Worlds are over for another year and Ilya Kovalchuk was the only King to take home a medal, with his shootout goal earning Russia bronze over the Czechs.
While Captaining the Russian team Kovalchuck had two goals and three assists in 10 games and consistently came up big when it mattered. Worlds was definitely revealing of what he can do with ice time and a coach that trusts him.
Russia knocked the USA out of the tournament in the quarterfinals. Here’s a nice moment between Kovalchuck and Alec Martinez in the handshake line:
Russia advances to the semifinals after defeating USA 4-3.