What nation will Zherdev play for next Olympics?

poll

Didn't he already play for Russia at some junior level? I might be wrong on this...

Yes, but with him also being a Russian exile, him playing for Russia again might be as likely as Mogilny donning the Red again

which naturally leaves the question: will he come home?

Yes, but with him also being a Russian exile, him playing for Russia again might be as likely as Mogilny donning the Red again

which naturally leaves the question: will he come home?

Well, Mogilny did play for Russia in the '96 WC, so his absence from the later tournaments has nothing to do with his defection. From what I remember, it was a much later feud with the Russian Hockey Federation (that involved other players as well- Khabibulin, Zubov, S. Kozlov to name a few). I'm all for Zherdev coming home, but it has to go through IIHF as well. Just look at Nabokov and how long it took him to finally get clearance to play for Russia. It's not all up to him, even if he chooses Ukraine.

nabokov is a reverse situation as his home country is khazakstan

the IIHF has no problem with him playing there

and yeah, i know mogilny did return and all but i just needed to pull someone as an example; you got the point i was making

Will the Ukraine even have a team in 2010? I'd venture to say they wont...

Will the Ukraine even have a team in 2010? I'd venture to say they wont...

If The Germany, The Latvia, and The Khazakstan can get teams, then Ukraine can

our biggest problem was that our NHLers (Ponikarovsky, Fedotenko, Shvidki, etc) were playing in the NHL when the qualifying rounds happened so Khazakstan got in and we lost

With players like Zherdev & Co., we'd be strong enough to ice a competitive team (like the Swiss)

nabokov is a reverse situation as his home country is khazakstan

the IIHF has no problem with him playing there

and yeah, i know mogilny did return and all but i just needed to pull someone as an example; you got the point i was making

I am not sure I understand your comment about Nabokov. As I understand the rules, Nabokov can no longer represent Khazakstan in any IIHF sanctioned event.

Back to Zherdev, he has represented Russia in an IIHF sanctioned event (I believe he played in the 03 WJCs as well as some earlier tournaments), so my understanding is that he would have to appeal to the IIHF to get approval to represent the Ukranian team in an IIHF event and if they approved it that would be his only switch.

per IIHF rule - see link below - "Such change will be allowed only once in a player's life an is final and irrevocable."

By the way, you might find this information (I had posted it a few months ago on another thread at HF) interesting/useful about the Nabokov and other situations and the current IIHF rules.

here is a link to the change in the IIHF rules about representation as of June 2003:

http://www.iihf.com//news/iihfpr2603.htm

Also, the World Cup was a non-IIHF event so the rules were more relaxed and a player playing for a country had no impact on him being able to represent his birth country (for example) in future IIHF sanctioned events; for example, Dainius Zubrus played for the Russian team, but will not play in the Olympics for Russia because he plays for Lithuania in IIHF sanctioned events; I guess this could happen with Zherdev.

History:

Petr Nedved played for Canada at the 1994 Olympics; he tried to represent the Czech Republic at a later date and the IIHF denied the request a few years ago

here's a link about Nedved and the IIHF ruling:

http://www.iihf.com//news/iihfpr1803.htm

Here is the IIHF ruling about Nabokov regarding 2002:

http://www.iihf.com//news/iihfpr0902.htm

but then they changed their decision in 2004 about Nabokov for future tournaments, based on the info in the link below and the 2003 new rules as linked earlier in this post.

link

http://www.iihf.com/news/iihfpr6304.htm

He should play for the Ukraine but he'd be an idiot not to go for team Russia who will be even deadlier next Olympics. I am afraid though that he might be an easy target for scape-goating if the Russian don't medal.

Ahhh ok thanks for clearing that up Metallian. Do you know what other teams tried to get a bid for these olympics and lost in qualifying rounds?

hmm, you're right
there could be a problem as he's always represented russia and played in russia the last 6 years


the nabokov case shows they are willing to be flexible..hmm...should be interesting to see how this plays out

Ahhh ok thanks for clearing that up Metallian. Do you know what other teams tried to get a bid for these olympics and lost in qualifying rounds?

theres a thread on these boards i believe

He should play for the Ukraine but he'd be an idiot not to go for team Russia who will be even deadlier next Olympics. I am afraid though that he might be an easy target for scape-goating if the Russian don't medal.

they just picked taratukhin over zherdev

so far they have zero interest in letting him play for them from what i can see

The impression I get from all of this is that Zherdev would have to play four years in a league in Ukraine to be eligible to play for Ukraine's national team.
He played for Russia in the World Juniors after he turned 18 so as far as the IIHF is concerned, he's Russian. To switch he would have to play "at least four consecutive years in the national competitions of his new country". They were flexible with Nabokov's case because his 2 years in CIS plus 3 years in Russia could be interpreted as five years in Russia. Zherdev has zero years in Ukraine. So I would say the Ukraine thing's not happening.

