(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON) – The Soo Greyhounds announced August 10th that Kirill Kudryavtsev, the team’s first round selection in the 2021 CHL Import Draft, has signed a standard player agreement with the club.

Greyhounds General Manager Kyle Raftis indicated he was excited to announce the signing of the 6th overall pick.

“As with all elite players, they have plenty of options for where they want to go to progress their hockey career, that’s why we are thrilled that Kirill has chosen to commit to our program,” Raftis said. “He’s a player that has an impact on all areas of the ice, whether defending or creating offense, and his decision-making and skating ability allow him to make a difference on each shift.”

A native of Yaroslavl, Russia, the 17-year-old defenseman spent the 2020/21 season with Loko Yaroslavl in the MHL – Russia’s top junior hockey league – where he recorded two goals and seven points over 20 games.

Most recently, Kudryavtsev was selected to represent Russia at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he notched a goal and an assist in five games played on route to winning a gold medal.

“He’s a big-game player and he’s shown this time and again with the Russian national team,” Raftis said. “We’re really looking forward to having Kirill join our group and bolster our talented defensive core even further this season.”

The 6-foot-, 185-pound defenseman also previously represented Russia during the 2020 Youth Olympics, where he recorded four assists through four games played.

“I am very excited to sign with the Soo Greyhounds. I look forward to meeting everyone at training camp and helping our team compete for an OHL championship” Kudryavtsev said.

Source: Soo Greyhounds