Semyon Valuiski, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Yevgeni Kuznetsov (L to R) celebrate after their 5-3 comeback win over Canada in the 2011 World Junior gold medal game.
photo: Matthew Manor / HHOF-IIHF Images
When Russia rallied from a 3-0 deficit and scored five third-period goals to beat Canada 5-3 in the 2011 World Junior final in Buffalo, it was easily the most dramatic and shocking comeback in tournament history.
The Russians weren’t expected to go this far. Coach Valeri Bragin’s relatively unheralded squad lost to Canada and Sweden in the group stage. They needed extra time to squeak out 4-3 wins over Finland in the quarter-finals and Sweden in the semi-finals.
After the Russians won the gold medal in front of a pro-Canadian crowd of 18,560, they celebrated with such exuberance that they were asked to disembark from their Delta Air Lines flight home the following day and had to travel home one day later.
The Russians weren’t expected to go this far. Coach Valeri Bragin’s relatively unheralded squad lost to Canada and Sweden in the group stage. They needed extra time to squeak out 4-3 wins over Finland in the quarter-finals and Sweden in the semi-finals.
After the Russians won the gold medal in front of a pro-Canadian crowd of 18,560, they celebrated with such exuberance that they were asked to disembark from their Delta Air Lines flight home the following day and had to travel home one day later.
“To reach a big goal, you need a team with character players, and I think our guys did a great job," Bragin told reporters. “You can see why they’re character guys, because they were down in three games and overcame all difficulties and won at last.”
Losing was a bitter pill for Canadian tournament all-team members like captain Ryan Ellis, tournament scoring leader Brayden Schenn, and Ryan Johansen to swallow.
Looking back, it’s hard to believe this happened so long ago that “Tik Tok” meant the title of 2010’s best-selling single worldwide by Kesha rather than a popular app for amateur music videos.
Some of Russia’s 2011 U20 heroes – like Artemi Panarin, Yevgeni Kuznetsov, and Vladimir Tarasenko – are now among the NHL’s biggest stars. However, as we approach the 10-year anniversary of those World Juniors, it’s an ideal time to check out what became of the entire Russian roster.
GOALTENDERS
Igor Bobkov
Then: London Knights goalie rescued Russia with 20 saves and zero goals allowed after coming off the bench when Canada went up 3-0 in the final
Now: Perennial KHL All-Star Game candidate in third straight season with Avangard Omsk
Dmitri Shikin
Then: Elektrostal native started six 2011 WJC games for Bragin, including gold medal game
Now: After six seasons with HK Sochi, 29-year-old netminder jumped to Kunlun Red Star for 2020-21
DEFENCEMEN
Maxim Berezin
Then: Three assists in seven games, one on Russia’s first goal by Panarin in 2011 final
Now: Journeyman blueliner in second season with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, still seeking first regular-season goal with club
Georgi Berdyukov
Then: Scored power-play goal in 8-3 romp over Czechs on New Year’s Eve
Now: Acquired by Amur Khabarovsk in 2017-18 in exchange for KHL rights to Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo, has dropped to VHL since then
Maxim Ignatovich
Then: Paired with Sibir Novosibirsk teammate Nikita Zaitsev in Buffalo
Now: Right-shooting rearguard suiting up for Amur Khabarovsk for second straight year
Russia won the 2011 World Juniors in front of a pro-Canadian crowd of 18,690 in Buffalo.
photo: Matthew Manor / HHOF-IIHF Images
Dmitri Orlov
Then: Second among D-men in tournament scoring (1+8=9) after Canada’s Ryan Ellis (3+7=10)
Now: 2014 Worlds gold medalist and 2018 Stanley Cup champion halfway through six-year, $30.6 million USD contract with Washington Capitals
Nikita Pivtsakin
Then: Won his lone IIHF gold medal in the midst of 32 KHL games for his hometown Avangard Omsk
Now: KHL veteran now playing for his fifth club (Spartak Moskva) in 13 seasons
Andrei Sergeyev
Then: His only goal came in 8-2 throttling of Norwegians
Now: Recorded career-high +17 plus-minus with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk last year, currently with Dynamo Moskva
Yuri Urychev
Then: Partnered with Dmitri Orlov and finished second in scoring among Russian D-men (1+3=4)
Now: Tragically deceased at age 20 in 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslav plane crash
Nikita Zaitsev
Then: Only skater to go pointless on 2011 Russian team
Now: After three NHL seasons with Toronto, two-time Worlds bronze medalist heads into second season with Ottawa
FORWARDS
Stanislav Bocharov
Then: Khabarovsk-born winger chipped in two assists en route to gold
Now: Coming off personal KHL high of 20 goals with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, joined Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg for 2020-21
Anton Burdasov
Then: Limited to one assist on Bragin’s fourth line in 2011
Now: After leading KHL with 114 PIM in 2018-19, back with SKA Petersburg, where he won 2015 Gagarin Cup
Nikita Dvurechenski
Then: Assistant captain scored backhand goal on partial breakaway to put Russia up 5-3 in gold medal game with 1:16 left
Now: Signed with Kazakhstan’s Sayarka Karaganda this season after stints in Slovakia and Belarus
Denis Golubev
Then: Racked up three goals, including 4-3 SF shootout winner versus Sweden, and three assists
Now: Longtime AK Bars Kazan forward now plying his trade with Amur Khabarovsk
Then: Second among D-men in tournament scoring (1+8=9) after Canada’s Ryan Ellis (3+7=10)
