Alexei Ponikarovsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alexei Ponikarovsky |
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Ponikarovsky with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2012
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| Born | 9 April 1980 Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
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| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Krylya Sovetov Dynamo Moscow Toronto Maple Leafs Khimik Moscow Oblast Pittsburgh Penguins Los Angeles Kings Carolina Hurricanes New Jersey Devils Donbass Donetsk Winnipeg Jets SKA Saint Petersburg Kunlun Red Star |
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| National team |  Ukraine |
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| NHL Draft | 87th overall, 1998 Toronto Maple Leafs |
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| Playing career | 1998–2018 | ||
Alexei Ponikarovsky (born 9 April 1980) is a former professional ice hockey player. He was a left winger. Alexei is from Ukraine and also has Canadian and Russian citizenship.
He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for many teams. These included the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets, and New Jersey Devils. The Maple Leafs picked him in the third round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
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Alexei's Early Hockey Days
When Alexei was young, he played in a big hockey tournament. This was the 1994 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He played with a team from his hometown, Kyiv.
Alexei started his career with the Dynamo Moscow team in Russia. He played for their junior teams from 1995 to 1999. In the 1998–99 season, he got a small chance to play with the main team. By the 1999–2000 season, he was a regular player. That year, Dynamo Moscow won the Russian Superleague (RSL) championship.
He also played for other Russian teams early on. These included Krylya Sovetov Moscow and THK Tver.
Playing in the NHL
Alexei Ponikarovsky joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2000–01 season. He spent several years with the team.
Key Seasons with the Maple Leafs
In the 2005–06 season, Alexei had his best year yet. He scored more goals and assists. He also spent more time on the ice. He often played with his former teammate Nik Antropov or Mats Sundin. Alexei also became a key player for the team when they were playing with fewer players (called penalty-killing). He scored four special goals during these times.
On 16 December 2006, Alexei had an amazing game. He scored five points (two goals and three assists) against the New York Rangers. His teammates gave him nicknames like "The Poni Express" or "The Ukraine Train." In 2007, the Maple Leafs signed him to a new three-year contract.
Moving to Other NHL Teams
On 2 March 2010, Alexei was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored his first goal with the Penguins just a few days later. After that, he signed with the Los Angeles Kings for one year in 2010.
In 2011, he joined the Carolina Hurricanes. Then, on January 20, 2012, he was traded again. This time, he went to the New Jersey Devils. He played well for the Devils, scoring 18 points in 33 games. He helped them reach the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals. He even scored a winning goal in overtime during the playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers.
In 2012, Alexei signed with the Winnipeg Jets. However, there was a lockout in the NHL that year. So, he played for a team in Ukraine, HC Donbass, for a while. After the lockout, he returned to the Jets. Later that season, he was traded back to the New Jersey Devils.
Return to Russia
After the 2012–13 NHL season, Alexei decided to play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia. He signed a two-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg. This meant he played with his former Devils teammate, Ilya Kovalchuk. He later played for Kunlun Red Star before ending his career in 2018.
Alexei's Personal Life
On 7 June 2007, Alexei became a Canadian citizen. The ceremony took place in Etobicoke, Ontario. He lives in Miami with his wife, Inna, and their three children: Jessica, Alex, and Maxim. He also still owns a house in Toronto.
Alexei often wore the number 23 on his jersey. This is because two of his grandparents and his wife were all born on the 23rd day of the month. After joining SKA Saint Petersburg, he also became a Russian citizen.
Images for kids
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Ponikarovsky with the Penguins
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Ponikarovsky with the Devils
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Ponikarovsky with Kunlun Red Star in 2017
