At 17, Nikolay Terentyev may be Russia's hockey spark

The double-amputee and youngest member of the Russian sledge hockey team started his playing career with the Moscow-based White Bears. Just two months into his tenure with the club, he was competing at the Russian Championships.

Every team has a star player. Someone that can stand out from the rest of the competition and be either an offensive threat, defensive stable or leader off the ice.

Russia’s ice sledge hockey team has two forwards that fit the offensive bill. One of them is already an accomplished sledge hockey star in IPC One to Watch, Dmitry Lisov.

The other? A 17-year-old forward named Nikolay Terentyev.

Terentyev comes from a city at the extreme northwest of Russia in Murmansk, and came across sledge hockey just like someone would come across reading this article; two years ago, on the internet.

The double-amputee and youngest member of the Russian sledge hockey team started his playing career with the Moscow-based White Bears. Just two months into his tenure with the club, he was competing at the Russian Championships.

From there on out, it has been nothing but good things to come out of Terentyev. At last year’s IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool, he was one of the youngest players to compete in the tournament.

Despite averaging just over four minutes per game and being held pointless, Terentyev and Russia captured bronze.

He has only improved ever since.

After a solid showing at the International “4 Nations” Tournament in September, Terentyev was outstanding at the start of December 2013 at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Toronto, Canada.

In five games, he scored five goals and five assists and finished the tournament tied with Canada’s Greg Westlake for second in scoring.

Terentyev accomplished the success with linemates Ilia Volkov and Lisov, who led the tournament in scoring with 11 points.

“I like the way how my teammate Dmitry Lisov plays,” Terentyev said.

“I admire his dedication and constant drive toward self-improvement, as well as his focus on the goal. But, instead of copying his style, I would like to work on my own and show my strong points on the ice arena.”

Not only does Terentyev admire Lisov, but Lisov is also quick to compliment his teammate on his success, even at a young age.

“He is a very nice guy, he is working hard, he’s training hard but he’s very young,” Lisov said. “In (the World Sledge Hockey Challenge) he played very hard, very good, he’s got a very good future in sledge hockey.”

Terentyev credits his early success to his continuous commitment to his teammates and coaches but also thinks there is room for improvement.

“I believe there is still room for further development and improvements,” he said. “My best games are in the future.”