He played for Russia in the World Juniors after he turned 18 so as far as the IIHF is concerned, he's Russian

That's the old rule. It's been changed since then.



Do we know if Zherdev played hockey in Ukraine? He didnt play in Russia after age 16, are you telling me he didnt play any hockey till he was 16, and still made the draft by 18?

The impression I get from all of this is that Zherdev would have to play four years in a league in Ukraine to be eligible to play for Ukraine's national team.
He played for Russia in the World Juniors after he turned 18 so as far as the IIHF is concerned, he's Russian. To switch he would have to play "at least four consecutive years in the national competitions of his new country". They were flexible with Nabokov's case because his 2 years in CIS plus 3 years in Russia could be interpreted as five years in Russia. Zherdev has zero years in Ukraine. So I would say the Ukraine thing's not happening.

He was born in Ukraine (USSR at the time, but present-day Ukraine), so his situation is different. If he was born in Russia, played for them in WJC, and then appealed to play for Ukraine- yeah, it's not happening (although it did happen for Nabokov in the exact same situation, but that's because he played in Russia as you pointed out). But since he was born in Ukraine, if he appeals to play for his BIRTH COUNTRY- you have to admit it's a different situation.

In any case, none of this will matter unless Zherdev commits to Ukraine. It is entirely up to him, and I haven't seen any indication that he wants to play for Ukraine. The only reason he hasn't ruled it out yet, IMO, is because of his cold-war relationship with the Russian Hockey Federation.

If The Germany, The Latvia, and The Khazakstan can get teams, then Ukraine can

our biggest problem was that our NHLers (Ponikarovsky, Fedotenko, Shvidki, etc) were playing in the NHL when the qualifying rounds happened so Khazakstan got in and we lost

With players like Zherdev & Co., we'd be strong enough to ice a competitive team (like the Swiss)The Olympic qualifying tournament that involved France, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and the host Austrians was held in Feburary of 2005, during the NHL lockout, thus all those players should have been available. :teach:

pwn3d!!!

;)

I have no idea about his citizenship status, but I hope that Zherdev will be able to compete for Ukraine, simply from the same perspective that Zubrus plays for Lithuania (Zubrus: "Lithuania needs me more than Russia"). He will be able to give Ukraine a much needed boost since hockey is slowly dying in that country.

I have, on this site, and on my forum, been advocating helping the next tier of nations (below the elite) so that hockey can advance and we can have more countries eventually playing at an elite level, so if Zherdev can play for Ukraine, it will help that.

The Olympic qualifying tournament that involved France, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and the host Austrians was held in Feburary of 2005, during the NHL lockout, thus all those players should have been available. :teach:
well i'll be damned...


where the hell were they then!?

That's the old rule. It's been changed since then.



Do we know if Zherdev played hockey in Ukraine? He didnt play in Russia after age 16, are you telling me he didnt play any hockey till he was 16, and still made the draft by 18?

I just had another look at the first link that sk84fun_dc put up and I still think that the 18 years old rule is a current rule, and the change was that they added an exception to it. An exception that Zherdev doesn't qualify for because he hasn't played four years in Ukraine.

I don't know if he ever played hockey in Ukraine. I can only guess based on the interview with him that somebody posted the other day. He was asked why he played for CSKA or something to that effect, and then he started talking about figure skating. Unless he just completely butchered that question, which is quite possible, it sounds like he only picked up hockey after he had already gone to Moscow to figure skate. But like I said, that's just a guess.

Seems ridiculous that he might not be allowed to play for the country he was born in, but I think that's the case.

He has to be a citizen of Ukraine and play there at the highest level for 4 years. There is very little chance of him completing the second requirement and I'm not sure if he even has the first one down. Moreover, he actually needs to want to play for Ukraine rather than Russia.

I believe Zherdev is ethnically Russian (if one can really tell the difference) and we get him for the foreseeable future.

Will the Ukraine even have a team in 2010? I'd venture to say they wont...

Well, (the) Ukraine will probably field a team, but looking at the current state of affairs, they won't qualify for OG. So Z will have a choice of playing several qualifiers for (the) Ukraine and being done for life, or trying to prove to Russia that he is a better Kovy clone -- it' up to him to choose his poison.

In fact, he has just chosen his poison:

http://www.sport-express.ru/art.shtml?119928

Thumbs up to Zherdev for showing the initiative!!

help, i cant get that to translate. Whats it say?

help, i cant get that to translate. Whats it say?


