Andrei Skopintsev

Andrei Skopintsev
Born September 28, 1971 (1971-09-28) (age 40)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, URS
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
KHL team
Former teams
HC MVD
HC Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL)
Vityaz Chekhov (RSL)
HC Dynamo Moscow (RSL)
Atlanta Thrashers (NHL)
Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
TPS (SM-liiga)
Augsburger Panther (DEL)
Krylja Sovetov (RSL)
HC MVD (KHL)
National team  Russia
NHL Draft 153rd overall, 1997
Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career 1987–present

Andrei Borisovich Skopintsev (born September 28, 1971) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for UHC Dynamo of the KHL.

Skopintsev began his career with Elektrostal Kristall before moving to Krylja Sovetov, where he spent six seasons. In 1995, he moved to Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga where he spent one season with the Augsburger Panther. There, he pulled out his best scoring numbers of his career. Despite his reputation as a stay-at-home defenceman, Skopintsev scored 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points in 46 games.

He moved on to Finland's SM-liiga in 1996 and played for TPS Turku for two seasons. During that time, Skopintsev was drafted 153rd overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In spite of his strong reputation he built in Europe, Skopintsev never managed to emulate his performances, bouncing between the NHL and the International Hockey League. He played for the Tampa Bay Lightning and then the Atlanta Thrashers, playing 40 regular season games, scoring 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points, collecting 32 penalty minutes. After three mediocre season in the American league, Skopintsev returned in Russia in 2001 and spent five seasons with HC Dynamo Moscow and in 2006 he signed with Vityaz Chekhov.

International statistics

Year Team Event Place   GP G A Pts PIM
1995 Russia WC 5th 6 1 1 2 0
1996 Russia WC 4th 8 2 1 3 2
1997 Russia WC 4th 9 1 0 1 4
2004 Russia WC 10th 4 1 0 1 2
Senior Int'l Totals 27 5 2 7 8

External links