Alexei Kovalev is a hockey player who, during his brilliant career, managed to receive many honorary awards and become a star of the National Hockey League. He is a well-known hockey player who, at the beginning of his career, played for the USSR and Russia as part of the Dynamo hockey club. Alexei is the right forward. Kovalev has two nicknames: Covey and AK-27.
Dream
Kovalev Alexey Vyacheslavovich was born in 1973, on February 24. He himself comes from Togliatti, Kuibyshev region.
A brilliant career could never have begun, because once in his childhood he had heart problems. Doctors urged him to stop training, but despite this, he continued to do what he liked. The disease receded over time. His father dreamed that Alexei became a hockey player, and from childhood began to bring him to the ice.
Often had to train at night, because the Sports Palace, in which they then played, was busy until night. Aleksei simultaneously studied at a general education and hockey school. Soon, he began to show amazing results and held leadership positions in the team. At first, he acted as a defender in the youth sports school, but then the coaches decided to try him as a striker.
His outstanding data was first noticed by the coaches of Lada, and then Kovalev was invited to Dynamo. His coach then was Vladimir Yurzinov. Dynamo has become a launching pad in his career as a hockey player.
Dynamo Player
At 16, Alexei Kovalev moved to Moscow, and at 17 he became the game of HC Dynamo. In this club, he played for three years. In 1992, the club won two significant victories - in the championship and at the Olympics. That same year was his personal victory - he became the first hockey player in Russia to be selected in the first prestigious NHL draft circle. During the time he was a Dynamo player, Alexey twice became the champion of the USSR, and also won the Olympics and the youth world championship.
Moving overseas
He was offered to play in the NHL as part of the New York Rangers hockey team just at the time when the country had a difficult situation, in 1991. Alexey Kovalev accepted the offer and concluded a contract.
Two years later, his surname, along with the names of several other Russian hockey players, appeared on the Stanley Cup. Then the confrontation between the two teams, “Rangers” and “Vancouver”, became one of the most beautiful in the history of the National Hockey League. Being in the strongest League of the world, Alexei Kovalev was able to win the coveted trophy. The photo, which captures a frame from his brilliant hockey past, is posted below.
Career
In 1998, a change occurred: he began performing at Pittsburgh. After a series of setbacks, Kovalev began to take again. He plays perfectly and wins victories over and over again. Kovalev does not manage to win the Stanley Cup again, but, despite this, that period can be described as one of the most successful in his career.
In the season 2002/2003 he returns to the Rangers again, only now everything was not going as well there as before.
A year later, Kovalev ends up at Montreal and has been playing there for five years. He spent several outstanding seasons of the game and during this time fell in love with the Canadian public. Among the victories are the World Cup 2004, Olympic Turin.
Due to disagreements with the coach, he has to leave the club, and Kovalev signs a contract with Ottawa for two years, but playing for this team could not be called successful. Although in those days he scored the 1000th point in the NHL (before him only two Russian hockey players could do it). Then again there was a return to the Pittsburgh.
Finally, after two decades, the hockey player returns to his homeland - to Russia. Now he began to perform in the KHL. In 2011, signs a contract with Atlanta. Kovalev began the season perfectly, but the injury did not allow him to continue working with this club. While he was recovering, another hockey player was taken in his place.
Kovalev later played for Florida for a while, but was soon removed from the squad. After playing in the Swiss "Visp".
During lock-outs in 1994, he played for Lada, and in 2004/2005 - for AkBars.
Foreign HC: Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens.
Russian HC: Tolyatti Lada, Kazan AkBars, Moscow-based Atlant, Moscow Dynamo.
Golf
In addition to hockey, now Kovalev decided to go in for golf. This is not surprising, golf is the fun of most North American hockey players. But he has a special attitude to this sport - he perceives it not just as a form of relaxation, but as a serious occupation. Kovalev participated in tournaments, including charity ones. And in this sport he achieved certain victories - he took fourth place in the Russian Championship.
Hobbies
Creativity is not alien to him either. At one time, Alex became interested in playing the saxophone. He took mastery lessons from jazz musician Igor Butman. He also played episodic roles, for example, in the movie "Brother-2", and a documentary was also shot about him.
Another hobby is the plane. At first, he simply loved to fly on an airplane and feel this feeling of freedom … And then Kovalev himself became a pilot, having received the necessary certificate. Alexey acquired the aircraft, and now he could already manage it. On his plane there is an inscription, which, probably, characterizes this active and purposeful person as well as possible: "Life is given to a person in order to live."
Among his hobbies it is also worth noting tennis, diving, taekwondo.
Charity
Alexey is engaged in charity work. His foundation helps children with heart diseases - they are sent to the United States in order to have an operation if necessary. He founded this fund together with another hockey player - Sergei Nemchinov and his wife.
Awards and Achievements
- 1990 and 1991 - champion of the USSR.
- 1992 - Olympic champion.
- 1992 - Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.
- 1994 - Stanley Cup winner.
- 2002 - Olympic medalist (bronze).
- 2005 - the best forward of the World Cup among youth.
- participant of the “All-Star Game” NHL (2 times).
- 2009 - MVP “All-Star Game” NHL.
- Captain of the Russian team.
- Spent 1439 matches in the NHL.
Personal life
About the family of Alexei Kovalev, an NHL hockey player, pretty little is known. He does not like to talk about his personal life. He is known to be married and has two sons. The wife's name is Eugene, and the children are Nikita and Ivan.
The wife of Alexei Kovalev met him when he played on the tennis court, and at first thought that he was a tennis player. At that time he only moved to Moscow. Then they were 14 years old, and from 16 they already lived together. Their marriage has been going on for over 20 years.