In short, Zherdev called Krikunov or someone from the Russian NT (couldnt quite get that from text) to tell that he would be happy to play for Russian NT in Latvia.

thank you. Zherdev is ready to bust out as a big name in the NHL. I hope he gets to play with russia. Its just a shame he wasnt at the olympics.

Zherdev is major league talent for sure.

I don't know if he'll make team Russia or not, but that's the only country he will be allowed to play for as he already played for them at the 2003 WJC.

Maybe he will avoid playing for Russia, if he can, since there is so much depth of Russian forwards he would not be a gaurantee to make the team even as he comes into his own in the next years, but he is a gaurantee to make those other teams like Ukraine. He is avoiding the risk in the future?

Zherdev will likely make Russia's World Championships team this year. I dont think ge wants to play for Ukraine simply because he would never win... anything.

Zherdev will likely make Russia's World Championships team this year. I dont think ge wants to play for Ukraine simply because he would never win... anything.
With Russia he will not win anything just get more opportunities to do so. :p: Sticking up for Ukraine here, no real dislike for Russia.

Heh, well with Russia he may win a game or two, sporadically, against Kazahstan. ;)

Maybe he will avoid playing for Russia, if he can, since there is so much depth of Russian forwards he would not be a gaurantee to make the team even as he comes into his own in the next years, but he is a gaurantee to make those other teams like Ukraine. He is avoiding the risk in the future?

It doesn't matter. He's not legally allowed to play for Ukraine anymore. He's already represented Russia and can't play for any other country.

Whether it's easier for him to make team Russia or team Ukraine is irrelevant now.

It doesn't matter. He's not legally allowed to play for Ukraine anymore. He's already represented Russia and can't play for any other country.

Whether it's easier for him to make team Russia or team Ukraine is irrelevant now.


Nabokov switched, I am still hoping for Fedotenko to reconsider playing for Ukraine to deepen our reserves for the World Championships and such lesser tournaments. ;)

All Zherdev needs to do is aquire Ukranian citizenship and play in Ukraine for 4 years.... by the time he isn't good enough to play in Russia (yet alone the NHL) and is forced to spend 4 years in Ukraine... you can have him :)


It does however worry me that Russian hockey may grow even weaker than its near pathetic state right now as we lose players of Russian ethnicity and Russian roots born in other Former Soviet Republics.

In fact, he has just chosen his poison:

http://www.sport-express.ru/art.shtml?119928

Thumbs up to Zherdev for showing the initiative!!



Krikunov seems somewhat enthusiastic... although he is playing it safe by saying "oh well, you know, maybe, he is injured" in case he has one of his mood swings. Funny thing is, the Russian national team is such a mess that if Zherdev wouldn't have called and asked to be on the team... he would never have been invited simply because Krikunov is Krikunov.

Nabokov switched, I am still hoping for Fedotenko to reconsider playing for Ukraine to deepen our reserves for the World Championships and such lesser tournaments. ;)

All Zherdev needs to do is aquire Ukranian citizenship and play in Ukraine for 4 years.... by the time he isn't good enough to play in Russia (yet alone the NHL) and is forced to spend 4 years in Ukraine... you can have him :)


It does however worry me that Russian hockey may grow even weaker than its near pathetic state right now as we lose players of Russian ethnicity and Russian roots born in other Former Soviet Republics.

Yes, but did Nabokov play for Kazakhstan's junior team when he was 19?

Zherdev can spend the next 15 years of his life in Ukraine and he still won't be allowed to play for them anymore.

Yes, Nabokov did play for Kazahstan's junior team at the age of 19. The new IIHF rule is that if you want to switch the countries you play for... you have to be a citizen of your new country and play hockey in your new country at the top level for at least 4 years.


Zherdev could technically appeal his elligibility and play for Ukraine in the 2010 World Championships if he does so very soon. He can't play international hockey for 4 years though and I *think* there has to be some amount of years since you last played for your old country of representation.

Thanks for asking, but no.. the HF poster "Zherdev" will not be playing for Russia ;)

Since he has played for Russia--I belive he is not stuck playing for them

I just can't see this happening, thats all. But, boy that would be something special..

But of course Columbus will be making the playoffs within 4 years time!

I just can't see this happening, thats all. But, boy that would be something special..

But of course Columbus will be making the playoffs within 4 years time!They will be close next year.

They will be close next year.

I just can't see that happening, the west is tough and and the teams for the most part are young up and coming teams. I think Columbus could be in a situation compared to the one Atlanta were facing this year. If their goaltendering and defense is up to the task, which is doubtful in my mind, they could compete for one of the final playoff spots.

Zherdev (despite the wealth of talent Russia possesses up top Radulov for instance )at his rate of progression is a definite for future Russian squads.

And unlike Kovalchuk he isnt a lazy indiviual so I'd pick him ahead of that flop.

