Five Nikolai Kulyomin facts

Less than a month remains before the start of the World Cup of Hockey! To whet your appetite, we have gathered five fascinating facts about New York Islanders and Russian national team Nikolai Kulyomin, who has been chosen to represent his country at the tournament:

30 goals in 2011/2012

While a Toronto Maple Leafs player, Nikolai amazingly hit 30 goals a season in the 2011/2012 campaign. By reaching that feat, he became only the second Russian player after Alexander Mogilniy to net 30 markers in one single year for Toronto.

Ripped his trousers at the first attempt

After making the move to the new arena in Brooklyn, Islanders players Nikolai Kulyomin and Mikhail Grabovski made a funny YouTube film called "The Russian Hipster." In the clip, Nikolai was asked to rip his trousers, and he managed to do so at the first time of asking! 

Trains to games

Want to take an autograph and photo with Nikolai? The train station might be your best bet. Together with some other New York Islanders faces, Nikolai has been spotted taking the train to matches, and he himself noted that this is true. Next when on a New York train, keep your eyes on alert!

A coach's dream

Assistant New York Islanders coach Greg Cronin already knew Nikolai from their days together in Toronto, and he noted that Nikolai always does the right things on the ice depending on what the coaches tell him. Nikolai is also a very clean and fair player - he has only 155 penalty minutes from a large 584 NHL appearances.

Loves collecting precious items

When he turned 30, Nikolai's family gave him a special precious coin. Ever since then, he has been making collectibles a real hobby.

Remember that you can see Nikolai play at the Russia - Czech Republic World Cup of Hockey friendly in Saint Petersburg's Yubileyny Stadium! Snap up your tickets now.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation