Hrubec - the best goalie of January, Gritsyuk - the best rookie

The Kontinental Hockey League’s commission has determined the best players of the Regular Season’s fifth month in four categories.

In January, the League’s teams played a total of 43 games, with 600 players (30 goalies, 203 defensemen, and 357 forwards) taking part in the action. The average goals-per-game was at 5.23.

— Best goalie for the second time in his career was Simon Hrubec (Avangard), who won two of three games last month. He faced 83 shots, or 27.7 per night, posting a saves percentage of 95.18% and a goals-against average of 1.35. In the Jan 7 game against Dinamo Minsk, Hrubec posted his fifth shutout of the season. He was already awarded best goalie honors in November 2021.

— Best defenseman for the first time in his career was Ilya Khokhlov (Severstal), who scored 6 (1+5) points in five games. The defenseman posted no negative ratings, with a plus-7 differential. Khokhlov also recorded six hits and blocked nine shots. It’s the first time that a Severstal blueliner is recognized with defenseman of the month honors.

— Best forward for the first time in his career was Nikita Guslistov (Severstal), who scored 5 (3+2) points in four games. Guslistov posted no negative ratings, with a plus-5 differential. In the Jan 6 game against Kunlun Red Star (7:1), Guslistov potted a double, adding the game-winner in 3:2 OT win over Vityaz on Jan 11. Among Severstal forwards, Guslistov follows Vadim Shipachyov, who was awarded monthly honors on November 2011.

— Best rookie for the third time in his career and this season was forward Arseny Gritsyuk (Avangard), who scored 3 (1+2) points in three games. Gritsyuk posted no negative ratings, with a plus-2 differential. Gritsyuk is the third player to be awarded rookie of the month three times, and the first one to do so within the regular season — Andrei Vasilevsky and Valery Nichushkin were awarded their third honor in March.