The Ukraine Federation needs to sort themselves out quickly.AT present 1 club cant supply the NT on a permanent basis. Stop gapping by sending promising kids to N.American colleges isnt a viable LT option either.

And Fedotenko & Ponikarovsky are a collective disgrace for not even bothering to show up at the recent WC.Not sure about Shvidki didnt he play for Russia or take Russian citizenship.

You can throw in Babchuk too.

I dont think Russia ought to worry about losing players born in former Soviet republics in the future as I'm sure with the new administration more attention than ever will be paid to intrinsic junior programmes.

And of course Zherdev who was rudely refused by Krikunov will be welcomed with open arms. :handclap:

It's a bad situation for hockey in Ukraine. How can Ukraine build a foundation of solid hockey if their top players don't even want to show up and help. They just want to sit back with their millions and think that they don't have to do anything.

But when the Olympics come around, they rush to the door and want in, while a player who has helped them in the past in WC's gets pushed out of a spot.

It's a bad situation for hockey in Ukraine. How can Ukraine build a foundation of solid hockey if their top players don't even want to show up and help. They just want to sit back with their millions and think that they don't have to do anything.

But when the Olympics come around, they rush to the door and want in, while a player who has helped them in the past in WC's gets pushed out of a spot.
That happens almost everywhere to be honest.

Look at Robert Lang. Wont play in any WC or the World Cup but will in the Olympics.

Some players are just like that.

Zherdev should get his American citizenship and play for the US...

Russia

Abu Dhabi.

Zherdev should get his American citizenship and play for the US...

Id like that, taking the neutral route

The neutral route would be say, I don't know.. playing for the country you were born in. Not the country that helped you develop into the player you are, or the country that is helping you become a star. :dunno:

you know what i meant - going with neither


that said, zherdev playing anywhere else but ukraine (and that includes guys like babchuk, mikhnov, etc.) is a crime


and i dont want some russian coming in here and saying "oh, zherdevs Russian, look at his name" cuz if thats the case, I want dibs on Kovalchuk

Yeah that's true, but there's no point getting into another argument on who belongs where because it's far too complicated.

and by complicated you mean biased

I just hope Zherdev gets to play for somebody in international play. He is a heck of a talent that deserves to be showcased by someone. I think everyone could agree to that.

So ya, I vote he should try to play for the USA :dunno: I think they could find plenty of playing time for him.

I agree he should play for SOMEBODY

it's a shame what those Russians are doing to him

and i dont want some russian coming in here and saying "oh, zherdevs Russian, look at his name" cuz if thats the case, I want dibs on Kovalchuk

You're right, but also wrong =). It depends on the person, not merely last name - or else grab your rights to Sawchuk and Konowalchuk, as well. If Kovalchuk spoke perfect Ukrainian, ate salo, drank gorilka, and danced gapak all day while living in Tver, then obviously it makes sense. Then you have to ask Zherdev himself, who does he see himself as, and that's all. I know it sounds unfair, but on the other hand, Ukraine has always been half-Russian ethnically, and during the years of Commie rule it was a moot point since there was one all-encompassing national team for all.

There are perfectly Russian people from Ukraine, for instance, who think that representing Ukraine is the only right way, and I respect that. In this year's soccer WC I saw one of the Ukrainian players miss a shot and yell out "suka blyaaat" so obviously that it was effortless to read his lips. =).

If he is indeed ethnically Russian, Ukrainians have no reason to get so upset.. I was originally BORN in Belarus, but I consider myself completely Russian. I would have no problem deciding what country to play for...

true, but as you said, about half of Ukraine speaks a mix if not entirely Russian but I dont see that as a deal maker since Canada and America both speak the same language. we all know how Canadians resent Brett Hull for what he did, but us Ukrainians have to deal with "Hull" like situations with virtually any player we have that turns out any good...you can see how frustrating it is

i have no idea what salo or gorika is though...maybe im pronouncing it wrong in my head..

we'll take Sawchuk and Konowalchuk anyday ;) same with Gretzky and Mike Bossy :)

this is more a matter of the russian hockey federation harvesting ukrainian born players and leaving us with nothing left. i understand some would be accustomed to a dual Soviet team but with Zherdev such matters isnt the case. he isnt stupid, hes going to play for the team that has a chance to win and the country that payed for his development and success. I'd do the same thing!

dont get me wrong though. I dont hate Russians or anything. I cheer for them over Canada (where I was born) or any other team every Olympics/WC.

a lot of the guys who play on the russian team(s) are ukrainian and feel ukrainian as well. tverdovsky and babchuk are brining the cup home to Kiev this summer despite both being Russian team players.

its all a matter of opportunity for the players and lacktherof for the ukrainian national team

ps: arcturus rules!

