Alexander Pechurskiy

Alexander Pechurskiy
Born June 4, 1990 (1990-06-04) (age 21)
Magnitogorsk, Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
KHL team
Former teams
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
CHL
Mississippi RiverKings
NHL Draft 150th overall, 2008
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2007–present

Alexander Alekseevich Pechursky (born June 4, 1990) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League. Pechurskiy was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 150 overall in the 5th round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

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Playing career

Pechurskiy began his professional career with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Russian Superleague in 2007–08, playing in 26 games and posting a 2.07 goals against average. He played for Team Russia at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships with a 3.06 GAA and a .8854 save percentage, while Russia earned a silver medal.[1] A month later in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Perchurskiy was selected 150th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round.

He began the 2009–10 season with Magnitogorsk, but after requesting a release, joined the Tri-City Americans of the major junior Western Hockey League in the United States in December 2009.[2]

On January 16, 2010 Pechurskiy signed an amateur try-out contract with the Penguins due to injuries to starter Marc-Andre Fleury and back-up Brent Johnson. That night he was to serve as a back-up to the Penguins' third goalie John Curry against the Vancouver Canucks at GM Place.[3] At the time of his signing, Pechurskiy had a 4–1–1 record, with a 1.84 goals against average, a .936 save percentage, and two shutouts in the WHL.[4] After Curry allowed five goals against the Canucks, Pechurskiy entered in relief and became the first Russian goaltender to play for the Penguins.[5] He played the final 35:31 of the game, making 12 saves on 13 shots, and earned the third star of the game.[6] This effort by Pechurskiy tallied him a 0.923 save percentage and a 1.69 goals against average. After the game, Pechurskiy spoke with teammates and media through translations by Ukrainian Ruslan Fedotenko, and Russians Evgeni Malkin[7] and Sergei Gonchar.

Pechurskiy started the 2010–11 season going 2–0–1 with the Americans.[8] On October 14, 2010, the Tri-City Americans announced that they had waived Pechurskiy because of the WHL's mandated limit on overaged players (he was 20 years old at the time).[9]

On November 12, Pechurskiy signed a contract with the Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League and began playing regularly for the team.[5] On January 25, 2011, he was signed to a Professional Tryout (PTO) contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[10] Pechurskiy did not make any appearances with the team, and was released from his contract on January 31, 2011 to return to the River Kings.[11]

Regular season

Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2007–08 Metallurg Magnitogorsk RSL 1 0.00
2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 1 0 0 0 36 1 0 1.67 .923
2009–10 Tri-City Americans WHL 27 13 10 1403 61 4 2.61 .912
2010–11 Tri-City Americans WHL 3 2 0 184 11 0 3.60 .861
2010–11 Mississippi RiverKings CHL 37 17 14 2030 103 1 3.04 .894
NHL totals 1 0 0 0 36 1 0 1.67 .923
RSL totals 1 0.00
WHL totals 30 15 10 1587 72 4 3.11 .887

References

External links