Valentin Morozov

Valentin Morozov
Born (1975-06-01) June 1, 1975
Moscow, Russian SFSR,
Soviet Union
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Left
Played for CSKA Moscow
Russian Penguins
Krylja Sovetov
Syracuse Crunch
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Lada Togliatti
Ufa Salavat Yulayev
National team  Russia
NHL Draft 154th overall, 1994
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 1993–2004

Valentin Morozov (Russian: Валентин Морозов; born June 1, 1975) is a former Russian professional ice hockey player who spent the majority of his career in the Russian Super League.

Playing career

NHL Draft

Valentin Morozov was drafted in the sixth round, 154th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.[1] After being drafted, he remained in Russia and played four seasons with CSKA Moscov. After the 1996-97 season, Morozov left CSKA Moscow and signed with Krylia Sovetov.

AHL career

In the summer of 1998, Morozov would receive a training camp invite to skate with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Morozov was one of the final cuts of the Penguins training camp. On September 27, Morozov was assigned to the Penguins' AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.[2] As a member of the Crunch, Morozov wore jersey #15. Despite finishing the season with 17 goals and 40 points in 63 games, Morozov also finished with a plus/minus of -40, which was the lowest mark among all Crunch players[3]

Morozov was invited back to Pittsburgh Penguins training camp in the summer of 1999. After several weeks of training, Morozov was reassigned again to the Penguins' new AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Morozov would change from his previous number 15 to 21. In 59 games with the W-B/S Penguins, Morozov scored 39 points, which was the fourth highest among Penguins forwards that season. After two seasons in North America, Morozov decided to return to Russia to continue his professional hockey career.

Russian Super League

Morozov returned to Russia for the 2000-01 season with Lada Togliatti, where he scored four points in nineteen games.

Russian Supreme League (Pervaya Liga)

In 2001-02, Morozov split time between the Russian Super League and the Pervaya Liga, a 2nd tier feeder league for the Russian Super League. He returned to the Central Red Army team. He played 18 games, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists. Morozov also played one game with Ufa Salavat Yulayev, also of the Russian Super League. While assigned to Pervaya Liga, Morozov split time between Severstal-2 Cherepovets and the Pervaya Liga's Central Red Army team.

Russian Major League (Vysshaya Liga)

Morozov spent the 2002-03 season with Khimik Voskresensk, a Vysshaya Liga team that was considered to be "Class-A 2nd division" to the Russian Super League. Morozov would have one of his best statistical seasons as a member of Khimik, scoring 20 points in 24 games.

Morozov would spend his final season splitting time between Krylia Sovetov's team in Vysshaya Liga and their team with Pervaya Liga.

Personal

Valentin Morozov is the older brother of Ak Bars Kazan forward Aleksey Morozov. Aleksey, like Valentin, was also drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins; Valentin was drafted in the 6th round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, and Aleksey was drafted the following year (1st round, 24th overall) in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

References

  1. ↑ "1994 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  2. ↑ "Pittsburgh Penguins, 1997-2003 Transactions". Hockeynut.com. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  3. ↑ Hockeydb.com: 1998-99 Syracuse Crunch Statistics
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