20? Maybe Russian-American players screw up the tradition and say they're older than they are
Chukarov, a product of the Chicago Mission program, is a high skilled defensemen that creates offense every time he has the puck and has really blossomed in his second year in the NAHL. He had a rough start to his NAHL career, with being traded and injured all before he ever played his first league game. But in the 72 games since, he has really established himself as an elite defensemen and player in the league.
“This is a big day for me and I have dreamed about this for a very long time, so to have this come true, is a great feeling”, said Chukarov. In why he choose UMass, Chukarov stated, “To be able to play in the Hockey East along with getting a great education that UMass offers is a great thing. This is a great opportunity for me to get exposure out East and ever since I was a kid, I wanted to play out East!”
Wilderness head coach Corey Millen had this to say about Ivan committing to UMass, “We are very excited for Ivan. We feel his skill level is as good as anybody in the league and deserves this great opportunity.”
AMHERST, Mass. - The Massachusetts hockey program has signed Ivan Chukarov, a 6-3, 200-pound left shot defenseman from Des Plaines, Ill., Head Coach John Micheletto announced on Thursday. Chukarov is the fourth member of the Minutemen's freshman class for 2015-16, joining fellow Illinois native Joseph Widmar as well as Austin Plevy and Kurt Keats.
"A mobile, puck-moving defenseman that can play both sides of the puck, Ivan will definitely improve our D-corps heading into the 2015-16 season."
Next four years, which was their point of drafting him, as they projected they'd be competing with most teams to nab him as an UDFA and wanted to ensure his rights.Given he was drafted at age 20 / '95 birth, and is headed to college, and given the Sabres comments post above mine, how long does BUF retain his rights?
[ Woodhouse, dotcommunism, et al., I'm looking at you... ]
After fending off two Dalhousie power plays early in the first, UMass took a 1-0 lead 8:29 into the stanza. Plevy buried a cross-ice pass from Chukarov and Iacobellis from inside the left faceoff circle.
Plevy and Chukarov set up UMass' third tally of the night at the 8:30 into the second as sophomore Keith Burchett banged home a one-timer at the right post.
Saturday, December 5: Massachusetts at Notre Dame HE 6:05 pm ET (TV-NBCSN)