Viktor Tikhonov (ice hockey, born 1988)

For the Soviet ice hockey player and coach, see Viktor Tikhonov (ice hockey, born 1930).
Viktor Tikhonov
Born May 12, 1988
Riga, Latvian SSR,
Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
KHL team
Former teams
SKA Saint Petersburg
Severstal Cherepovets
Phoenix Coyotes
National team  Russia
NHL Draft 28th overall, 2008
Phoenix Coyotes
Playing career 2004present

Viktor Vasilievich Tikhonov (Russian: Виктор Васильевич Тихонов; born May 12, 1988) is a Russian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League. Selected 28th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, he is a prospect for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was named after his grandfather, Viktor Vasilyevich Tikhonov, the late Soviet ice hockey player and coach. His father was Vasily Tikhonov, who was also an ice hockey coach.

Playing career

Viktor grew up in Los Gatos, California and in 1994, moved with his family to Lexington, Kentucky. His father Vasily was the goalie coach for the San Jose Sharks American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Kentucky Thoroughblades. Viktor was heavily involved in the Bluegrass Blades youth hockey program.

Tikhonov was drafted 28th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft from Russian team Severstal Cherepovets. This was his third time entering the draft as he was passed over in his two previous years of eligibility. On July 1, 2008 he was signed by the Coyotes to a three-year entry level contract.[1] In the following 2008–09 season Tikhonov made the Coyotes opening night roster making his NHL debut on October 12, 2008, against the Columbus Blue Jackets.[2] He played in 61 games scoring 8 goals and 16 points before he was assigned to American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.

Tikhonov started the 2009–10 season in the AHL with the Rampage and played in 18 games before opting to take up a loan to regain form with Severstal Cherepovets of the KHL for the remainder of the season on November 27, 2009.[3] After scoring 14 goals in 25 games, tied for second among Severstal, Tikhonov was recalled by the Coyotes on March 13, 2010. He rejoined the Coyotes as a part of the practice squad as they reached the first round of the playoffs.[4]

On August 10, 2011 the Phoenix Coyotes re-signed Tikhonov to a one-year deal.[5]

International play

Medal record
Competitor for  Russia
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
Gold 2014 Minsk
World Junior Championships
Bronze 2008 Pardubice

He won a bronze medal in the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championships with the Russian squad, in a game versus Team USA. He finished the tournament with five goals and two assists in seven games, and was named the Best Forward.

In July 2013 he was named to the preliminary 35-man roster for the Russian 2014 Olympic team. He later won a gold medal in the 2014 IIHF World Championship with Russia and led the tournament in scoring.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05CSKA-2 MoscowRUS-35921284924
2005–06HK DmitrovRUS-236681410
2005–06HK Dmitrov-2RUS-31659146
2006–07Severstal-2 CherepovetsRUS-32114163020
2006–07Severstal CherepovetsRSL40000
2007–08Severstal CherepovetsRSL4366124380114
2008–09Phoenix CoyotesNHL61881620
2008–09San Antonio RampageAHL42130
2009–10San Antonio RampageAHL1826812
2009–10Severstal CherepovetsKHL251411512
2010–11San Antonio RampageAHL6010233326
2011–12SKA St. PetersburgKHL4217133018104264
2012–13SKA St. PetersburgKHL3912152716151081820
2013–14SKA St. PetersburgKHL5218163420102132
NHL totals 61 8 8 16 20
KHL totals 158 61 45 106 66 35 16 11 27 26

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2008 Russia WJC 3rd 7 5 2 7 6
2014 Russia Oly 5th 2 0 1 1 0
2014 Russia WC 1st 10 8 8 16 10
Junior totals 7 5 2 7 6
Senior totals 12 8 9 17 10

Awards and achievements

International

References

  1. "Coyotes sign first round picks Boedker and Tikhonov to contracts". Phoenix Coyotes. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  2. "Jokinen makes debut count with goal in Coyotes' win over Blue Jackets". CBS Sports. 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  3. "Coyotes loan Tikhonov to the KHL". Phoenix Coyotes. 2009-11-27. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  4. "Phoenix Coyotes' Viktor Tikhonov regains his step after visit to Russia". AZCentral. 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  5. "Phoenix Coyotes re-sign Viktor Tikhonov to 1 year deal". Tucson Citizen. Retrieved 11 August 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Victor Tikhonov.
Preceded by
Mikkel Bødker
Phoenix Coyotes first round draft pick
2008
Succeeded by
Oliver Ekman-Larsson