Suzdalev Named WHL Rookie of the Month For April
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced Monday that Regina Pats forward Alexander Suzdalev has been named the WHL Rookie of the Month for the month of April.
He led all first-year skaters over the month of April with nine points (3G-6A) over his six games played.
Suzdalev, who hails from Khabarovsk, Russia but competes internationally for Sweden, collected three multi-point games in April including a two-goal performance April 8 versus the Saskatoon Blades. He finished the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien with 10 points (3G-7A) over seven contests.
In the regular season, he all WHL rookies in goals (38), assists (48), points (86), power play goals (17), and power play assists (19), and was tied for first in points per-game (1.30). The Khabarovsk, RUS product recorded 29 multi-point efforts and seven multi-goal games this season. The 6-foot-3, 171 lb. forward was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third-round of the 2021 NHL Draft before joining Regina in the fall.
The skilled winger was tied for 11th among all league skaters in scoring and was named the WHL Rookie of the Month for the months of December and February, the only player to earn the honour twice this season.
Suzdalev spent the 2021-22 season in Sweden, leading HV71’s junior team (Sweden-Jr.) in scoring with 51 points (15G-36A) in 45 regular season games. He also competed with Sweden internationally, appearing in four games with HV71’s U18 team, where he recorded eight points (3G-5A), and skated in five games with HV71 of HockeyAllsvenskan (Sweden-2). Additionally, Suzdalev won a gold medal with Team Sweden at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships, appearing in six games.
