Andrei Kovalenko (born June 7, 1970 in Balakovo, Russia) is a retired professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League with the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins. He is currently the chairman of the Kontinental Hockey League players association (KHL PA).

Playing career

Kovalenko was drafted 148th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques whilst playing in Russia for HC CSKA Moscow.

He was traded from the Colorado Avalanche to the Montreal Canadiens with Jocelyn Thibault and Martin Ručínský for Patrick Roy and Mike Keane.

In 1996, he scored the final goal in the history of the Montreal Forum, the fourth in a 4–1 victory over the Dallas Stars.

In 1999, he scored the first goal in the history of the RBC Center as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes in a 4–2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

Kovalenko has not played in the National Hockey League since 2000–01 with the Boston Bruins, and has spent the last four years playing in the Russian Super League. In 2004–05, Kovalenko split time between Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and Avangard Omsk.

Nicknamed "The Tank" by his teammates because of his immovable presence from the goal crease.

Awards and achievements

• Soviet championship: 1989 (with CSKA)
• European Ice Hockey Cup: 1990 (with CSKA)
• Russian championship: 2002 (with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl)
• Russian championship: 2003 (with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl)
• European Champions Cup: 2005 (with Avangard)
• Pajulahti Cup: 2006 (with Severstal)

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1987–88	Torpedo Gorky	USSR		2	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	CSKA Moscow	USSR		10	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	CSKA Moscow	USSR		48	8	5	13	20		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	CSKA Moscow	USSR		45	13	8	21	26		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	CSKA Moscow	CIS		36	16	11	27	28		8	3	2	5	4
1992–93	CSKA Moscow	IHL		3	3	1	4	4		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		81	27	41	68	57		4	1	0	1	2
1993–94	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		58	16	17	33	46		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	HC Lada Togliatti	IHL		11	9	2	11	14		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		45	14	10	24	31		6	0	1	1	2
1995–96	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		26	11	11	22	16		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		51	17	17	34	33		6	0	0	0	6
1996–97	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		74	32	27	59	81		12	4	3	7	6
1997–98	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		59	6	17	23	28		1	0	0	0	2
1998–99	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		43	13	14	27	30		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		13	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		18	6	6	12	0		4	1	1	2	2
1999–00	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		76	15	24	39	38		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Boston Bruins	NHL		76	16	21	37	27		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl	RSL		51	27	20	47	62		9	4	3	7	28
2002–03	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl	RSL		51	14	16	30	62		10	5	4	9	12
2003–04	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl	RSL		59	23	11	34	56		3	0	0	0	0
2004–05	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl	RSL		4	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Avangard Omsk	RSL		33	8	9	17	65		11	0	4	4	8
2005–06	Avangard Omsk	RSL		12	1	4	5	8		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Severstal Cherepovets	RSL		26	10	7	17	20		4	0	2	2	4
2006–07	Severstal Cherepovets	RSL		50	21	8	29	30		5	1	0	1	0
2007–08	Severstal Cherepovets	RSL		48	9	8	17	36		7	0	1	1	2
NHL totals				620	173	206	379	389		33	6	5	11	20

International play

International statistics

Year	Team	Event	Place		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1990	Soviet Union	WJC			7	5	6	11	8
1991	Soviet Union	CC	5th		5	1	2	3	10
1992	Unified Team	Oly			8	1	1	2	2
1992	CIS	WC	5th		6	3	1	4	2
1994	Russia	WC	5th		6	3	5	8	2
1996	Russia	WCH	SF		5	2	0	2	4
1998	Russia	Oly			6	4	1	5	14
2000	Russia	WC	11th		6	0	0	0	0
2002	Russia	WC			8	0	4	4	4
2004	Russia	WCH	5th		2	0	0	0	6
Senior Int'l Totals					52	14	14	28	44

References

External links