Vasily Koshechkin: career of a talented goalkeeper

Vasily Koshechkin is a well-known Russian hockey player, playing the position of goalkeeper. In 2010 he was awarded the title of ZMS of Russia. Now he defends the colors of the club KHL "Metallurg" from Magnitogorsk. In this article, we will discuss in more detail the sports career of a talented goalkeeper.

Biography of the athlete

Vasily Koshechkin was born on March 27, 1983 in the Soviet city of Togliatti in a simple working family. My father, Vladimir Aleksandrovich, was an ordinary repairman, and my mother, Elena Vasilievna, was a cook. Parents named their son in honor of his grandfather, who passed the Great Patriotic War. From his childhood, Vasily differed from his peers in an incredible desire for sport and high growth.

I began to study hockey as early as 6 years. The coach immediately told the boy that on the gate he can bring much more benefit than in the field. This coach was the Honored Coach of Russia Nikolay Nikolayev, who helped the boy to make his first steps in hockey as a goalkeeper of the children's and youth team "Lada".

First successes on ice

The moment of starting a professional career can be considered 2002, when Vasily joined the ranks of the team of the Higher League "Olimpia". For half the season in the club the young goalkeeper had 10 matches, in which he missed 14 goals.

Next half-season Vasily Koshechkin played for the "Oilman". It is worth noting that at the end of the same season, the young player took part in the NHL draft, where he chose "Tampa Bay", but the ocean did not play Vasily. The next four seasons, the player spent as part of his native "Lada", in which he was twice the prize-winner of the championship.

In the 2007/2008 season the hockey player moved to "AK BARS", in which he took part in 40 games and conceded 45 goals. However, the next one and a half championship Vasily again played for "Lada".

KHL Clubs

In early 2010, Koshechkin signed a contract with Magnitogorsk Metallurg, but in the new club played only half a season, and then joined the ranks of Severstal. For the Cherepovets club goalkeeper played three seasons and during this time took part in 139 games, in which he missed 317 goals. From the 2013/2014 season Vasily Koshechkin is a hockey player who again defends the colors of Metallurg, where he plays one of the key roles in the club.

National team appearances

As a goalkeeper of the Russian national team, Koshechkin participated in five world championships and collected a full set of medals - World Cup 2007 (bronze), World Cup 2009 (gold) and World Cup 2010 (silver). In his assets there is an award of the President of the Russian Federation, which he received in 2009 for his contribution to the victory of the Russian team at the World Championships.

Statistics and personal achievements

Despite the fact that Vasily Koshechkin has not played in the overseas league, his career at home can be considered quite successful:

• "Olympia" - 10 matches, 14 missed goals.
• "Neftyanik" - 19 matches and 38 PS.
• "Lada" - 218 games, 354 missed pucks.
• "AK BARS" - 40 matches and 45 PS.
• "Metallurg" - 237 games and 442 missed pucks.
• "Severstal" - 139 matches and 317 PS.
• National team - 7 matches and 13 missed goals.

Personal achievements of the athlete:

• Champion of the AC of 2006 and 2008.
• The champion of the Gagarin Cup 2014 and 2016.
• The champion of the world in 2009.

Interesting facts about the life of an athlete

The player stands out prominently among other hockey players - his height is 1.98 m. Friends and teammates celebrate the calm and laconic character of the athlete. Vasily Koshechkin's wife, Irina, gave birth to three children: Maxim is the eldest son, and more recently twins, Liza and Nikita, have appeared in the family. Vasily is a wonderful husband and father, whom you can rely on in any situation.

Repeatedly by the end of the season Vasily Koshechkin was recognized as the best player of the club, according to the fans. He is considered a very effective goalkeeper. Despite the high growth, it knows how to group, and due to this it covers most of the gate. Throughout his career he has spent 78 "dry" matches and became the third in the list of the most reliable goalkeepers of Russian hockey.