FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CALGARY, AB — Future Considerations today announced Ilya Samsonov of Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk as the Double Blue Sports draft eligible Goaltender of the Year.
Samsonov, Future Considerations’ top-ranked goaltending prospect for the 2015 NHL Draft, finished the regular season with an 11-4-1 record, 2.66 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage and two shutouts with Magnitogorsk in the MHL, Russia’s junior league. He also appeared in one game for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL.
Samsonov also shined at the World Junior A Challenge, leading Russia to bronze with a 46-save shutout performance. He finished the tournament with a 2-1-0 record to compliment a 1.67 goals against average and .952 save percentage.
“The big and athletic puck stopper really turned heads this season after looking like a bit of a uncoordinated mess at the 2014 U17’s where we first saw him play live,” Future Considerations scouting director Dan Stewart said. “But starting with games in the Molodezhnaya Hokkeinaya Liga (MHL) with his hometown team Magnitogorsk and again at the World Junior A Challenge in December he was a big part of the teams success before really skyrocketing up draft boards while carrying the Russian squad at both the U18 5-Nations in February and then again at the IIHF U18 Championship in April.
“Even with that three year KHL contract he is under, his combo of impressive size, an aggressive style, explosive lateral movement, and athleticism make him a prospect that has NHL starting potential.”
Samsonov also recorded two wins and a .942 save percentage to earn top goaltender honors at the 2015 Under-18 Five Nations tournament and represented Russia at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, too.
For the first time, any goalie from peewee to pro will have their own video analytic system and performance library at their disposal in Double Blue Sports. It typically takes a player or goalie coach hours to compile, edit, arrange and analyze video and statistics from a single game. Double Blue Sports will reproduce the same results with advanced video and statistical analytics within seconds.