Anton Anatoliiovych Babchuk(Ukrainian:Антон Анатолійович Бабчук,Russian:Антон Анатольевич Бабчук;born May 6, 1984) is aUkrainian-Russianformer professionalice hockeydefenceman.He last played forAtlant Moscow Oblastof theKontinental Hockey League(KHL).

Anton Babchuk
Babchuk with theCalgary Flamesin 2010
Born (1984-05-06)May 6, 1984(age 40)
Kyiv,Ukrainian SSR,Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Ak Bars Kazan
SKA Saint Petersburg
Chicago Blackhawks
Carolina Hurricanes
Avangard Omsk
Calgary Flames
HC Donbass
Atlant Moscow Oblast
NHL draft 21st overall,2002
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2002–2015

Babchuk was a first round selection, 21st overall, of theChicago Blackhawksat the2002 NHL Entry Draft,and played for the Blackhawks,Carolina Hurricanes,andCalgary Flamesin his NHL career. He also played withAk Bars Kazan,SKA Saint Petersburg,Avangard Omsk,HC Donbass,Salavat Yulaev UfaandTorpedo Nizhny Novgorodof theKontinental Hockey League(formerly theRussian Super League).

Playing career

edit

Originally fromKyiv,Ukraine,Babchuk began playing hockey at the age of three.[1]He began his training with theSokil Kyivjunior hockey affiliate, a team which included fellow future Ukrainian NHLerNikolai Zherdev.He played in the 1998Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournamentwith a youth team from Kyiv.[2]While participating in the tournament, Babchuk's team found itself competing against a team fromElektrostal,Russia. The rival team's coach, Ravil Iskakhov, took note of both Babchuk and Zherdev, and invited the pair to further their development with the Elemash Elektrostal hockey club of theRussian Major League,to which they accepted together.[3]

He was drafted into theNational Hockey League(NHL) 21st overall by theChicago Blackhawksin the2002 Entry Draft.Babchuk made his North American debut with the Blackhawks affiliate, theNorfolk Admiralsof theAmerican Hockey League(AHL), in the2003–04season. Babchuk also made his NHL debut by season's end, appearing in five games with the Blackhawks.

In the2005–06season, Babchuk was traded to theCarolina HurricanesforDanny Richmondon January 20, 2006.[4]Babchuk scored his first goal for the Hurricanes on January 28, 2006. He was also named second star of the game. Babchuk played in 22 games with the Hurricanes for the season and was a part of the extended squad of the Hurricanes as they became theStanley CupChampions. After winning the Cup, Babchuk took it with him to Kyiv, Ukraine, and celebrated with teammateOleg Tverdovsky."I wish hockey was as popular as soccer in Ukraine," he told those in attendance. "If it was, I gladly would have played for a team in Kyiv."[5]

In the2006–07season, on February 6, 2007, the Hurricanes activatedFrantišek Kaberlefrom injury, forcing them to send Babchuk down to theAlbany River Rats.Babchuk was the only possible defenceman they could send down because he was the only one on the Hurricanes' roster that was not subject to waiver wire claims. The next day, Carolina announced that they had suspended Babchuk because of his refusal to report to Albany. In 2007–08, Babchuk played in theRussian Superleague(RSL) forAvangard Omsk.

On July 1, 2008, Babchuk re-signed with the Hurricanes to a one-year contract for the2008–09season.[6]He led all Hurricanes' defensemen with 16 goals in 72 games. Following a contract dispute that lead to him requesting a trade out of Carolina, Babchuk turned back to Russia on 19 September 2009, re-signing withKontinental Hockey League(KHL) clubAvangard Omsk.[7]During the very first training day inOmsk,he broke the ice rink glass with a shot at Arena Omsk.[8][9] Babchuk was chosen to play on Team Yashin at the2nd Kontinental Hockey League All-Star Game.

On July 1, 2010, Babchuk re-signed with the Carolina Hurricanes to a one-year contract worth $1.4 million.

