There are plenty of stories when a hockey player’s career takes a dizzying leap. More often it concerns young and talented players. Less common are hockey players who soared to the top after a long game decline.

The Russian goalkeeper of the Carolinas, Pyotr Kochetkov, managed to revive his derailed career in a year and a half. Now American fans are praying for him.

The best goalkeeper of the MFM, and then oblivion

Kochetkov became widely known in hockey circles after the 2019 Youth World Championship. As part of the Russian national team, the gatekeeper won bronze medals and the title of the best goalkeeper of the tournament. This naturally attracted the attention of NHL scouts to Peter. That same year, the Carolinas drafted him in the second round. Not all goalkeepers receive this honor.

It seemed that the career of a young and promising player was going uphill. He went on promotion from Sochi to SKA. After he planned to move to the NHL. But instead, Kochetkov’s career came to a sudden halt. For the main team of “soldiers” Peter played only six matches, and his statistics did not stand up to criticism. There was talk about Kochetkov’s “star disease”, but the problems lay elsewhere.

– She’d be better off. Instead of becoming calmer and more confident, I began to overtrain. He drove himself with different thoughts. I kept repeating to myself: “We have to work, work, work.” They took it to SKA, which means you have to comply. There was a kind of hyper-responsibility. Maybe if I put on a small crown, it would be easier, ”the goalkeeper explained in an interview with the official KHL website.

The “soldiers” gave the surrendered goalkeeper to the “Vityaz”, but Peter did not go there either. In the 2020/21 season, the goalkeeper played mainly in the farms of the Moscow Region team. Another year of living in the VHL would probably put an end to Kochetkov’s prospects for building a good career, but at that moment fate gave Peter a second chance.

Kochetkov was saved in “Torpedo”

Torpedo needed a goalkeeper. Goalkeeping coach Vladimir Kulikov decided to invite his former ward Kochetkov to the Nizhny Novgorod camp. The mentor quickly brought Peter into shape. The goalkeeper finished both seasons as part of the Nizhny Novgorod team with solid statistics, reflecting over 92% of shots. For an attacking team that doesn’t care much about defense, this is a great result.

A brilliant game at the last frontier in Torpedo again attracted the attention of Carolina scouts. Kochetkov received an invitation to try his hand at North America. Immediately after the end of the regular season in the KHL, Peter accepted the offer of the Hurricanes.

The place at the gates of the main team was not entrusted to the Russian immediately, sending him to the Chicago Wolves farm club in the AHL. This circumstance did not upset the goalkeeper. He gave all his best in every meeting and in 15 matches only once allowed his opponents to win in regular time. He capitulated again in overtime. At the same time, his percentage of reflected shots was even higher than in the Continental Hockey League.

The Russian grabbed his chance with a stranglehold

Perhaps Kochetkov would have ended the season in the AHL, but then the case came to the rescue again. The main goalkeeper of the “Carolina” Frederick Andersen was in the infirmary, dropping out at least until the end of the regular season. The coaching staff decided to raise Kochetkov from the farm, who certainly deserved a call to the main team with his reliable play in the AHL.

Coach Rod Brindamore trusted Kochetkov to defend the net against New Jersey. The hockey player played this game confidently, without making gross mistakes. Peter pulled the team at the right moments, and this helped the Carolinas win in overtime.

The next day, the club was expected to meet with the Islanders. Even star goalkeepers often play two games in two days. Kochetkov’s entry to this meeting was not planned either, but in the second period, another Carolina goalkeeper, Antti Raant, was injured. The coaching staff had no choice but to release our hockey player on the ice.

The lack of a warm-up affected the game of the Russian. He was struck by the first throw, which allowed the opponents to even the score. But there is no particular fault of Peter in the missed puck, because the field players of the “Islanders” closed his view. He simply did not see the moment of the throw. But then Kochetkov got involved and no longer allowed his opponents to upset him again. Thanks to this, he now has two victories in the NHL. It took Peter less than a day.

“Kochetkov is an asset we don’t deserve”

Two main goaltenders with injuries right before the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs is, without exaggeration, a real disaster not only for the team, but also for its fans. It is no wonder that social networks were literally flooded with comments praising the Russian goalkeeper and asking to help the “hurricanes” at a difficult moment.

Help us, Peter! You are our only hope,” a user with the nickname @dlee71 addresses Peter.

Carolina learned what would happen if you bet on two injured goaltenders. Fortunately, they have Pyotr Kochetkov, who can bring a pleasant surprise, – the user @CreaseGiants noted the incorrect strategy of the club when recruiting the squad.

“It’s hard to be a Carolina fan and know that our strength lies in our reserve players. When both goaltenders are injured, we find this Russian guy from the AHL who is amazing and happy to be able to contribute. Petr Kochetkov is an asset we don’t deserve. @__Joe_Egan__ noted.

– Big respect to Kochetkov, he added a lot when it was necessary, – @FlossyDFlynt praised the Russian player in the last two meetings.

— I am delighted with Petr Kochetkov, he impressed me with these two games, — user @hook714 expressed his opinion about the goalkeeper from Russia.

The game of our hockey player was also appreciated by our partners in Carolina.

“The guy looks great,” said the captain of the Raleigh team, Jordan Staal, at the post-match press conference.

Of course, Peter will still get a chance to prove himself before the end of the regular season. Let’s hope he takes full advantage of it.