A milestone in Belorussian hockey

Taking the ice in game three of playoffs quarter-finals against SKA Khimik Novopolotsk on February 28, Yunost Minsk defender and team captain Aleksandr Ryadinsky  became the first player to have reached the milestone of 800 games played in the Extraliga of Belarus. Curiously the 37-year-old native of Minsk started his professional career in 1995-96 with his current coach Mikhail Zakharov, at that time young coach of Yunost Minsk, the club where Ryadinsky spent almost his career, along with the other popular club from the capital, now defunct Keramin. In his curriculum also passages at Shakhtar Soligorsk, Neman Grodno and Metallurg Zhlobin in Belarus, two seasons in North America (1998-2000) between USHL and ECHL and one year in Ukraine with Sokil Kyiv, during the short-lived era of Professional Hockey League. In 2009-2010 season, at 31, Ryadinsky debuted in KHL with Dinamo Minsk: ten games and one assists was his record. Seven World Championships and the Olympic Games in Vancouver are the most important moments with the national team.
"Maybe I wasn't so good to be called overseas - says modestly Ryadinsky - but this landmark is a milestone and a reason to be proud. Especially when you do something first, it's always nice." Speaking about his future after the end of career as active player, even if the date of retirement isn't already decided, Ryadinsky wants to pass on his experience to the younger generation: "I wanted to show the children, how hockey is an experience full of struggle, excitement and adrenaline"

Besides Ryadinsky, other veterans are close to reaching the milestone of 800 matches: Yaroslav Maslennikov (792) of Shakhtar, Aleksandr Zhidkikh (761) of Gomel, Vyacheslav Lisichkin (758), Andrei Korshunov (744) and Anton Pulver (739) of champion Neman Grodno

 

Advanced player search

Tweets by @eurohockey