggled in the semi-finals against the Edmonton Oilers and was eventually replaced by Giguère for the rest of the series as the Ducks were eliminated in five games.

Bryzgalov warming up during the 2007 playoffs.

Bryzgalov continued to play backup to Giguere the following season and into the 2007 playoffs. Bryzgalov made comments regarding Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, saying he believed Carlyle has no confidence in him. However, he briefly took over as the starter for the first four games of the Western Conference quarter-finals, winning three games, as Giguère took a leave of absence with personal issues. Bryzgalov came in for relief in the Western Conference finals against the Detroit Red Wings, but remained on the bench as the Ducks went on to defeat the Ottawa Senators in the Finals in five games to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup.

Phoenix Coyotes[link]

With the re-signing of Giguère to a four-year contract in the off-season and the acquisition of Jonas Hiller from Switzerland,^[6] the Ducks attempted to trade Bryzgalov, but were unable to.^[7] General manager Brian Burke claimed he had a deal worked out at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, but could not finish it.^[6] As a result, on November 16, 2007, Bryzgalov was placed on waivers and claimed by the Phoenix Coyotes the following day on November 17.^[8] In his first game with the team that same day, Bryzgalov made 27 saves for his 3rd career shutout in a 1–0 win over the Los Angeles Kings.^[9] Phoenix promptly signed him to a three-year contract extension and he went on to record 26 wins in 55 games for the Coyotes as they battled for a playoff spot, establishing himself as the club's starting goaltender.

Bryzgalov again recorded 26 wins for the Coyotes during the 2008–09 NHL season, though the Coyotes did not qualify for the playoffs. But the 2009-10 NHL season would be a different story for Bryzgalov and the Coyotes, who would qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2002 on the back of Bryzgalov's 42 victories. The fourth seeded Coyotes would face-off against the veteran Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Quarter Finals. The series proved to be a see-saw battle that eventually saw Detroit prevail in seven games. Bryzgalov averaged 3.43 goals against per game during the series.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Coyotes during the 2010–11 NHL season, Bryzgalov's 36 wins helped them to the 6th seed in the Western Conference and a return trip to the playoffs. Once again, the Coyotes faced the Red Wings. Despite Bryzgalov's strong play throughout the regular season, he struggled in the playoff rematch with Detroit, averaging 4.36 goals against per game as the Red Wings swept the Coyotes in four straight games. Set to become an unrestricted free agent in the off-season, the Coyotes did not meet Bryzgalov's asking price for a contract extension. On June 6, 2011, Bryzgalov's negotiation rights were traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for a third-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, forward Matt Clackson, and future considerations.^[10] Bryzgalov averaged 33 victories a season the past four seasons with the Coyotes.

Philadelphia Flyers[link]

During the previous two seasons, the Flyers had lacked a player who consistently filled the starting goaltender position. The duo of Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher were able to help the team to the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals in place of the injured starter Ray Emery, but neither goaltender held onto the starting position for an extended period of time. Rookie Sergei Bobrovsky was the Flyers starter in the 2010–11 season, but he and Boucher formed another tandem with similar inconsistency,^[11] including a dismal playoff for both.

On June 23, 2011, the Flyers signed Bryzgalov to be their new starter, and signed him to a nine-year, $51 million contract. In order to accommodate his contract under the team's salary cap, the Flyers made two high-profile trades an hour before the Bryzgalov signing was first reported, sending Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets (for Jakub Voracek, as well as first- and third-round picks in the 2011 draft) and captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings (for Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn and a second-round pick).

On October 27, 2011, following a 9-8 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, Bryzgalov commented on his own play: "I have zero confidence in myself right now," he said. He also likened himself to somebody "lost in the woods" and that "If you probably throw a ball instead of the puck, I'm not gonna stop it."^[12] However, Bryzgalov would quickly rebound by winning six of his next eight games. Bryzgalov made news when he said he believed that Sergei Bobrovsky would be the starter for the 2012 NHL Winter Classic: "I have great news and even better news. Okay, great news is I'm not playing, and better news is we have a chance to win the game....(I'll) make sure I don't forget my thermos with some nice tea and enjoy the bench," he said. Bobrovsky then started the Winter Classic on January 2, 2012, a 3-2 Flyers loss to the New York Rangers at Citizens Bank Park.

