Andrei Kostitsyn
Belarus- Biography of Andrei Kostitsyn
- Early Life and Career
- Professional Career
- Success and Accolades
- International Career
- Controversy and Clearing of Accusations
Biography of Andrei Kostitsyn
Andrei Kostitsyn is a Belarusian athlete and professional ice hockey player. He was born on February 3, 1985, in Novopolotsk, Vitebsk Oblast, BSSR, USSR. Standing at a height of 183 cm and weighing 97 kg, Andrei plays as a forward and wears the number 46. He is also known by the nickname "AK-46". His younger brother, Sergei Kostitsyn, has been playing in the same team since 2007.
Early Life and Career
In his childhood, Andrei trained at the specialized children's hockey school in Novopolotsk, where there are twelve children's hockey teams. His hockey career began in 2000 when he joined the Novopolotsk team, "Polimir," where he played for two seasons in several leagues, including the Eastern European Hockey League (EEHL). In the summer of 2002, he signed a contract with CSKA and moved to Russia, but continued to play for "Yunost" in Minsk.
Professional Career
During the NHL draft in 2003, Andrei was chosen by the prestigious NHL club, the Montreal Canadiens, in the first round, with the 10th overall pick. In the summer of 2004, he was invited to the club's training camp and signed a three-year agreement. In the 2004-05 season, Andrei played in the AHL for the Hamilton Bulldogs, scoring 23 points in 66 games. His first NHL game took place on December 1, 2005.
Success and Accolades
Andrei Kostitsyn had a successful season in 2007-08, scoring 53 points in 78 games. He and his brother, Sergei, helped their team reach the quarter-finals of the Stanley Cup. Andrei was named the Best Belarusian Player of 2008, while his younger brother took third place. In the summer of 2008, Montreal extended Andrei's contract for another three years, with an annual salary of $3.25 million.
International Career
Andrei has been representing the Belarusian national team since 2002, earning 32 points (17 goals and 15 assists) in 41 games, with 50 penalty minutes. He had hoped to play for Belarus in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver but was unable to due to a knee injury he sustained in December. His younger brother, Sergei, had the opportunity to represent Belarus in the Olympics.
Controversy and Clearing of Accusations
In February 2009, a Montreal newspaper, "La Presse," reported that both Kostitsyn brothers and defenseman Roman Hamrlik were involved in a drug trafficking organization. However, the NHL demanded an official investigation, and all accusations against the players were completely dropped. "La Presse" stated that the players had no connection to the criminal world, and there were no plans to investigate them.
