During the last three weeks I've been attending every World Junior game possible and I've decided to review every team and highlight the players that have caught my eye during the tournaments and profile the major names as well good or bad. Tonight we'll start with team Kazakhstan the last place team in this years tournament.
Although there's not much to be excited about for the Kazakhstani's but a can list a couple of players that I did notice out there.
Prospects:
No drafted players on team Kazakhstan
Talent:
#14. Yevgeni Bolyakin - D - APR 30 1990 - Amur Khabarovsk (KHL) -
- Bolyakin was by far team Kazakhstan's best defensemen and quite possibly their best player period. He is currently just a boy playing amongst men in the KHL this season and it shows with his maturity on the ice. The rest of the squad seamed shelled shocked every game they played and took needless penalties trying to take out their frustration. Bolyakin however was the exception of the latter. He remained calm and cool the entire game and made smart sensible plays. He knows when to pick his spots and has that meanness to his game and knows when it's time to use it. He also showed a bit of offensive through out the tournament setting up some close calls. Maybe worth checking out with a late late last round pick.
Honorable Mentions:
#20. Andrei Yankov - G - JUN 02 1989 - Kazzinc-Torpedo (Kazakhstan)
-Although he wasn't stellar or could even be considered to be a prospect, I really feel he deserves an honorable mention for giving it his all even though he was being shelled and was down by an ungodly amount of goals each game. He did make some really beautiful saves in the Finland game and showed he has a Arturs Irbe like scramble to his game. Yankov also showed he has a pretty nice glove as well. By no means a prospect but he has more heart than any player in the tournament by far I'd say.
Tomorrow I'll review the other relegated team, team Germany.
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