Following a 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh on February 18, 2012, Bryzgalov was quoted as saying, "I know I was frustrated in my game today and I know I have to be better and I will continue to work on this, but... I will try to find peace in my soul to play in this city."

From March 4, 2012 to March 13, 2012, Bryzgalov recorded 4 shutouts and allowed just 2 goals over a five game span. On March 15, 2012, Bryzgalov set the Flyers all-time record for longest shutout streak, in a game against the New York Islanders.

Bryzgalov was named the NHL's First Star of the Month for March 2012.^[13]

On May 8, 2012, the Flyers and Bryzgalov recorded a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

International play[link]

Medal record
Ilya Bryzgalov
Competitor for  Russia
Ice hockey
World Championship
Gold	2009 Bern
Winter Olympics
Bronze	2002 Salt Lake City
World Junior Championships
Silver	2000 Umeå

Bryzgalov competed for Russia in the 2000 World Junior Championships in Umeå. He recorded a 0.77 GAA in 4 games to help Russia to a silver medal. Later that year, he was named to the Russia's senior team for the 2000 World Championships, where he played in 4 games, but failed to reach the podium. Two years later, he competed for Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City earning bronze. Playing in a backup position, Bryzgalov did not appear in any games. He played in a more expanded role, however, at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, playing in 240 minutes and recording a 2.34 GAA in 3 games. Bryzgalov received his first international gold medal at the 2009 World Championships, beating Canada in the final.

Personal[link]

Ilya and his wife, Yevgeniya have a daughter, Valery and son, Vladislav. The family lived in Yorba Linda during Bryzgalov's tenure with the Ducks. He spent five summers attending college in Russia, where he earned his degree, allowing him to teach and coach in Russian school. He reads books and enjoys studying philosophy. He did not emulate anyone in particular as a young goalie, instead focusing on being the best he could be.

Having been known to have a somewhat odd personality, he earned a lot of attention for his appearance in the first episode of 24/7: Road to the Winter Classic in which he famously describes the Solar System as "humongous big" while explaining the absurdity of human problems in comparison to the enormousness of the universe, which is similar to the views expressed by Carl Sagan about the Pale Blue Dot picture.^[14][15]

Career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

International[link]

Year	Team	Event	Place			GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2000	Russia	WJC	2 !			4	—	—	234	3	1	0.77	.971
2000	Russia	WC	11th			4	—	—	218	10	0	2.75	.880
2002	Russia	OG	3 !			0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2004	Russia	WCH	5th			3	2	1	180	7	0	2.33	.897
2006	Russia	OG	4th			1	0	1	60	5	0	5.00	.861
2009	Russia	WC	1 !			7	7	0	404	14	1	2.09	.929
2010	Russia	OG	6th			2	0	1	101	3	0	1.78	.942

Transactions[link]

• June 24, 2000 — Drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the second round, 44th overall.
• November 17, 2007 — Claimed off waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes from the Anaheim Ducks.
• June 7, 2011 — Traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Matt Clackson, a third-round draft pick in 2012 and a conditional draft pick.
• June 23, 2011 — Signed a nine-year, $51 million deal with the Philadelphia Flyers.^[11]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ilya Bryzgalov

• Ilya Bryzgalov's career stats at Eliteprospects.com
• Ilya Bryzgalov – player profile and career stats at European Hockey.Net
• Ilya Bryzgalov's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Ilya Bryzgalov at Hockey-Reference.com
• Ilya Bryzgalov's NHL player profile
• Ilya Bryzgalov at TSN.ca

