Hockey: Ivan Demidov in Montreal kicked the door to the NHL, they write Russians
Montreal. When Montreal fans learned that Russian striker Ivan Demidov would join the team this season, the city started unfortunately.
The fans of the club composed his song, invented his nicknames, and the fans sold jerseys with his name.
In order to avoid the Great Hump, his arrival planned to the capital of Canada. But that did not help either.
Demid’s dozen fans were waiting for Pearson’s international airport in Toronto to chanted his name.
Video: The arrival of Ivana Demidova to Canada
The live broadcast of Podcaster Tony Marinar, who lasted for more than an hour and recorded only a few seconds of the arrival of Demidov, watched over half a million people on several platforms.
The last step was needed to complete this story – the NHL debut.
He arrived at night for Tuesday, Montreal lost to Chicago 3: 4 after separate raids.
Demidov scored his assistance in the first period and scored the first goal.
« Now you know why all these people were at the airport … » wrote overseas expert Eric Engels.
The first goal scored from the first shot
Ivan Demidov was born in Sergiiev Posad north of Moscow. The nineteen -year -old is considered a great hockey talent, which he has shown in the first third of the opening match for Canadiens.
Montreal chose Demidov in the draft 2024 out of the fifth place. His name in the NHL selection was expressed by the legendary singer Celine Dion, a native of Quebec and a lifelong fan Canadiens.
He started the season in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he was the most productive player of the team. In 65 KHL matches he scored 49 points and set a new league record in the number of points of a player under 20 years.
The public’s expectations were huge. Despite the fact that Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes and coach Martin St. Louis did not want to put a big burden on a 19-year-old player.
Demidov joined the first match as a wingman 3. The formations next to Joel Armia and Alex Newhook.
When he entered the ice during the rookie round, the noise in the Bell Center was huge. According to several experts, larger than in the case of Juraj Slafkovský’s draft unit.
When Demidov jumped into the match, the audience chanted his name. In the second substitution he first touched the puck and it was the first point in the NHL, when he ideally served the puck to Newhook.
Video: The first point of Ivan Demidova for assistance
When announcing the primary assistance, the audience raised from the seats and applauded. Demidov on the bench just shook his head and smiled.
He waited for the first point six minutes, for the first goal of less than fourteen. The thrown puck into the zone bounced off the rear cushion right on the stick of Demidova.
He immediately took over and overcame the goalkeeper Arvida Söderblom. Scored from the first shot to the goal.
Video: First goal of Ivana Demidova in the NHL
Demidov: The biggest test in my life
He finally spent 16 minutes and 56 seconds on the ice. He was given space in the second power play, which was, by the way, much more dangerous than the first.
He also joined the overtime, while Slafkovský, a scorer equalizing to 3: 3, sat five minutes on the inverter.
In addition to the goal and assistance, he also scored three shots on the goal and one hit. After the meeting he was enthusiastic. When he saw a lot of journalists in the room, he said with a smile, « It’s too. »
« If we won, I would say it was a great match. But we failed, » Demidov said after the match.
“I wasn’t nervous in the dressing room, but when I came to the crushing, it came to me.
It was like a school exam, except that this was the biggest test in my life, ”he said.
« It’s crazy. I already feel that fans love me, » he didn’t hide joy.
And how did he play from St. Petersburg to Canada? “I think I was playing quite well in the first two thirds, but in the last I felt traveling and fatigue.
I think it is faster compared to hockey in Europe and is more fighting with the cushions, ”he noted Demidov.
After the meeting, Demidova picked up almost all relevant overseas media. According to them, he played relaxed, without pressure from the ongoing playoff fight, and exceeded all expectations.
Videos with his assistance and goal flooded social networks.
« He has taken the greatest step of his life and seems to be more than prepared, » wrote Expert Engels from Sportsnet.
Demidov’s debut in the best league of the world could not miss even at home in Russia. « He kicked the door to the NHL, » wrote Sport Express.
« He has been confident, with the usual insolence, and did not lose his recognizable style. This is a typical style of a master who doesn’t care in which league or against which opponent scores goals. »
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