Kirill Koltsov

Kirill Koltsov was born on February 1, 1983, in Chelyabinsk, Russia. He is a professional ice hockey defenseman and currently plays for Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the continental Hockey League. The Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the 2002 NHL Drafts also selected him. He started hi career in the Russian Superleague when he was 17, playing for two games with Avangard Omsk in 2000. He would go on to play 65 games with the team in the 2000-2001 season, where he earned the equivalent of the Calder trophy for the best rookie in the Russian League. Although he was eligible for the 2001 draft and was rated in the top 15 among the European skaters, he was not able to file the necessary papers and was disqualified from the draft. One of his best seasons was in the 2002-2003 season. As a pro, he recorded 12 points in 42 games in this season, a feat that established him as one of the best defensemen in Europe. Another highlight of his career was winning the Calder Trophy for the best Rookie in the Russian League in 2011.