RUSSIAN ROLLING WITH WHEAT KINGS
(Courtesy of Rob Henderson, The Brandon Sun) — Check out the Western Hockey League’s statistics and you’ll seen an asterisk next to Ivan Provorov’s name, designating him as a rookie.
It’s about the only indication of inexperience you’ll see.
At only 17 years old, the Russian import is already playing like a poised veteran, skating on the Brandon Wheat Kings’ No.1 defensive pairing and making impressive plays at both ends of the ice.
“He’s a very well-rounded player,” Wheat Kings assistant coach David Anning said. “He’s somebody that understands how to play both ends of the rink. For a young guy like that to come in and play so well in his own end, positionally, not give up many chances when he’s on the ice, be a good, reliable player, it’s certainly impressive.”
Officially a rookie in the WHL’s eyes, Provorov is certainly not a wide-eyed youngster fresh out of midget. He played in the United States Hockey League last season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and spent two more years playing minor hockey in the U.S. before that. The season of Junior A hockey has eased his transition to the WHL, while the years in North America have helped him sidestep many of the issues typically faced by first-year imports as they learn a new style of play and often a new language as well.
“The game is kinda similar,” Provorov said, comparing the WHL and the USHL.
“It’s a lot of hitting. You’ve got to make quick decisions, so that helped.”
The Wheat Kings hadn’t had much luck with Russians in the Canadian Hockey League import draft before now, failing to land Maxim Mayorov (2008 draft), Nikolai Lukyanchikov (2007) and Igor Musatov (2006), but it looks like they hit a home run with the 30th pick this year.
With two goals, five assists and a plus/minus of +2, Provorov has helped the Wheat Kings race out to a 5-0-1-0 start, tops in the East Division, as they prepare for a three-game Alberta road trip this weekend. His seven points have him tied for the team lead in scoring, while he also shared first in scoring among WHL rookies going into Tuesday’s games.
Provorov has played alongside veteran blue-liner Ryan Pilon, and the 6-foot-0, 200-pound native of Yaroslavl said it has been a good partnership.
“On the ice, I think we’re kind of the same players, offensive defencemen,” said Provorov, who along with Pilon, is a candidate for the first round of next year’s National Hockey League draft. “We know what we can expect from each other, so it’s good. I like playing with him.”
Brandon has leaned heavily on rookie defencemen, with Provorov on the first pairing and 16-year-old Kale Clague (four assists, +4) skating on the second unit. Mark Taraschuk (two assists, +4 in two games) and Mark Matsuba (one goal, +1 in one game) have also made the most of their opportunities.
The youth hasn’t hurt the Wheat Kings one bit as they entered Tuesday second in the WHL in lowest goals against per game (2.17) and sixth in shots against per contest (28).
They’re good signs for a team that has played so far without its most experienced blue-liner, Eric Roy, who is recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in training camp with the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
“Our back end is one of the strengths of our team,” Anning said. “We have guys that are first-year players and we have guys that have been around for a couple seasons, but I think, to a man, the unit’s played quite well.”