#27 Alexei Kovalev
Position: Right Wing
Team: Montreal Canadiens
Height: 6'1", 183 cm
Weight: 215 lbs, 95 kg
Shoots: Left
Born: February 24, 1973 in Togliatti, USSR
Drafted: Selected by the NY Rangers in the 1st round (15th overall) of the 1991 Entry Draft

Alexei Kovalev wa born in Togliatti, Russia. Alexei Kovalev wanted to play hockey ever since he was a little kid. His dream came true when he became a teenager, he got to play for the Dynamo's senior Moscow team. In 1991 Alexei Kovalev was the first Russian to be drafted in the first round of the NHL's entry draft. But Alexei didn't go to the NHL but instead he stayed with Dynamos. After the draft Alexei had the best season he had. He scored 16 goals in 33 games. When Kovalev signed with the New York Rangers, he was amazed by the city and couldn't believe his new home. Every season Kovalev got better and better. Kovalv was one of the first Russians to get there name carved into a stanley cup in 1994 when the Rangers beat Pavel Bure and the Canucks. In 1998 Kovalev got traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. When this happened, Kovalev was only the second player to play alongside with Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mark Messier. The 2000-01 was Alexei's best NHL season. He set career highs in almost everything and he came 4th in the league with 95 points. In 2003 Kovalev got traded back to the team he started his NHL career with, the New York Rangers. Just this year Alexei got traded to the Montreal Canadiens and he is macking a huge impact for their team. Alexei still has a Russian accent and in the summers Alexei spends time with his wife in Russia and in New York. Alexei also has a pilot's license and he flies his small airplane around for fun. He is having helicopter lessons right now so he can get a helicopter license.