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jknox17 · 10-09-2015, 12:02 PM

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If you'd like to read the introduction to William, you can find it here Smile

HOCKEY HISTORY - WILLIAM FEDOROV

William Fedorov is undoubtedly one of the more interesting prospects to emerge ahead of the S26 SMJHL Draft. The 6'4", 220lb Russian-Canadian blueliner plays well enough on the ice to justify the attention he receives, but add into the mix his intriguing life story thus far and you're left with a fascinating young player who's overcome a great deal of adversity to reach the point he's at now. William plays a game that's equal parts silky smooth and sheer brute intimidation, and thus far he's experienced some towering highs and soul-crushing lows playing the sport in two locations that couldn't be further removed, both geographically and in terms of attitude to the game. We're going to take a look at the journey William's undertaken throughout his hockey career so far, from enduring a real roller-coaster experience as a youngster in the Canadian minor hockey system, to becoming the dominant young player in the whole of Russia, and hopefully gather some insight as to what this spells for William's future as a player in the SHL.

Dieppe-Memramcook Aigles

[Image: AigleLogos-OnWhite-12-06-14.png]

[Image: AigleLogos-OnWhite-12-06-14.png]

Code:
GP:15 | G:2 | A:7 | P: 9 | H: n/a | PIM: 10 |

William began playing Bantam A hockey in his final year of eligibility, having failed to make the cut to play in that division until he turned 12.He began playing for the Dieppe-Memramcook Aigles, based in Dieppe, a town a few miles out of William's then hometown of Moncton, and whilst not disgracing himself, he failed to leave as much of a mark as he would have liked. Putting up average numbers, his core game in terms of both offence and defence really left a lot to be desired, especially compared to the standards William had set for himself, and his now trademark "never say die" attitude and total commitment to winning were not at all evident. Despite the lack of real game changing ability at his young age, William was able to use his large frame and above-average skating to show signs that there was some real untapped potential below the surface.

Moncton Hawks

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Code:
GP:28 | G:7 | A:17 | P: 24 | H: 31 | PIM: 46 |

After just one season in Dieppe, William decided to transfer to his local Moncton Hawks to play his first season of bantam hockey, and it finally became clear the potential that the young man possessed. Finishing as one of the top ten defensemen in the league in terms of point scoring and leading all players in hits despite being one of the youngest players, William really began to stand out amongst his peers and many people began to take note of the rapidly improving young man. His impressive size and natural defensive ability combined with a strong instinct for handling the puck and scoring points led to many considering him to have the potential to be a star player at the game's highest level, and his willingness to put his body on the line for his team made him one of the most popular members of the Hawks dressing room. He was also awarded with the honour of being named his team's captain, going on to lead them deep into the playoffs, where they fell in a overtime championship game loss against William's former team, the Dieppe-Memramcook Aigles in what was a bittersweet end to his first year in bantam. His record breaking rookie season led to a unparalleled level of hyperbole surrounding William, with scouts from the QMJHL all but foaming at the mouth with the thought of being able to end him to their teams. Everything seemed to be going perfectly for William, and one has to wonder that if circumstances had been different, he may well have been able to go on and become one of the CHL's most promising players, but alas, it was not meant to be.

MHK Spartak

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Code:
S1: GP:56 | G:5 | A:14 | P:19 | H:24 | PIM:53 |

S2: GP:56 | G:11 | A:37 | P: 48 | H:33 | PIM:37 |  

With William enjoying his dazzling success in Moncton, it seemed as if there was no stopping him from entering the QMJHL as a potential superstar. However, the tragic deaths of both William's parents in a fatal traffic accident changed William's life irreparably. William was sent over to live with his Russian father's brother, a former professional hockey player residing on the other side of the world in Voskresenk. After a year spent away from the game trying to come to terms with his new life and adapt to his new surroundings, William spent a season playing minor hockey for his local team, before taking the big step of joining the MHL (the elite league of youth hockey in Russia) at just 16 years of age. William became a member of his local (despite being based over three hours away) team MHK Spartak. After a tough rookie season where he played on the bottom pairing D-pair, logging very few minutes per game and struggling to fit in with his new teammates, William considered giving up on the game altogether. He was convinced by his uncle to at least play out his time in the MHL, and it was during William's second season with Spartak that he finally delivered on his immense promise. Given the opportunity to become one of his team's senior players, he did not disappoint, leading all defensemen in the league in both points and hits as well as completely destroying some long-standing league records, William became the hottest property in the MHL, and it was believed by many in the know around the league that it was all but a sure thing that he would be playing in the KHL the following year, with it rumoured by many that Spartak had already offered him what would have been the biggest rookie contract in league history. After the conclusion of the season, which saw him lead Spartak to the league championship, William and his representatives called a press conference, which it was assumed was to be used by him to announce his commitment to the KHL, but was instead used to announce that he had decided to return to North America, where he would join the SHL system and declare himself for the S26 SMJHL Draft. The initial reaction was one of great shock and anger, but after his second announcement that he would be once again going against the general assumption and representing Russia internationally instead of his country of birth, public opinion thawed and many want to see what some consider the most promising Russian D-man for a generation take his game to North America and show them why they should be paying very close attention to Russia.

While William's history in the sport thus far is incredibly short, the success he's enjoyed and the adversity he's overcome only point to him continuing to be a winner at all levels. He will no doubt look to make his mark in the SMJHL as the top rookie, and it is rumoured that he has set himself a personal goal of becoming the first overall selection in the S27 SHL Draft. Whether or not this becomes a reality is yet to be seen, but it's safe to say that whatever comes next for William Fedorov will surely be carried out with his usual beautifully intimidating that has enabled him to become the player we know today.
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