5 Andrei Vasilevsky facts

Tampa Bay Lightning goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevsky is one of the youngest members of the Russian national team, and he is preparing for his second major tournament with the country after winning the 2014 World Championship. Let's learn more about the talented 22 year old.

His father coached the deaf Russian national team

Dad Andrei (yes, he has the same name), is currently the goalkeeper coach of Tolpar Ufa, however in the past, he managed the deaf Russian national ice hockey team. He knows all of the needed gestures perfectly.

Played as a forward in his childhood

Along with his brother Alexei, Andrei played as a forward when making his first steps in the sport. Nevertheless, after time, Andrei stepped between the pipes, and Alexei switched to a defenseman.

Ben Bishop gave Andrei a scouting report

When replacing the injured Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Ben Bishop during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, Andrei was given some handy tips from the American. He handed Andrei a number of scouting reports, but Andrei admitted the differences between him and Ben, stating that he prefers not to put too much focus on the opposing players.

In that particular final series, Andrei made 259 saves, earned three victories, but his team Tampa fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins 3:4.

Scored an amazing hat trick

Yes, it's not your typical hat trick, but during the first few months of 2016, he won a game in the AHL, NHL and became a father in an very short space of time. Coach Jon Cooper was impressed by Andrei's achievements on and off the ice.

A third of his KHL appearances have come in the playoffs

Andrei has competed in 54 KHL matches, and a third of them have come in the post-season. During the 2013/2014 campaign, Andrei stacked up an impressive 93.4% saves percentage during the playoffs, and conceded an average of less than two goals a game.

You can see Andrei in action at the Russia - Czech Republic pre World Cup of Hockey friendly in Saint Petersburg on the 8th of September. Purchase your ticket now.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation