Meet Kazakhstan's Vladimir Nikitin, its only NHL prospect at the World Juniors

OTTAWA It didnt matter that time was winding down in the game or that his team had no realistic hope of coming back.

Kazakhstan goalie Vladimir Nikitin just wanted to try something.

Kazakhstan was playing its first game at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at TD Place in Ottawa.

The opening test wouldnt be easy, a matchup against medal contender Sweden.

With less than a minute left, the Swedes were up 8-1, but Swedish forward Isac Hedqvist wanted to score a ninth.

As he raced toward Nikitin, the Kazakh goaltender stared the attacker down.

Nikitin then fell forward and extended his stick toward the puck, putting it out of harms way while sprawling on his stomach.

He had practiced his poke check enough and there might have been no better time than now to attempt the audacious move.

Advertisement At the very least, Nikitin can say he had a highlight in his first game at the World Juniors.

I (didnt) care about the score or anything, Nikitin said.

Just do.

He likes to do this stuff sometimes, Kazakhstan head coach Sergei Starygin said.

a better look at Nikitin's poke check in non potato quality pic.twitter.com/49IOEHb1LR Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) December 28, 2024 Nikitin is Kazakhstans starting goaltender and the teams lone NHL prospect at this years World Juniors.

The Ottawa Senators selected him in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft, the second of three picks in the final round.

The 19-year-old models his game after two NHL goalies: the Florida Panthers Sergei Bobrovsky and Carolina Hurricanes Pyotr Kochetkov .

The Senators were intrigued with his size and athleticism but they know hes a long-term project and far from a finished product, which is the norm for late-round picks.

His next step is to gain as much experience as he can get, whether at the club level or in tournaments like the World Juniors.

I do think he has made strides in his development, Senators goalie coach Justin Peters said.

I think thats evident, from our standpoint watching him, how hes been able to control his body and use his athleticism to help put himself in a position to make saves under control.

Kazakhstan needed to win the Division I-Group A World Juniors last December to qualify for this years tournament.

Nikitin helped them accomplish that by winning four games, recording a shutout and a 1.48 goals-against average.

At this years World Juniors, Kazakhstan was a popular pick for relegation and already has allowed 22 goals through two games while only scoring three goals.

Nikitin allowed nine goals on 26 shots Saturday afternoon against Czechia.

He was initially pulled after allowing three goals on 10 shots but the team went back to him partway through the game.

Advertisement Despite being overmatched, Nikitin and his teammates have received support from fans in attendance, who wave Kazakhstan flags and cheer when the team scores.

Among those supporting Nikitin is his former billet family, the Wiebes.

They include husband and wife Chris and Larissa and their son, Max.

The familys first goalie kid stayed with them during the 2023-24 season when he played for the British Columbia Hockey Leagues Chilliwack Chiefs.

Nikitin spoke limited English and used Google Translate to communicate and learn the language.

The family still knows him as funny, hardworking, outgoing and appreciative and an all-around good guy.

As a growing teenager, Nikitin had food asks that were very simple.

If he wasnt eating breakfast sandwiches, he was chowing down on eggs, sausages, bacon and waffles.

He loved orange juice and coffee, infused with Larissas favorite caramel macchiato-flavored creamer.

We wish we had him still, Larissa said.

The first time he came into the house, we have a Bernese Mountain Dog and we told him that we have a big dog (Sasha), Chris said.

Shes adorable.

He came in and he pointed to the dog.

He said, Big dog.

His eyes were as big as saucers.

The Wiebes were there for the lows after bad games, the stress that comes with being a drafted goalie prospect.

But they were there for the highs, too.

Particularly when Nikitin scored a goalie goal in March during the teams annual Parents Weekend.

With Nikitins parents back in Kazakhstan, the Wiebes served as his stand-in family.

They watched with other players parents from a box at the Chilliwack Coliseum as the Chiefs played the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

Chris spoke to Nikitin before the game about the possibility of scoring a goalie goal and later told one of the fathers he had a feeling hed try to get one that night.

With time winding down and his team up two goals, Nikitin gave it a go.

Advertisement I was sitting behind the net, Max said.

On the penalty kill, he ices it and hes two feet from the post.

Nikitin made no mistake on his next attempt, a near 200-foot shot from the edge of his crease.

The dad turned around and looked at me like, how did you call that? Chris said.

GOALIE GOAL ALERT!!! @Senators prospect Vladimir Nikitin sends it the length of the ice shorthanded!! #BCHL | @Chiefs_Hockey pic.twitter.com/lLge43gmAc BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) March 3, 2024 Now, the Wiebes get to join the handful of fans in attendance at the World Juniors who cheer him on.

Its easy to cheer for the top-end teams, right? Chris said.

But when youre cheering for, you know, a team that doesnt want to get relegated, its a completely different kind of experience.

Senators fans can relate.

They didnt expect Nikitin to be the only player from their prospect pipeline to cheer for this winter, hoping to get behind Calgary Hitmen defenseman and 2024 first-rounder Carter Yakemchuk, too.

But he didnt even make Canadas selection camp roster.

GO DEEPER What the Senators need to see from Carter Yakemchuk post-World Juniors snub Instead, Sens fans were left with Nikitin, who is playing this season for Astana Snezhnie Barys, a Kazakh team in Russias junior league.

We talked with him about this, Starygin said.

He really appreciates that, and he respects them.

He knows that its a very important tournament for him.

To play on this level is very important for his future career, for his experience.

Nikitin appreciates the fan support and knows the Senators are watching him closely.

But hes also trying his best to be focused on his team and his play.

I dont think about the draft, about NHL teams right now, about Ottawa, Nikitin said.

I just play hockey, enjoy this moment and save (the) team in the game.

(Top photo of Vladimir Nikitin against Team Sweden: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.