Ilya Kovalchuk
Born	(1983-04-15) April 15, 1983 (age 29) Tver, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb)
Position	Winger
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	New Jersey Devils Spartak Moscow (Rus-2) Ak Bars Kazan (RSL) Khimik Moscow Oblast (RSL) Atlanta Thrashers
National team	Russia
NHL Draft	1st overall, 2001 Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career	1999–present

Ilya Valerevich Kovalchuk (Russian: Илья́ Вале́рьевич Ковальчу́к; born April 15, 1983) is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger who is an alternate captain of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, he began his NHL career in 2001–02 with Atlanta and was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as league rookie-of-the-year. He is a three-time NHL All-Star and won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's leading goal-scorer in 2004 in a three-way tie with Jarome Iginla and Rick Nash. After eight seasons with the Thrashers, he was traded to the Devils in February 2010, and later signed a 15-year, $100 million contract during the off-season.

Internationally, Kovalchuk has played for Russia in the IIHF World U18 Championship, World Junior Championship, World Championship, World Cup and Winter Olympics, highlighted by back-to-back gold medals in the 2008 and 2009 World Championship.

Playing career[link]

Early career[link]

Kovalchuk played for Russian Super League club HC Spartak Moscow for two seasons before entering the NHL. Drafted by the Thrashers first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, he became the first Russian to be drafted first overall in the NHL's history.^[1] In club-level competition, Kovalchuk wore the number 17 as a tribute to Valeri Kharlamov, a Soviet superstar in the 1970s.^[2]

Atlanta Thrashers[link]

Kovalchuk with the Thrashers during the 2005–06 NHL season.

Entering his NHL rookie season in 2001–02, Kovalchuk scored 29 goals and 51 points despite missing 17 games with a season-ending shoulder injury. He finished second in voting to teammate Dany Heatley for the Calder Trophy as league rookie of the year.^[1] Both were named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. After improving to 38 goals and 67 points in his second season, Kovalchuk scored 41 goals in 2003–04, making him a co-winner of the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy after tying for the league lead in goals with Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames and Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets.^[1] He also added 46 assists for 87 points, tying him with Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche for second in the league that season, behind Martin St. Louis. Kovalchuk also participated in his first NHL All-Star Game in 2004.

Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Kovalchuk returned to Russia, playing for both Ak Bars Kazan and Khimik Moscow Oblast of the Russian Superleague. After the lockout, Kovalchuk returned to the Thrashers and scored 52 goals, tying him with rookie Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals for third in the league in scoring (behind Jonathan Cheechoo of the San Jose Sharks (56), and Jaromír Jágr of the New York Rangers (54)). He also tied his career-high of 46 assists for a career-high 98 points, leading the Thrashers in team scoring for the second consecutive season, while finishing eighth overall in league scoring. He also became the first Thrashers player to score 50 goals in a season.

In the 2006–07 NHL season, Kovalchuk's point production dropped for the first time in his career. He finished with 42 goals and 34 assists for 76 points. During a game against the Nashville Predators during the season on January 11, 2006, Predators coach Barry Trotz accused Kovalchuk with "always [playing] with an illegal stick." Trotz had asked the referees to check Kovalchuk's stick following a Thrashers goal, but claimed that Kovalchuk was able to switch his stick before the referees could check.^[3] Despite his drop in production on the season, Kovalchuk and the Thrashers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Kovalchuk scored one goal and one assist in his NHL playoffs debut as the team lost in the opening round to the New York Rangers in four games.

In 2007–08, Kovalchuk scored two consecutive hat tricks in a loss to the Ottawa Senators and a win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 1 and 3, 2007, respectively. Later that season, on January 23, 2008, Kovalchuk was suspended for one game by the NHL for a hit from behind on New York Rangers defenseman Michal Rozsíval in a game a day prior.^[4] He finished with his second 52-goal season in three years, along with 35 assists for 87 points.

