Anton Babchuk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anton Babchuk
Babchuk with the Calgary Flames in 2010
Born	(1984-05-06) May 6, 1984 (age 41) 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

Anton Anatoliiovych Babchuk (born May 6, 1984) is a Ukrainian-Russian former professional ice hockey player. He played the position of defenceman, a player whose main job is to stop the other team from scoring.

Babchuk was a top young player chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. The draft is an event where teams select new players. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes, and Calgary Flames. He also played for several teams in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), a major hockey league in Europe and Asia.

Early Life and Hockey Beginnings

Anton Babchuk was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, which was part of the Soviet Union at the time. He started playing hockey when he was only three years old. He trained with a junior team in Kyiv, where he met another future NHL player, Nikolai Zherdev.

In 1998, Babchuk and his team played in a big youth hockey tournament in Quebec, Canada. During the tournament, a coach from a Russian team noticed how skilled Babchuk and Zherdev were. The coach invited them to move to Russia to continue their hockey training with the Elemash Elektrostal hockey club. They both accepted the offer to improve their skills.

Professional Hockey Career

Starting in North America

In 2002, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Babchuk in the first round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. This was a big step in his career. He moved to North America and started playing for the Norfolk Admirals, the Blackhawks' team in the American Hockey League (AHL). The AHL is a league where many players develop before joining the NHL.

During the 2003–04 season, Babchuk got his first chance to play in the NHL. He played in five games for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Winning the Stanley Cup

On January 20, 2006, Babchuk was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal for his new team just a week later. That season, the Hurricanes went on to win the Stanley Cup, which is the championship trophy of the NHL. Babchuk was part of the team and got to celebrate the victory.

He even took the Stanley Cup trophy back to his hometown of Kyiv, Ukraine. He shared the special moment with his family and fans.

Playing in Russia and Returning to the NHL

Babchuk playing in the KHL in 2012

After some time with the Hurricanes, Babchuk went to play in Russia for the 2007–08 season with the team Avangard Omsk. However, he returned to the Hurricanes for the 2008–09 season and had a great year, scoring 16 goals, which was the most among the team's defencemen.

He later played for Avangard Omsk in the KHL again. He was known for his powerful shot. In fact, during one practice, he shot the puck so hard that it broke the glass around the ice rink.

Playing for the Calgary Flames

On November 17, 2010, Babchuk was traded to the Calgary Flames. He played with the Flames for a few seasons. During the 2012 NHL lockout, when the NHL season was paused, he played for HC Donbass in his home country of Ukraine. He played alongside other Ukrainian NHL players. He finished his professional career in the KHL, playing for a few more teams before retiring in 2015.

Career Statistics

Here is a summary of Anton Babchuk's statistics from the major leagues he played in.

• GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalty Minutes

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Competitions

Babchuk also played for Russia's national youth teams in international tournaments.

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