On November 17, 2010, Babchuk was traded along withTom Kostopoulosto the Calgary Flames forIan WhiteandBrett Sutter.

On July 4, 2011, Babchuk re-signed with the Flames for two years, at $2.5 million per season. Following the2012 NHL lockout,he signed in his native Ukraine withHC Donbassalong with fellow Ukrainian NHL playersRuslan FedotenkoandAlexei Ponikarovsky.

Career statistics

edit

Regular season and playoffs

edit
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–2000 Kristall–2 Elektrostal RUS.3 18 0 1 1 18
2000–01 Elemash Elektrostal RUS.2 7 0 0 0 12
2001–02 Elemash Elektrostal RUS.2 40 7 8 15 90
2001–02 Elemash–2 Elektrostal RUS.3 3 0 0 0 8
2002–03 Ak Bars Kazan RSL 10 0 0 0 4
2002–03 SKA Saint Petersburg RSL 20 3 0 3 10
2002–03 SKA–2 St. Petersburg RUS.3 1 1 0 1 0
2003–04 Norfolk Admirals AHL 73 8 14 22 89 8 0 2 2 6
2003–04 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 5 0 2 2 2
2004–05 Norfolk Admirals AHL 66 8 16 24 88 2 0 0 0 2
2005–06 Norfolk Admirals AHL 24 5 7 12 22
2005–06 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 17 2 3 5 16
2005–06 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 22 3 2 5 6
2005–06 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 5 1 3 4 0
2006–07 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 52 2 12 14 30
2006–07 Albany River Rats AHL 9 1 6 7 2
2007–08 Avangard Omsk RSL 57 9 15 24 30 4 1 1 2 6
2008–09 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 72 16 19 35 16 13 0 1 1 10
2009–10 Avangard Omsk KHL 49 9 13 22 36 2 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 17 3 5 8 12
2010–11 Calgary Flames NHL 65 8 19 27 20
2011–12 Calgary Flames NHL 32 2 8 10 6
2012–13 HC Donbass KHL 31 1 2 3 22
2012–13 Calgary Flames NHL 7 0 1 1 0
2013–14 Salavat Yulaev Ufa KHL 54 3 9 12 24 3 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod KHL 12 0 3 3 12
2014–15 Atlant Moscow Oblast KHL 20 6 4 10 12
AHL totals 177 23 46 69 201 10 0 2 2 8
NHL totals 289 36 71 107 108 13 0 1 1 10
KHL totals 166 19 31 50 106 5 0 0 0 0

International

edit
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2001 Russia U17 7th 5 0 2 2 10
2001 Russia WJC18 6 0 0 0 0
2002 Russia WJC18 8 3 3 6 10
Junior totals 19 3 5 8 20

References

edit
  1. ^"Anton Babchuk's first North American interview".russianprospects. 2002-06-11. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-19.Retrieved2008-11-10.
  2. ^"Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA"(PDF).Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.2018. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2019-03-06.Retrieved2019-02-12.
  3. ^"Nikolai Zherdev: To CSKA fans- Thankyou for your support".russianprospects. 2003-01-12. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-18.Retrieved2008-11-10.
  4. ^"Blackhawks acquire Danny Richmond in exchange for Anton Babchuk".Chicago Blackhawks.2006-01-20.Retrieved2009-07-23.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^"Hockey Hall of Fame - Stanley Cup Journals: 20".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-27.Retrieved2007-07-07.
  6. ^"Anton Babchuk agrees to terms with Carolina".Carolina Hurricanes.2008-07-01. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-21.Retrieved2009-07-23.
  7. ^"Babchuk signs with Avangard Omsk".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-07.Retrieved2009-09-20.
  8. ^"Anton Babchuk's first day".Avangard Omsk.2009-09-21. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-25.
  9. ^"Babchuk at the first training session broke the barrier glass".Championat.ru.2009-09-21. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-27.
edit
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Chicago Blackhawks first round draft pick
2002
Succeeded by