Five Columbus Blue Jackets Destined for Sochi

Jan 7, 2014

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Well, the rosters are out and the tallies are in: we have our Olympic teams. Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, center forward Artem Anisimov, defensemen Nikita Nikitin and Fedor Tyutin were named to the Russian National Men’s Ice Hockey Team, to compete this February.

Bobrovsky took home the Vezina last season and, despite a shaky start and a long injury, has among of the best statistics of Russian goalies currently playing in the NHL with .910 SV% and 2.72 GAA. This will be his first Olympic tournament, though he represented Russian at the IIHF World Junior Championships (bronze) in 2008 and the 2007 Super Series.

Anisimov has registered 12-8-20 in 43 games this season and ranks second in goals for the Blue Jackets. He also played for Russia in the 2007 and 2008 IIHF World Junior Championships, as well as U18 in 2006.

Nikitin leads the Blue Jackets with a +9 plus/minus rating; he has registered 2-9-11 and 12 penalty minutes in 36 games this season. Nikitin won a gold medal with Russia at the 2012 IIHF World Championships and silver in the 2006 World Juniors.

Tyutin has represented Russia in the last two Olympic games, first in Italy in 2006 and Vancouver in 2010.

Despite a broken collarbone, three-time All-Star Marian Gaborik was also selected for the Slovakian team. Gaborik has collected 5-7-12 in 18 games this season.

General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen will serve as assistant general manager for Team Finland and Head Coach Todd Richards will act as assistant coach for Team USA under Dan Bylsma.