Ilya Ezhov - professional goalkeeper

Ilya Yezhov is a hockey player who is well known to Russian sports fans, since this goalkeeper has been in the KHL for a long time. For many seasons Ezhov has a high coefficient of reliability. This is so appreciated by professional goalkeepers.

The beginning of a career beyond the ocean

Ilya Yezhov was born on January 12, 1987 in Krasnodar. At the age of seven he moved with his parents to Canada. Hockey the boy began to study in the hockey school of the club "Montreal". Thanks to discipline and work as a child, he was the main goalkeeper. In 2005, he made his debut in the league QMJHL for the club St. John's Fog Devils. Initially, Ilya Yezhov was on the spoof. But after he spent seven matches, not missing a single puck into his own net, he became the main goalkeeper of the club. For two seasons, spent in the club, he spent on the field 91 match. Thanks to a large number of games, Ilya Yezhov became more confident in playing at the gate. In the 2007-2008 season Ilya moved to the Melfort Mustangs club, which played in the SJHL league. In this club goalkeeper spent one season. In it, Yezhov managed to achieve a coefficient of penetration of 2.01. Yezhov realized that the NHL clubs were not interested in him, and decided to go to Russia.

Moving to Russia

In 2008, Ilya Yezhov decided to pursue a career in Russia. At that time, his professional level did not match the game KHL goalkeepers. Therefore, this goalkeeper began to speak for a club from the Higher League of the HC Navy. He never regretted this transition. Ilya often remembers that it was the coach of this team, Kirill Korenkov, who taught him a lot. These skills later came in handy when playing in the KHL. This player spent for the club HC of the Navy 3 seasons. And after the athlete noticed the breeders of St. Petersburg "SKA" and invited him to the team. After signing the contract, Ilya was officially the third goalkeeper, but then he replaced Jakub Stepanik. The chance for Yezhov to become the first goalkeeper appeared after Yakub got a neck injury in the game with the club "Dynamo" from the city of Riga. In the ten matches he played, Yezhov had a reliability factor of 1.99.

Continuation of the career in the CHL and debut for the national team

Ilya played for the club SKA 3 seasons. The pair was made by such famous goalkeepers as Yakub Stepanek and Sergey Bobrovsky. During this time in the St. Petersburg club athlete showed a reliable game and was the first number of the team. But after the club SKA decided to return his pupil Alexander Salak, and Yezhov lost his place in the base. He, for a long time not upset, began to work more and at the same time look for a new team.

Moving to Togliatti

In May 2016, it was announced that Yezhov had moved to Togliatti's Lada. In this club this goalkeeper received more playing time and was able to realize himself as a hockey player. In Togliatti Ilya was greeted very warmly. Coaching club was pleased that they had a goalkeeper so high level. In this city they love and appreciate hockey. Yezhov during the first game was surprised what atmosphere reigns during home matches. The first match for Tolyatti team Yezhov spent against his former team SKA. In this game, the famous hockey player Ilya Kovalchuk upset Yezhov hat-trick. Despite the difficult departure from the St. Petersburg club, this goalkeeper left many friends. The closest friend of Elijah is Salak. They often call up on the phone and advise each other on how best to play against an opponent.

Despite the fact that Ilya from an early age moved with his parents to Canada, he decided to play for the Russian national team. For this team, he made his debut in 2012 at Eurotour. At the moment, the Russian team played just one game for the Russian national team.

Personal life

Ilya Yezhov is a hockey player whose photo can now often be seen in sports magazines. He is married, and this married couple has a child. Wife Aimee was at first difficult to get used to living in Russia. But then the city of St. Petersburg began to like her. Yezhov greatly worried how his wife would settle down in Togliatti. After all, she had many friends in St. Petersburg.

At the moment, Yezhov is 30 years old. This age for the goalkeeper is ideal to show good results. Ilya Yezhov is a hockey player whose biography is rich in events. He does not regret that he moved to Russia. He does his favorite thing and is not going to finish his professional career. On the contrary, he does not rule out that he might still return overseas and play in the most powerful league in the world of the NHL.