Alexander Romanov is constantly matched against older players in the regular season as he evolves in the KHL, the second-best league in the world. The World Junior Hockey Championship is then a special occasion for him to showcase what he can do against his peers, as a rarely selected 18-year-old defenceman for the Russian team.
And he didn’t disappoint in his debut.
Romanov came onto the ice a new defender in Russia’s opening game. Not only was he the team’s best blue-liner, he was its best player in a 4-0 victory over the Danes yesterday, recognized with the Player of the Game award at the end of it.