If he is indeed ethnically Russian, Ukrainians have no reason to get so upset.. I was originally BORN in Belarus, but I consider myself completely Russian. I would have no problem deciding what country to play for...


you wouldnt be saying that if Belarus was the hockey power of the world ;)

Lets just say hockey is a much better game because some Ukrainian ancestors decided to have some babies who ended up being, Bucyk, Sawchuk, Broda, Hawerchuk, Bossy, and many more.

you wouldnt be saying that if Belarus was the hockey power of the world ;)

That comment goes for anything.. I would represent Russia in ANY sort of event, it doesn't matter how good or bad they are in it. I have Russian pride, and to me, it would be a bigger honour to represent Russia and losing, than winning a medal that doesn't have much meaning to it.

Edit: Congrats Zherdev on 1000 posts :)

Lets just say hockey is a much better game because some Ukrainian ancestors decided to have some babies who ended up being, Bucyk, Sawchuk, Broda, Hawerchuk, Bossy, and many more.

amen

now if we could only get them united on a team we'd have something to cheer about, like with soccer

that said, i like FIFA's 3-generation rule to select a country better than the IIHF's "whatever country you were playing for when you turned 18" dumbass rule

true, but as you said, about half of Ukraine speaks a mix if not entirely Russian but I dont see that as a deal maker since Canada and America both speak the same language. we all know how Canadians resent Brett Hull for what he did, but us Ukrainians have to deal with "Hull" like situations with virtually any player we have that turns out any good...you can see how frustrating it is

Well, it's not necessarily the language, it's the cultural identity. Around 22% of Ukraine is currently admittedly ethnic Russian, but the number was obviously higher if you asked around during the Soviet time (even though the "nesalezhnost" referendum drew an approval rating of 90% back in 1990, I believe, but that was probably for economical reasons or anti-Soviet reasons, not necessarily anti-Russian). Here is my opinion on the issue: guys like Vishnevski, Tverdovsky, Babchuk, Zherdev, all might have some inherent patriotic feelings to where they came from, so it probably isn't right to say: "they prefer Russia, that means they hate Ukraine," and vice-versa when we're talking about a guy like Khristich. It's just that for them it might not be that big of a deal to play for Russia, since they probably also identify with Russia and Russian culture to some extent, as well, not to mention that they grew as players north of the border.



i have no idea what salo or gorika is though...maybe im pronouncing it wrong in my head..
Salo is marinated pig-fat. Tastes really good. Gorilka is a form of a hard drink, comparable to samogon (home-made alcohol). Russians associate both with Ukraine, fairly or not - doesn't matter, the stereotype spawns through centuries ;).



we'll take Sawchuk and Konowalchuk anyday ;) same with Gretzky and Mike Bossy :)

Gretzky's grandfather was actually from Belarus ;). Sorry. I remember they liked mentioning it during the hockey showcasts back in the 80s.

this is more a matter of the russian hockey federation harvesting ukrainian born players and leaving us with nothing left. i understand some would be accustomed to a dual Soviet team but with Zherdev such matters isnt the case. he isnt stupid, hes going to play for the team that has a chance to win and the country that payed for his development and success. I'd do the same thing!

Well, yes and no. You gotta also remember that the guy moved to Moscow when he was, what, 13? You never know what he would've become in Sokol's system rather than in CSKA's, so maybe he feels affiliation to Russian hockey like that. To add to the obvious calculation that Russia's chances (though not by a whole lot ;)) are greater than Ukraine's in international competition.

dont get me wrong though. I dont hate Russians or anything. I cheer for them over Canada (where I was born) or any other team every Olympics/WC.

a lot of the guys who play on the russian team(s) are ukrainian and feel ukrainian as well. tverdovsky and babchuk are brining the cup home to Kiev this summer despite both being Russian team players.

I think I read somewhere that Tverdovsky is actually bringing it to Omsk, since he played there the last few years. But I understand your point, definitely.

its all a matter of opportunity for the players and lacktherof for the ukrainian national team

Well, if Russian soccer federation came to Kiev in 1996 and claimed Andrey Shevchenko, as a Ukrainian, I would be f'in pissed. But in hockey, not many players can say that they were developed as professionals in Ukraine. So it's sort of understandable, I'd think.

ps: arcturus rules!
Foreva =).

Gretzky's grandfather was actually from Belarus ;). Sorry. I remember they liked mentioning it during the hockey showcasts back in the 80s.


oh, I know, but it's a pretty common thing for Ukrainians to take credit for Gretzky, at least where I'm from


I think I read somewhere that Tverdovsky is actually bringing it to Omsk, since he played there the last few years. But I understand your point, definitely.


pretty sure we covered this in a thread here. going to ukraine as a pair.

