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Hockey wasn't on Kulikov's radar growing up in Russia

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JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES

CALGARY — Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dmitry Kulikov didn’t grow up dreaming one day he’d lace up the blades, pull on a pro jersey and step onto the ice of an NHL arena.

Kulikov, a former first-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers now beginning his ninth NHL season, hated spending time on the local rink in his home town of Lipetsk, Russia, and he’d kick up a fuss each time his parents got him and his twin sister, Alina, ready for their figure-skating lesson.