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Russia’s Tkachev might be undersized, but he’s not overlooked

It really doesn’t matter if you’ve followed the Subway Super Series this season or not – chances are you hadn’t heard about Vladimir Tkachev before his goal against Team QMJHL in Game 1.

Hockey players rarely brag about their individual plays in public but Tkachev’s comments are not unusual in that regard.

“I got the puck, deked around two guys and scored. Nothing special,” he says.

Tkachev blew past Laurent Dauphin and Samuel Morin to score on QMJHL goalie Zach Fucale. Dauphin was a second-round pick by the Phoenix Coyotes, Morin was a first-rounder for the Philadelphia Flyers and Fucale was picked by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2nd round this past summer as well.

Nothing special? Really?

“It’s nothing special for me,” says Tkachev. “I know I can do it. I’ve done it before.”

Not arrogance but confidence. That’s quite a statement to make for a goal of that caliber.

Tkachev was picked 39th overall at the CHL Import Draft by the Moncton Wildcats but decided to stay in his hometown – Omsk, Russia – for the time being.

“We talked about that with my parents and my agent. We’ve decided it would be better for me to stay in Omsk for now,” says the 5-foot-8, 138-pound forward.

In the first four games of the 2013 Subway Super Series Tkachev scored two goals and added two assists. When asked who he models his game after, he doesn’t hesitate to answer.

“Martin St. Louis,” he says.

No surprise there.

“I’m looking to improve my defensive skills and get more physical. I think I’ve got everything else working for me,” says Tkachev.

The 18-year-old Tkachev was expected to crack KHL’s Avangard line-up this season, which was one of the reasons for him not to cross the pond. However, after just two games with the big club Tkachev was sent down back to juniors.

Avangard’s head-coach Milos Riha has a reputation as of one of the most offensively-minded coaches in the league. However, Tkachev is yet to impress him. Former Avangard’s coach Leonid Kiselev has some insight on the issue.

“Tkachev is a Riha kind of player. He’s skilled, he’s a great skater and he’s a smart kid as well. He knows how to score and pass. He plays Soviet style hockey,” he said recently on a local TV show.

“Back when he was in (the) junior hockey school he always led his team in goals and points. Do you think his coaches paid attention to his defensive game? Of course not. They were satisfied with him being great offensively and that was that. And now there’s a problem,” Kiselev said.

Russia’s world junior coach Mikhail Varnakov is known for his emphasis on the defensive side of the game, which is something Tkachev could benefit from at the Subway Super Series.

“It’s the most important pre-world junior tournament there is,” says Tkachev of the Super Series. “It’s a great chance to put your skills on display. Hopefully, it’s going to help me to get a spot on the world junior team.

“It’s a very well-organized tournament. We’re playing against really strong opponents. It’s a pretty even battle. It’s hard to tell who’s going to win it in the end.”

Tkachev picked up three of his four points in the first two games against Team QMJHL. Despite scoring an empty-netter on Team OHL in Game 3, Tkachev didn’t stand out after the series moved to Ontario.

“The two games in Quebec were pretty emotional. Now the series is more of a routine. The jet lag is catching up to us as well. We’re going to be alright, though,” he explains.

“We started Game 3 well. We were up 2-0 and then we let our guard down. They’ve used that advantage and tied the game up. I think the third goal was key in that game. That got our legs working for us and we scored two more goals.”

Russia swept Team OHL for the first time in the history of the tournament and evened the series before going to Alberta for the final two games against Team WHL. Tkachev feels confident about the outcome of the series.

“We have a great team. The guys are amazing. The atmosphere in the locker-room is amazing and it helps us on the ice as well. We play as a team and it works for us,” he says.

His numbers match his words, even though you would expect a guy of his stature to be easily intimidated.

“I played in Canada last year. I know how it is. I knew I just had to find the rhythm of the game and play my game, that’s all,” Tkaches says with a shrug.

That’s just a polite way of saying he’s outsmarting the opposition he meets in Canada, isn’t it?

“I guess you could say that,” says Tkachev with a laugh.