Now: 2014 Worlds gold medalist and 2018 Stanley Cup champion halfway through six-year, $30.6 million USD contract with Washington Capitals
Nikita Pivtsakin
Then: Won his lone IIHF gold medal in the midst of 32 KHL games for his hometown Avangard Omsk
Now: KHL veteran now playing for his fifth club (Spartak Moskva) in 13 seasons
Andrei Sergeyev
Then: His only goal came in 8-2 throttling of Norwegians
Now: Recorded career-high +17 plus-minus with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk last year, currently with Dynamo Moskva
Yuri Urychev
Then: Partnered with Dmitri Orlov and finished second in scoring among Russian D-men (1+3=4)
Now: Tragically deceased at age 20 in 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslav plane crash
Nikita Zaitsev
Then: Only skater to go pointless on 2011 Russian team
Now: After three NHL seasons with Toronto, two-time Worlds bronze medalist heads into second season with Ottawa
FORWARDS
Stanislav Bocharov
Then: Khabarovsk-born winger chipped in two assists en route to gold
Now: Coming off personal KHL high of 20 goals with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, joined Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg for 2020-21
Anton Burdasov
Then: Limited to one assist on Bragin’s fourth line in 2011
Now: After leading KHL with 114 PIM in 2018-19, back with SKA Petersburg, where he won 2015 Gagarin Cup
Nikita Dvurechenski
Then: Assistant captain scored backhand goal on partial breakaway to put Russia up 5-3 in gold medal game with 1:16 left
Now: Signed with Kazakhstan’s Sayarka Karaganda this season after stints in Slovakia and Belarus
Denis Golubev
Then: Racked up three goals, including 4-3 SF shootout winner versus Sweden, and three assists
Now: Longtime AK Bars Kazan forward now plying his trade with Amur Khabarovsk
Sergei Kalinin, a 2011 World Junior gold medalist, has appeared in 121 NHL games.
photo: Matthew Manor / HHOF-IIHF Images
Sergei Kalinin
Then: Saved Russia from SF elimination against Swedes with tying goal with 1:27 remaining
Now: Former New Jersey Devil, owner of Worlds gold (2014) and Olympic gold (2018), is new captain of Traktor Chelyabinsk
Maxim Kitsyn
Then: Led Russia with five goals, including late QF equalizer versus Finland and second goal in final
Now: Ex-L.A. Prospect led VHL’s Metallurg Novokuznetsk with 39 goals and 69 points last season
Yevgeni Kuznetsov
Then: Tied Vladimir Tarasenko for team points lead (11), including three assists in final
Now: Two-time World Champion, who led 2018 NHL playoffs with 31 points, serving IIHF suspension for positive cocaine test through 12 June, 2023
Artemi Panarin
Then: Weighing just 70 kg, he scored twice, including winner, in Russian gold-medal comeback
Now: In first year of seven-year, $81.5-million USD deal, rewarded New York Rangers with career-high 95 points
Danil Sobchenko
Then: Kiev-born centre tied Yevgeni Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko for second in team goals (4)
Now: Tragically deceased at age 20 in 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslav plane crash
Vladimir Tarasenko
Then: Biggest of captain’s four goals came on third-period one-timer to make it 3-3 against Canada
Now: 2015 Worlds silver medalist and 2019 Stanley Cup champion aiming to rebound after injuries slowed five-time 30-goal scorer with St. Louis last season
Semyon Valuiski
Then: Played on Vladimir Tarasenko’s line with Danil Sobchenko, totalling two assists
Now: Reunited with 2011 teammate Artyom Voronin on VHL’s Humo Tashkent in Uzbekistan last season
Artyom Voronin
Then: 19-year-old who tallied a goal and two assists in Buffalo would not register a KHL point until 2011-12, his third season with Spartak Moskva
Now: Migrated to VHL’s Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk for 2020-21
Then: Saved Russia from SF elimination against Swedes with tying goal with 1:27 remaining
Now: Former New Jersey Devil, owner of Worlds gold (2014) and Olympic gold (2018), is new captain of Traktor Chelyabinsk
Maxim Kitsyn
Then: Led Russia with five goals, including late QF equalizer versus Finland and second goal in final
Now: Ex-L.A. Prospect led VHL’s Metallurg Novokuznetsk with 39 goals and 69 points last season
Yevgeni Kuznetsov
Then: Tied Vladimir Tarasenko for team points lead (11), including three assists in final
Now: Two-time World Champion, who led 2018 NHL playoffs with 31 points, serving IIHF suspension for positive cocaine test through 12 June, 2023
Artemi Panarin
Then: Weighing just 70 kg, he scored twice, including winner, in Russian gold-medal comeback
Now: In first year of seven-year, $81.5-million USD deal, rewarded New York Rangers with career-high 95 points
Danil Sobchenko
Then: Kiev-born centre tied Yevgeni Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko for second in team goals (4)
Now: Tragically deceased at age 20 in 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslav plane crash
Vladimir Tarasenko
Then: Biggest of captain’s four goals came on third-period one-timer to make it 3-3 against Canada
Now: 2015 Worlds silver medalist and 2019 Stanley Cup champion aiming to rebound after injuries slowed five-time 30-goal scorer with St. Louis last season
Semyon Valuiski
Then: Played on Vladimir Tarasenko’s line with Danil Sobchenko, totalling two assists
Now: Reunited with 2011 teammate Artyom Voronin on VHL’s Humo Tashkent in Uzbekistan last season
Artyom Voronin
Then: 19-year-old who tallied a goal and two assists in Buffalo would not register a KHL point until 2011-12, his third season with Spartak Moskva
Now: Migrated to VHL’s Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk for 2020-21