With the departure of Bobby Holik to the New Jersey Devils in the 2008 off-season, the Thrashers' captaincy remained vacant for the first half of the 2008–09 season. Kovalchuk served as one of five alternate captains to start the season until the alternates collectively requested to general manager Don Waddell and coach John Anderson for Kovalchuk to take over the captaincy.^[5] Soon thereafter, on January 11, 2009, Kovalchuk was named Holik's successor and the sixth team captain in Thrashers' history during the team's Casino Night charity event.^[5] The announcement came amidst speculation that the Thrashers were looking to trade Kovalchuk with his contract set to expire at the end of the following season.^[5] Kovalchuk completed his first season as team captain with 43 goals for his fifth consecutive 40-goal season and 91 points.

Near the beginning of the 2009–10 season, Kovalchuk scored the 300th and 301st goal of his NHL career in a 4–2 win during the St. Louis Blues' home opener on October 8, 2009.^[6] He was leading the league in goals several weeks into the season when he suffered a broken foot after blocking shot in a game against the San Jose Sharks on October 24.^[7]

New Jersey Devils[link]

In the final year of his contract, Kovalchuk and the Thrashers could not come to an agreement on an extension. Thrashers general manager Don Waddell reportedly offered 12-year, $101 million and seven-year, $70 million contracts, both of which Kovalchuk turned down.^[8] Rather than potentially losing him to unrestricted free agency in the off-season, Kovalchuk was traded on February 4, 2010, to the New Jersey Devils. Atlanta received defenceman Johnny Oduya, rookie forward Niclas Bergfors and junior prospect Patrice Cormier, and a first round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Kovalchuk and defenceman Anssi Salmela; the teams also traded second round selections in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.^[9] Kovalchuk recorded two assists the following day in his Devils' debut, a 4–3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 5.^[10] Kovalchuk eventually ended the season with 41 goals along with 44 assists, for 85 points split between Atlanta and New Jersey. On February 10, 2011, Kovalchuk scored the game winning goal in a game over the Toronto Maple Leafs to give Jacques Lemaire the 600th win of his coaching career.^[11]

Ilya Kovalchuk recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick – a goal, an assist, and a fight – on February 4, 2012, the two year anniversary of his trade to the Devils, against the Philadelphia Flyers. This was the first such hat trick ever recorded by Kovalchuk and second in the Devils' franchise, following Adam Henrique the month before. Kovalchuk assisted on two goals by teammate Kurtis Foster, scored a short-handed goal, then fought Brayden Schenn after a scrum formed when Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo performed a slew-foot on Devils captain Zach Parise.^[12]

Kovalchuk recorded his first scoring hat trick as a member of the New Jersey Devils on February 14, 2012, during a 4–1 victory in Buffalo against the Sabres.^[13]

On March 8, Kovalchuk's 13th career hat trick and 2nd hat trick as a New Jersey Devil was recorded. The Devils won 5–1 against the New York Islanders, with Ilya being the first star of the night.

On March 20, Kovalchuk became the 87th player in NHL history to score 400 goals. It was the lone goal of a 1–0 victory over the Ottawa Senators. He was given third star of the night.

Kovalchuk ended the 2011–12 season with seven game-deciding shootout goals, and eleven shootout goals in total, setting a new record in both categories. The league first introduced shootouts in 2005.^[14]

Contract controversy

Kovalchuk became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010. On July 19, after receiving offers from other teams most notably the Los Angeles Kings, Kovalchuk agreed to a 17-year, $102 million deal to remain with the Devils. The length of the deal broke the record for the longest contract in NHL history.^[15] However, the contract was rejected by the NHL the next day, on the grounds that it circumvented the league's salary cap. Arbitrator Richard Bloch heard the union's appeal, and nullified the deal.^[16]

Another contract was submitted to the NHL. During the early morning hours of September 4, 2010, the league approved the contract along with a new agreement with the NHLPA. The contract is a 15-year, $100 million deal.^[17]

Consequently, the NHL penalized the Devils for trying to circumvent the NHL Salary Cap with Kovalchuk's original contract. As a result, the Devils surrendered $3 million, a third round draft choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and one future first round draft choice within the next four seasons.

