logo
Ottawa Charge expects second Russian player drafted in PWHL to be a 'superstar'

Ottawa Charge expects second Russian player drafted in PWHL to be a 'superstar'

National Post25-06-2025
Only one Russian ever had been chosen in the PWHL draft before the Ottawa Charge selected two on Tuesday night.
Article content
Naturally, Mike Hirshfeld expects much better luck with his picks — especially forward Anna Shokhina — than the Boston Fleet had with Ilona Markova last year.
Article content
Article content
'We had her as probably the fourth-most talented player in this draft,' the Charge GM said of the team's second-round pick during a recap of the evening's events at Ottawa's new Hard Rock Casino & Resort as Tuesday night turned into Wednesday morning. 'That's how highly we thought of her, so to get her at 13 was really exciting for us.
Article content
Article content
'We think she's going to be a superstar in this league and we're excited to get here and have her show her skills.'
Article content
Initially, Boston might have had similar aspirations for Markova, a skilled, then-22-year-old forward the team selected in the seventh round in 2024. But after attending training camp, she was released and returned to play in her homeland.
Article content
'Sometimes you swing (and miss) and we swung a couple times last year,' Fleet GM Danielle Marmer said. 'I think of Markova, for example, as one of those.'
Article content
So why does the Charge believe it hit one out of the park with Shokhina?
Article content
Largely because of the homework they've done on the 28-year-old, who had 30 goals and 73 points in 42 games with Dynamo-Neva St. Petersburg 'A' last season.
Article content
Also, the recommendation of Mel Davidson — the former head coach and GM of Canada's national team — who gave a thumbs up to both Shokhina and her former Dynamo linemate Fanuza Kadirova, the Charge's sixth and last pick on Tuesday.
Article content
'We put a lot of work in on both of them,' Hirshfeld said. 'Over the last month, we have talked to both of the players themselves. We have scouted some film that we found of them. We've talked to coaches and people who played in that league.
Article content
Article content
'We hired Mel as a consultant and she started working with us early in the new year. Mel has actually coached them as part of the IIHF international growth program, so she knows both the players really well.
Article content
'Fanuza is a very talented player, lots of skill, a goal scorer. We think she's going to have to deal with the physicality in this league and that's going to be a learning curve for her. But we think the upside, where we picked her in the sixth round, is incredibly high.'
Article content
'For us, it was definitely worth a shot bringing them both together,' he said. 'They're definitely not fluent, but they are learning English. But we're comfortable (with their overseas transition) because of the skill level and the talent level. Our organization has focused on international players for a long time, so we think they'll fit in really well in our culture.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'I think I'm good': After injury scare, QB Vernon Adams Jr. returns to Calgary Stampeders practice
'I think I'm good': After injury scare, QB Vernon Adams Jr. returns to Calgary Stampeders practice

National Post

time2 hours ago

  • National Post

'I think I'm good': After injury scare, QB Vernon Adams Jr. returns to Calgary Stampeders practice

Vernon Adams Jr. was a full go at practice Sunday for the Calgary Stampeders. Article content Seemingly no ill effects of a hurt head after being sidelined by the Canadian Football League for the entire fourth quarter of Thursday's 23-21 loss to the visiting Montreal Alouettes at McMahon Stadium. Article content Article content And seemingly fit to start for the Stampeders (5-2) in this coming Thursday's visit to play the Ottawa Redblacks (1-6) at TD Place (5:30 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge). Article content 'Yeah … I think I'm good,' Adams said. 'We'll talk to the trainers again, and we'll see what's going on.' Article content The head injury happened when Alouettes defender Tyrice Beverette put a lick on Adams, with the quarterback trying to scramble for a first down late in the third quarter. Article content 'You know … I just took a hit — I think — from the side and kind of just rung my ear,' Adams said. 'And I saw the tape, obviously, where I got up a little wobbly. Article content 'But I felt like I was good enough to go back. But … you know … we've got to do the protocol and play it safe.' Article content Whether that means Adams is able to step in under centre for Thursday's rematch with the host Redblacks remains to be seen. Article content Remember one of the losses by the Stamps and the Redblacks' only victory of the 2025 CFL season came in their first meeting at McMahon — a 20-12 debacle in monsoon-like conditions. Article content Article content 'Yeah … I mean, he did do quite a bit (Monday) in getting himself back and was very positive,' said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, of his starting QB. 'And like I said, I think he has good energy. We do obviously let him handle it, as well as our medical people. Article content Article content Three other Stampeders injured during the contest didn't practise Sunday. Article content Dynamic Canadian receivers Damien Alford and Jalen Philpot have muscle injuries, said Dickenson on Sunday. Alford went out after his first and only catch of the game, with what looked like a hamstring injury. Article content Cornerback Adrian Greene was also hurt in the loss, leaving a few defensive plays after his interception in the second quarter, with a lower-body issue, as well. Article content 'We definitely had our share of muscle tweaks across the board — that was unfortunate,' added Dickenson. 'I need them in there. And you gotta not only play, you gotta play 60 plays. So we'll see how we can get the roster shaped up when the week ends. Article content

