Drakkar’s Valentin Zykov Named CHL Player of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Valentin Zykov of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 13 after recording 10 points in three games scoring three goals and seven assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.
Zykov continued his brilliant start to the New Year by producing three multi-point games last week to give him six straight to open 2013. Last Wednesday night he scored a goal and an assist as part of a 4-3 win over the Sherbrooke Phoenix, then did the same against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Friday night despite a 4-3 overtime loss. The Drakkar rebounded the following evening against the Huskies led by Zykov who produced a career-high six points scoring once with five assists as first star of the 7-0 win.
Zykov, a 17-year-old from St. Petersburg, Russia, is playing in his first QMJHL season. The 2013 NHL Draft prospect has been ranked eighth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and currently leads all QMJHL rookies in scoring with 28 goals and 25 assists for 53 points in 43 games. Zykov is currently in Halifax as a member of Team Cherry set to compete in the 2013 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game tonight at 7PM Eastern on Sportsnet and the NHL Network U.S.
Also considered for the award this week was Garret Ross of the Saginaw Spirit who scored three goals and four assists for seven points in three games, and Troy Rutkowski of the Portland Winterhawks who scored six goals and four assists for 10 points in four games.
2012-13 CHL Players of the Week:
Jan. 7 – Jan 13: Valentin Zykov, Baie-Comeau Drakkar
Dec. 31 – Jan. 6: Zach O’Brien, Acadie-Bathurst Titan
Dec. 24 – Dec. 30: Anton Zlobin, Val-d’Or Foreurs
Dec. 10 – Dec. 16: Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia Sting
Dec. 3 – Dec. 9: Jaimen Yakubowski, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Josh Currie, PEI Rocket
Nov. 19 – Nov. 25: Scott Kosmachuk, Guelph Storm
Nov. 12 – Nov. 18: Raphaël Bussières, Baie-Comeau Drakkar
Nov. 5 – Nov. 11 : Philippe Maillet, Victoriaville Tigres
Oct. 29 – Nov. 4 : Brett Ritchie, Niagara IceDogs
Oct. 22 – Oct. 28: Curtis Valk, Medicine Hat Tigers
Oct. 15 – Oct. 21: Hunter Garlent, Guelph Storm
Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: JC Lipon, Kamloops Blazers
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: JC Lipon, Kamloops Blazers
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Jean-Sébastien Dea, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Sept. 20 – Sept. 23: Jonathan Drouin, Halifax Mooseheads