Sergei Kostitsyn
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Siárhei Kástsitsyn or Sergei Kostitsyn (born March 20, 1987 in Novopolotsk, Belarus) is an ice hockey player and the younger brother of Andrei Kostitsyn. Like his older brother, Sergei excelled in the Belarusian junior hockey programme. Sergei was one of the leading scorers for HK Gomel in Belarus and was drafted in the CHL Import Draft to the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights. Sergei was also drafted in the seventh round, 200th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, the team that also had drafted Andrei in the first round (10th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
Sergei had 78 points, 26 goals and 52 assists, leading all Ontario Hockey League rookies in scoring during the 2005/06 season. The 19-year-old was the second runner-up (third in voting) for the Emms Family Award, the OHL Rookie of the Year award, which was won by John Tavares, a 15-year-old for the Oshawa Generals. Second place went to Logan Couture of the Ottawa 67's. Sergei was instrumental in the London Knights' 2006 playoff run, which saw them lose to the Peterborough Petes in the OHL final. In his first ever OHL playoff game against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Sergei had 6 points, a goal and five assists, in a 6-1 London win.
The London Knights named him the team's rookie of the year and the playoff performer of the year.
Sergei is accomplished on the international stage as well. In only four years, he has participated in four World Under-17 tournaments, three World Under-18 tourneys, and two World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, one of which was with his brother Andrei. In the 2006 tournament, he was named tournament MVP of the B-pool, leading Belarus to promotion.
The Montreal Canadiens returned Kostitsyn to London for the 2006-07 season. Upon his return, he was placed on a line with young superstars Pat Kane and Sam Gagner. For his efforts, he was named an alternate captain.