Local talent, big crowds highlight Commissionaires Ottawa Open at Eagle Creek
Local talent, big crowds highlight Commissionaires Ottawa Open at Eagle Creek

CTV News

time2 hours ago

  • CTV News

Local talent, big crowds highlight Commissionaires Ottawa Open at Eagle Creek

Fans come out to Eagle Creek to watch the final round of the Commissionaires Ottawa Open on Sunday, July 27, 2025 (Josh Marano/CTV News Ottawa) The Commissionaires Ottawa Open wrapped up Sunday after a successful week on and off the course, bringing pro-level competition, local pride and large crowds to Eagle Creek Golf Club. The tournament, part of the PGA Tour Americas, featured emerging talent from across the continent. Among them was 23-year-old Isaiah Ibit, a local standout making his first pro-am appearance just minutes from home. 'I didn't really have any expectations coming into this week,' Ibit said after completing his final round. 'Obviously, I wanted to make the cut and make it to the weekend but just really excited to just play my first pro event.' Ibit finished the tournament shooting 12-under par. 'Shot four rounds of 69, so definitely felt different every day, but now it's just getting ready for Canadian-AM tomorrow,' he said. Commissionaires Ottawa Open Ottawa's Isaiah Ibit made his pro-am debut at the Commissionaires Ottawa Open. Sunday July 27, 2025 (Josh Marano/ CTV News Ottawa) Fans packed the fairways on Sunday to catch a glimpse of high-level tour golf and a finish that would go down in course history. 'We've had a lot of people coming out to check this golf out and the grounds here at Eagle Creek are fantastic,' said tournament director Andy Rajhathy. 'Again, you get some great viewing of a lot of the players and their incredible shots. It's been fun to see everybody out supporting the event.' On Saturday, 27-year-old Philip Barbaree Jr. set a new course record shooting 59, 13-under, catapulting him to first on the leaderboards at 20-under. That was followed up on Sunday by Brett White, a 32-year Michigan native, who also shot 13-under, tying Barbaree with the course record. White currently holds the lead 26-under through four days.

World Junior Hockey Showcase to feature plenty of London area ties
World Junior Hockey Showcase to feature plenty of London area ties

CTV News

time4 hours ago

  • CTV News

World Junior Hockey Showcase to feature plenty of London area ties

Canada head coach Dale Hunter runs drills during practice at the team Canada world juniors selection camp in Oakville, Ont., on Tuesday, Dec.10, 2019. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette) The London area is well represented as Hockey Canada gets set for the World Junior Summer Showcase this week in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Among the 44 players invited, Sam Dickinson and Sam O'Reilly of the London Knights, as well as area players Jett Luchanko (London) and Cameron Reid (Copenhagen), will compete in practices, scrimmages and a trio of exhibition games against Finland, Sweden and the United States in preparation for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26–Jan. 5 in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The players will be split into two teams – Red and White – for practices and an intrasquad game on July 29, before taking on Finland July 30, Sweden on Aug. 1 and the United States on Aug. 2. Knights head coach Dale Hunter will coach the squad and his brother Mark will be among those on the management side who helped in this selection process and will be part of the group who ultimately decides which young men will compete for Canada during the tournament this winter. London Knights equipment manager Chris Maton will also join Team Canada's staff at the World Junior Tournament, while former Knights assistant Misha Donskov is also an assistant coach for Canada.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store