By Darryl G. Smart
Danill Kuzmin is heading home to play professional hockey.
After only playing five games with the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Brantford 99ers, the six-foot-four inch forward from Lipetsk, Russia has inked a two-year deal with the HC Dynamo Tver of the VHL.
“This is a great opportunity for him,” 99ers owner and general manager Darren DeDobbelaer said. “It’s a big blow to our team, but we couldn’t be happier for him. We wish him luck.”
The VHL, or Supreme Hockey League, is Russia’s second level of professional hockey.
Dynamo Tver is the affiliate for the KHL’s (Kontinental Hockey League) Dynamo Moscow.
Kuzmin was acquired by the 99ers in a trade with the Mississauga Chargers, and scored six goals and 10 assists this season.
At 15, Kuzmin came to Canada and joined the Markham Majors AAA system, playing minor midget and midget, before catching on with the Moncton Wildcats, of the QMJHL. After one season, he returned to Ontario to play for the OJHL’s North York Rangers Jr A Hockey Team, before joining the Chargers at the beginning of this season.