International play[link]

Medal record
Ilya Kovalchuk
Competitor for  Russia
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Bronze	2002 Salt Lake City
World Championships
Silver	2010 Germany
Gold	2009 Switzerland
Gold	2008 Canada
Bronze	2007 Russia
Bronze	2005 Austria
IIHF World U18 Championships
Gold	2001 Finland
Silver	2000 Switzerland

Kovalchuk won his first medals with Russia in a major international event at the IIHF World U18 Championships, earning silver and gold medals in 2000 and 2001, respectively. He also competed for Russia at the World Junior Championships in 2001, but finished seventh.

The following year, Kovalchuk made his senior international debut with Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, during his rookie NHL season with the Atlanta Thrashers. He recorded three points in six games to help Russia to a bronze medal finish. He then made his World Championships debut in 2003, but failed to medal.

Kovalchuk made his second straight Winter Olympics appearance in 2006 in Turin. He had a four-goal game on February 19 in a 9–2 win over Latvia, but returned to Atlanta without a medal, losing in the bronze medal game.

In 2008 Kovalchuk played in the IIHF World Championship, held in Quebec City, Canada. He scored his only two goals of the tournament in the gold medal game against Team Canada – once to force the game into overtime, then the game-winner to give Russia the championship. The following year, he led Russia to a second straight gold medal over Canada in the 2009 IIHF World Championship and was named the tournament MVP.

In May 2010, Kovalchuk played for Russia in the 74th IIHF WC in Germany, finishing second.

Played for Russia in:

• 2002 Winter Olympics (bronze)
• 2003 World Championships
• 2004 World Cup of Hockey
• 2005 World Championships (bronze)
• 2006 Winter Olympics
• 2007 World Championships (bronze)
• 2008 World Championships (gold)
• 2009 World Championships (gold)
• 2010 Winter Olympics
• 2010 World Championships (silver)

Awards and achievements[link]

• 2002 NHL YoungStars Game – (MVP)
• NHL All-Rookie Team – 2002
• NHL All-Star Game – 2004, 2008, 2009
• NHL Second All-Star Team – 2004
• 2003-04 NHL Season – Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy – (42*) (tied with 2 others)
• 2003-04 NHL Season – Kharlamov Trophy (Top Russian Player in the NHL)
• 2011–12 NHL Season – NHL Leader in Shootout Goals (11)
• (IIHF) 2008 World Championship – Gold Medal
• (IIHF) 2009 World Championship – Gold Medal
• (IIHF) 2009 World Championship – (MVP)^[18]
• 2014 Winter Olympics ambassador for Russia^[19]

Records[link]

• 2011–12 NHL Season – NHL Record for most Shootout Goals in a single-season (11)
• 2011–12 NHL Season – NHL Record for most Game-deciding shootout Goals in a single-season (7)
• Atlanta Thrashers franchise single season goal total, 52 (2005–06, 2007–08)

Career statistics[link]

Regular season and playoffs[link]

International[link]

Year	Event	Place		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2000	WJC-U18	2 !		6	2	3	5	6
2001	WJC	7th		7	4	2	6	37
2001	WJC-U18	1 !		6	11	4	15	26
2002	Oly	3 !		6	1	2	3	14
2003	WC	5th		7	4	0	4	6
2004	WC	10th		6	3	1	4	6
2004	WCH	5th		4	1	0	1	4
2005	WC	3 !		9	3	3	6	4
2006	Oly	4th		8	4	1	5	31
2007	WC	3 !		9	2	5	7	10
2008	WC	1 !		8	2	6	8	52
2009	WC	1 !		9	5	9	14	4
2010	Oly	6th		4	1	2	3	0
2010	WC	2 !		9	2	10	12	2
2011	WC	4th		9	3	5	8	6
Junior int'l totals				19	17	9	26	69
Senior int'l totals				88	31	44	75	139

All-Star Games[link]

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• Ilya Kovalchuk's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Ilya Kovalchuk – player profile and career stats at European Hockey.Net
• Ilya Kovalchuk's NHL player profile