Kovalchuk named general manager for Russian Olympic hockey team

Ilya-Kovalchuk-celebrates-a-goal-as-a-member-of-the-Olympic-Athletes-From-Russia-team.

Ilya Kovalchuk won a gold medal at the 2018 Olympics as a member of the Olympic Athletes From Russia team. (Matt Slocum/AP)

Ilya Kovalchuk has been named the general manager of the Russian Olympic Committee’s hockey team for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Kovalchuk has no experience in a managerial role but helped the Russian Olympic team win a gold medal at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018. Kovalchuk last played in the KHL with Omsk Avangard, but both parties mutually agreed to terminate their deal back in April.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy were the first three players chosen for Russia’s roster.

Selected first overall in the 2001 NHL Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, Kovalchuk had 443 goals and 876 points over his NHL career with the Thrashers, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals.

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