Well, yes and no. You gotta also remember that the guy moved to Moscow when he was, what, 13? You never know what he would've become in Sokol's system rather than in CSKA's, so maybe he feels affiliation to Russian hockey like that.

I know many American players who moved here to Ontario to play and develop in the OHL rather than their local clubs. They owe a lot to the OHL's system rather than their own but I highly doubt any of them feel any alliliation to Canadian hockey or would want to play for Team Canada because of it..

A lot to talk about here, finally..

First off,

Edit: Congrats Zherdev on 1000 posts :)

Thankyou.

Salo is marinated pig-fat. Tastes really good. Gorilka is a form of a hard drink, comparable to samogon (home-made alcohol). Russians associate both with Ukraine, fairly or not - doesn't matter, the stereotype spawns through centuries

The Western Ukrainians will call Gorilka, Horilka. Gonchar = Honchar, you now see where i'm going with this. Salo is a dish all over the place, it's common and it supposibly tastes quite good.

Gretzky's grandfather was actually from Belarus . Sorry. I remember they liked mentioning it during the hockey showcasts back in the 80s.

"Wayne Gretzky. Born 1961. Ranked #1 on the list of the top 50 hockey players of all time (according to a TOP 50 list compiled in 1998 by The Hockey News). He holds many of the most important NHL records. Wayne's paternal grandmother was born in Pidhaitse, Ukraine, and his paternal grandfather was born in Belarus. The first language that his father Walter learned at home in Canada was Ukrainian. In fact, when Walter had a stroke, much of his memory was temporarily lost and he found that he could only speak Ukrainian."

This is from waynegretzky.com and www2.uwindsor.ca/~hlynka/ukfam.html#anchor1

pretty sure we covered this in a thread here. going to ukraine as a pair.
Babchuk had the cup in Kyiv, then Tverdovsky split his time and then went to Omsk.

Here's a list of players off the 'Famous Ukrainians' list.

Wayne Gretzky
Terry Sawchuk
Mike Bossy
Bill Mosienko
Johnny Bucyk
Bill Barilko
Vladislav Tretiak
Dave Andreychuk
Keith Tkachuk
Dale Hawerchuk
Turk Broda
Eddie Shack
Walt Tkaczuk
Johnny Bower
Darryl Sydor
Dave Babych
Brian Bellows
Ken Daneyko
Bernie Federko
Kelly Hrudey
Mike Krushelnytski
Curtis Leschyshyn
Clint Malarchuk
Richard Matvichuk
Ed Olczyk
Dave Semenko (Although I had a conversation with him, he admitted he was Polish)
Stan Smyl

Dmitri Khristich anyone?

the closest it appears Z will play for Ukraine is if he goes back to the RSL and laces up for the blue & gold Khimik this year :(

Dmitri Khristich anyone?

Khristich was born in Ukraine, the others above were not.

oh, thought it was just a list of veterans who have the ukie connection

I am so interested in those kind of conversations of players like Nabokov, Perezhogin ,zherdev and all that we're born in Belarus , Kaz. or etc. It's a bit complicated for me to understand but by reading you learn. Me personaly I'd like Zherdev to play for Team Russian one day...

all the players like Zherdev or Tverdovsky come from the Russian system. and seriously, why would they want to waste their time playing for the Ukraine when they will basically play for the same country while having a chance of winning the gold medal?
I clearly remember Zhitnik saying that for him Russia and the Ukraine are still the same country.

all the players like Zherdev or Tverdovsky come from the Russian system. and seriously, why would they want to waste their time playing for the Ukraine when they will basically play for the same country while having a chance of winning the gold medal?
I clearly remember Zhitnik saying that for him Russia and the Ukraine are still the same country.

Players like Zherdev and Tverdovsky play in Russia in order to get spotted and to help their chances of making to the NHL, but the league is Russia obviously a very good place to look for talent. On the other hand Ukraine isn't the hot spot for hockey talent.

Winning medals is great, but showing pride for your country is just as important. Plus if everyone born in a certain country had to play for that country, Ukraine would be competitve.

The reason why Zhitnik confused Ukraine and Russia being basically the same thing is because he was around when the USSR was still running things, when the countries seperated, he was gone to Los Angeles.

As of right now, not Russia:

The former goaltender, who has had a successful political career since retiring in 1984, wanted the deal with the NHL so that Russia could have all their best players available for international duty.

"With next year's world championship being held in Russia, we just can't afford our players being banned from international competition," Tretyak said last week upon returning from the United States, where he met NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

IIHF president Rene Fasel has warned Russia that if they continued the stand-off they would risk participation of their NHL players in world championship or Olympic competition.

