Dmitry Kalinin

Dmitry Kalinin is a product of the Traktor Chelyabinsk hockey school. He started off his career very early on, already making his debut for the Traktor first team when he was only 15 years old. At the 1998 NHL Draft he was chosen in the first round by the Buffalo Sabres, and signed a contract with them in the same year. In his third year of playing in America Dmitry managed to become a regular in the Buffalo team, and stayed their for eight seasons, except for when there was a lockout and he returned to Russia to play for Metallurg Magnitogorsk. After his contract expired with Buffalo, Dmitry played with the New York Rangers and Phoenix Coyotes in 2008 and 2009. He then opted to play back in Russia permanently, and in 2011 he won the Gagarin Cup with Salavat Yulaev. Following that season he became a SKA player, where in 2013 he became a champion of the Continental Cup and a bronze medalist of the KHL. In 200 and 2012 he took part in the KHL All-Star Game. Twice after the 2009/2010 and 2011/2012 seasons he won the Golden Helmet. Dmitry has been competing for the Russian national team since 2002, and at his first World Championship be became a silver medalist. Also in that year he was awarded with the title Master of Sports in Russia. In 2005 he won the bronze medal at the same tournament, and again silver in 2010. Nevertheless Dmitry has become a world champion on three occasions, in 2008, 2009 and 2012.