Avangard signs goalie

Avangard Hockey Club has signed 24-year-old goaltender Alexei Melnichuk to a two-way contract valid until the end of the season.

This season, Melnichuk played for HC Sochi and Traktor. He appeared in 44 KHL games (%Sv 91.4, GAA 2.41).

Rashid Khabibulin, Avangard General Manager:

- We have been looking to adding a goalie, because Stanislav Galimov got injured during the season. When Alexei Melnichuk hit the market, we consulted with the coaching staff, Mikhail Kravets provided a recommendation, as he has already worked with this netminder, and we decided to sign the contract. The previous season was a good one for Alexei, he was solid. Yes, not everything has been working smoothly this season, but I believe that he will be able to help the team. Now all failures of the past need to be forgotten - the experience of Sergei Zvyagin and our entire coaching staff will help Melnichuk blend in. There is still some time left before the playoffs, so I have no doubt that Alexei will be well-prepared for the decisive stage of the season.

Melnichuk will be wearing number 38 in Avangard.

Alexei Melnichuk

Goalie
Born – June 29, 1998
Birthplace – Saint Petersburg
Height – 186 cm
Weight – 87 kg
Nation – Russia
Catches – Left

Bio

Played for SKA-1946 (Saint Petersburg, 2015-2019), SKA-Neva (Saint Petersburg, 2016-2020), SKA (Saint Petersburg, 2017-2020), Torpedo (Nizhny Novgorod, 2020-2021), San Jose Sharks (2020-2021), San Jose Barracuda (2020-2022), Orlando Solar Bears (2021-2022), HC Sochi (2022), Traktor (Chelyabinsk, 2022).

Stats

KHL: 44 games played, 16 wins, 92 goals allowed, 973 saves, had a save percentage of 91.4, 2.41 goals against average, 4 shutouts, was credited with 2 assist and had 4 penalty minutes.

VHL: 101 games played, 73 wins, 164 goals allowed, 2322 saves, had a save percentage of 93.4, 1.71 goals against average, 18 shutouts, was credited with 4 assist and had 18 penalty minutes.

MHL: 43 games played, 20 wins, 88 goals allowed, 966 saves, had a save percentage of 91.7, 2.30 goals against average, 4 shutouts, 4 penalty minutes.

Appeared in 3 NHL games and 48 AHL games.

Avangard press service