"There is a danger that if we do not find an agreement with Gary Bettman, Russian players will not be allowed to play in Russia next year," Fasel told reporters at last month's world championship in Riga.

Under the new CBA, the NHL and NHL Players Association can prevent a player from taking part in a world championship without a transfer agreement in place.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=sportsNews&storyID=2006-06-16T181423Z_01_L16710099_RTRUKOC_0_US-ICE-HOCKEY-RUSSIA.xml&archived=False

The Western Ukrainians will call Gorilka, Horilka. Gonchar = Honchar, you now see where i'm going with this. Salo is a dish all over the place, it's common and it supposibly tastes quite good.

If you want to get really technical, the Ukrainian way of saying "G" in between "G" and "H", and, surprisingly, there's no letter for it. It's in the same vein that the phonetic sound "V" is analogous to "F", "G" is analogous to "K", and this Ukrainian sound is analogous to "Kh" or "H".

I personally think it's closer to G, so that's what I use. Oftentimes after hanging out with Ukrainians, I start substituting the Ukrainian "frikatil'nyi" G in my speech.



"Wayne Gretzky. Born 1961. Ranked #1 on the list of the top 50 hockey players of all time (according to a TOP 50 list compiled in 1998 by The Hockey News). He holds many of the most important NHL records. Wayne's paternal grandmother was born in Pidhaitse, Ukraine, and his paternal grandfather was born in Belarus. The first language that his father Walter learned at home in Canada was Ukrainian. In fact, when Walter had a stroke, much of his memory was temporarily lost and he found that he could only speak Ukrainian."

This is from waynegretzky.com and www2.uwindsor.ca/~hlynka/ukfam.html#anchor1

Hehe, I apologize. I found the name coming from Belarus, so I assumed. Definitely, take all the credit =).

Players like Zherdev and Tverdovsky play in Russia in order to get spotted and to help their chances of making to the NHL, but the league is Russia obviously a very good place to look for talent. On the other hand Ukraine isn't the hot spot for hockey talent.

Winning medals is great, but showing pride for your country is just as important. Plus if everyone born in a certain country had to play for that country, Ukraine would be competitve.

The reason why Zhitnik confused Ukraine and Russia being basically the same thing is because he was around when the USSR was still running things, when the countries seperated, he was gone to Los Angeles.

as far as I remember, one of the reasons why Zhitnik decided to retire from international hockey was because he was so two-sided when it came to national affiliation.

If you want to get really technical, the Ukrainian way of saying "G" in between "G" and "H", and, surprisingly, there's no letter for it. It's in the same vein that the phonetic sound "V" is analogous to "F", "G" is analogous to "K", and this Ukrainian sound is analogous to "Kh" or "H".

I personally think it's closer to G, so that's what I use. Oftentimes after hanging out with Ukrainians, I start substituting the Ukrainian "frikatil'nyi" G in my speech.

It might be split of the letters G and H in Kyiv, but way out west you'll only hear 'H' as in horror, and in the east, 'G' as in gorilla. Big country Ukraine is.

all the players like Zherdev or Tverdovsky come from the Russian system. and seriously, why would they want to waste their time playing for the Ukraine when they will basically play for the same country while having a chance of winning the gold medal?
.

thats like saying all american players who are developed in the Canadian CHL system would want to play for Team Canada rather than "waste their time" playing for the United States; when it's basicly the same country and they'd have a better chance of winning the gold medal.

or Canadians playing NCAA basketball, etc.

If you want to get really technical, the Ukrainian way of saying "G" in between "G" and "H", and, surprisingly, there's no letter for it. It's in the same vein that the phonetic sound "V" is analogous to "F", "G" is analogous to "K", and this Ukrainian sound is analogous to "Kh" or "H".

I personally think it's closer to G, so that's what I use. Oftentimes after hanging out with Ukrainians, I start substituting the Ukrainian "frikatil'nyi" G in my speech.



Hehe, I apologize. I found the name coming from Belarus, so I assumed. Definitely, take all the credit =).

none of that info is on WayneGretzky.com

in fact, they dont even mention Walter in the bio

:dunno:

none of that info is on WayneGretzky.com

in fact, they dont even mention Walter in the bio

:dunno:

The website, of the Ukrainian stars was created many years ago (probably around 5 years ago)

Websites update and change all the time.

It might be split of the letters G and H in Kyiv, but way out west you'll only hear 'H' as in horror, and in the east, 'G' as in gorilla. Big country Ukraine is.

All my friends from Eastern Ukraine never say G as in gorilla. They use a split of G & H, much like horror - only with a "g" sounding "h". If you remember, Brezhnev was from Eastern Ukraine and he still kept Ukrainian pronounciation till his death.

