University of Connecticut Athletics
Kuznetsov, Firstov representing UConn and the NCAA at World Juniors
12/24/2020 8:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
When Team Russia takes the ice on Dec. 25 for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships, there will be two UConn Huskies among them, the first NCAA players to ever earn a spot on Russia's national team.
Sophomore defenseman Yan Kuznetsov and sophomore forward Vladislav Firstov are really excited to represent their home country on a national stage at the World Juniors, where the best hockey players in the world under 20 years old come together to compete.
"It's always great to represent the home country in a national tournament," Kuznetsov said. "It's always a great feeling especially with such a group of guys. I think it's always special. When you put this jersey on, it's just unbelievable."
"It's great," Firstov added. "In your life, you have just one tournament with the national team, just one junior challenge, and it's great to play for your national team, for Russia."
However, Kuznetsov and Firstov are not just representing their country, they're also representing UConn and college hockey as a whole, which isn't very well known in Russia.
"When me and Vlad were in Russia, you don't know anything about the NCAA," Kuznetsov said. "All you know is junior leagues in Russia and junior leagues in Canada. So us being on the national team roster will definitely give some promotion to the league in Russia, and more players will definitely look for getting scholarships and going to play in the NCAA."
While Kuznetsov and Firstov are the first NCAA athletes to ever represent Russia in this tournament, they are actually the fourth and fifth UConn players to play in it. Tage Thompson played for Team USA in 2017, Adam Huska played for team Slovakia in 2016 and 2017 and Jachym Kondelik played for Team Czech Republic in 2019.
The UConn coaching staff is very proud to have a couple of their own players making such a historical achievement for Team Russia this year.
"I think it's fantastic," head coach Mike Cavanaugh said. "All the credit goes to Yan and Vlad, and I really appreciate [Team Russia head coach Igor Larionov] giving them the opportunity."
"We've had a lot of success with the Russian players and players in Europe, and I know we're really excited that both Yan and Vlad made the team," assistant coach Tyler Helton said. "Hopefully we can continue to have more NCAA players play for Russia and hopefully they're UConn Huskies."
It was an adventure logistically for Kuznetsov and Firstov to join their teammates. After playing in the season opening series for UConn against UMass, they had to travel to Russia for a two-week camp before flying back to Edmonton, Alberta, where the tournament is taking place.
Kuznetsov said they left from New York on Nov. 26 and flew into Turkey, but it was really strict because of COVID-19. The flight was full, and they had to wear their masks the whole time. Then, there was a connecting flight from Turkey into Russia.
Firstov said they got a COVID-19 test right after they landed in Russia, and luckily it was negative for both of them. Then, they got to stay at Firstov's home in Yaroslavl for a couple of days before driving to Moscow to join the rest of the Russian national team at the camp. After the camp, they had to fly to Canada with a connecting flight in Finland, which Firstov said was also unpleasant.
"We flew with like three teams on the airplane," Firstov said. "The airplane was so small. It was crazy."
But through all the chaos, they were able to make it and are now ready to take the ice this week. Both Kuznetsov and Firstov said they're really impressed with the talent level on the Russian team, and they think their style of play really fits well with the team.
"I think the coach wants to embrace the best parts of our games for each player," Kuznetsov said. "That's what's going to make our team really good this year."
They've both played with some of the other players on the team in the past, and they're confident that the team has the depth and the talent to compete for a gold medal in the tournament.
The World Junior Championships will take place from Dec. 25 to Jan. 5, and all games will be broadcast on NHL Network.