Interestingly, my friends from Western Ukraine when speaking Russian speak it the way we do north of the border, because to a decent extent, it's almost another language for 'em, thus the need to make it sound right. People from the East don't bother to do that, since this Ukrainian-sounding version of Russian is widespread in industrial cities like Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, etc, so they don't need to make any transitions.

The website, of the Ukrainian stars was created many years ago (probably around 5 years ago)

Websites update and change all the time.

that does not validate the source

Russia didn't harvest anyone. Zherdev came to Russian hockey schools on his own, they made him into the player he is and that's that.

Had he stayed in Ukraine, he would've still been in Ukraine now and nobody would know his name.

There's nothing wrong in going to Russia, and becoming a well known hockey prospect.

There's nothing wrong in going to Russia, and becoming a well known hockey prospect.

Definitely not, but what's the point of saying that Russia stole Zherdev from Ukraine??

There's nothing wrong in going somewhere to achieve your goals as long as you remember where you came from, and making them proud.

There's nothing wrong in going somewhere to achieve your goals as long as you remember where you came from, and making them proud.

So since Bondra was born in Ukraine, should he pay his dues too?

So since Bondra was born in Ukraine, should he pay his dues too?
But Bondra's parents were Slovakian and they were just working there. I dont know what nationality Zherdev's parents were.

But Bondra's parents were Slovakian and they were just working there.
Bondra's mother was polish.

So since Bondra was born in Ukraine, should he pay his dues too?

Zherdev's parents were born, and reside in Kyiv. Bondra's parents were not born in Ukraine and is apparently Slovak/Polish.

Zherdev's parents were born, and reside in Kyiv. Bondra's parents were not born in Ukraine and is apparently Slovak/Polish.

and Joe Sakic's parents are Croatian

and Joe Sakic's parents are Croatian
He was born in Canada though. A whole different matter would have been if he was born in Croatia.

and Joe Sakic's parents are Croatian

Quit making these dumb statements because your just digging yourself into a larger hole of nothing.

He was born in Canada though. A whole different matter would have been if he was born in Croatia.
Owen Nolan, then ? :dunno:

Owen Nolan, then ? :dunno:
Werent his parents Canadian? :dunno:

Werent his parents Canadian? :dunno:

He was born in Belfast, I believe.

He was born in Belfast, I believe.
I know that but thats like Regehr in Brazil if Nolan's parents were Canadian.

Werent his parents Canadian? :dunno:
I don't think so. The point being the parent's nationality is generally not the main factor, Bondra actually is a good example since he certainly feels a lot more Slovak than Polish. But then again Zherdev did grow up in Ukraine, he wasn't merely born there.

I don't think so. The point being the parent's nationality is generally not the main factor, Bondra actually is a good example since he certainly feels a lot more Slovak than Polish. But then again Zherdev did grow up in Ukraine, he wasn't merely born there.

He went to Russia to play hockey, so if a Canadian decides to be a doctor in the USA, does that make them American?

He went to Russia to play hockey, so if a Canadian decides to be a doctor in the USA, does that make them American?
Sometimes it does, yes.

Yes, but with him also being a Russian exile, him playing for Russia again might be as likely as Mogilny donning the Red again

which naturally leaves the question: will he come home?

as I stated elsewhere

When Petr Nedved switched from the Czech to the CAnadian team the rules got rejigged. Was the Ukrane feilding a team when he played for the russians? if so he will have to play for the Russians enless he goes to a tribunal to argue the case

As for me he's more than wellcome to play for Ukraine. I even don't want him to play for Russia, as he's got a bad rep, and questionable attitude.

In Ukraine he will be "the first kid in the village" and I think it's fits his personality.

It so happens in sports that some players even though are born somewhere else find a better niche for themselves in another country: Juran, Nikiforov, Tsymbalar', Karpin, Karyaka to name a few in Russia, Kaltivincev, Kormil'tsev, Aliev, to name a few in Ukraine.

As for Ukrainian hockey, it's been said before, many kids went to practice in Russia when Ukranian hockey disappeared from the face of the Earth. Since Russia made them into what they are now: Tverdovsky, Babchuk, Zherdev, Mihnov, But and many others opted to play for Russia.

They say, everyone has their own truth, but in the end, please have Zherdev:)

I think he won't play for either, but I don't understand why there's "unfortunately" in the poll...

I think he won't play for either, but I don't understand why there's "unfortunately" in the poll...

because it would be unfortunate for us fans to not get to see him play, period.

because it would be unfortunate for us fans to not get to see him play, period.

Well, you can see him play in the NHL, right? I don't know about Ukraine, they are not in the OG anyway, but it's quite fortunate for Russia that a player who is not supposed to be making the team is actually not on the team...