06-07 Artem Anisimov Yaroslavl Lokomotiv Jersey

August 31st, 2008

This is the game worn 2006-07 road Yaroslavl Lokomotiv jersey of center Artem Anisimov.

Anisimov was selected by the New York Rangers in the second round, 54th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

A skilled stickhandler, Anisimov played his first North American season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack as a 19-year old. After a slow start, though he skated with the NY Rangers for the entire pre-season, Anisimov put together an impressive rookie season scoring 16 goals and 27 assists in 74 games played.

During the season, he also represented Russia at the 2008 World Junior Championships in late December.

It would not be surprising to see him make his NHL debut on Broadway during the 2008-09 season.

This jersey is a size 54 airknit and mesh jersey manufactured by Kait Sport. All logos and numbers are sublimated. The name is also sublimated. The sponsor patches on the shoulders are sewn.

Overall, the jersey shows light wear, most of which is on the sleeves. There is no fight strap.

I acquired this jersey on March 16, 2008 from Galina Bondarenko.

This jersey is in my collection because Artem Anisimov played for the Hartford Wolf Pack during the 2007-08 season.

Posted in Russian Super League, Yaroslavl Lokomotiv | 1 Comment »

05-06 Vitali Yeremeyev Dynamo Moscow Jersey

January 22nd, 2008

A few weeks ago I added a couple of HC Dynamo Moscow jerseys to my collection.

I’d always wanted to add one of their 2005-06 jerseys because they featured a collar — much like that of a soccer jersey or the 2000 and 2001 NHL All Star jerseys for the World team.

They turn up on eBay from time to time, usually courtesy of Alex Brokhman in Ohio, but I’d never seen a player that fit my theme until fellow collector (though with much more of a Russian slant) Ron Webb showed me a couple of his most recent additions…home and road 2005-06 Dynamo Vitali Yeremeyev jerseys.

Never being one to keep his sources secret, Ron passed along the info to me to inquire about the second set jerseys. A couple of days later, I’d added a home and road just like the jerseys Ron had showed me earlier. My fourth and fifth Yeremeyev jerseys. Woo-hoo!

I think his showed a bit more wear than mine, but that’s okay since he’s more of a Russian collector than I am — he should have the set with better wear. I believe mine are from the second set based on a photomatch to a game played in January of 2006.

Anyway, during the 2005-06 season, Yeremeyev appeared in 26 games — splitting time with Sergei Zvyagin — during the shorter Superleague season and the jersey shows it. Being a goaltender, there aren’t a lot of board burns, but there is some pilling on the cuff of the sleeves and numerous puck marks on the front of the jersey.

Peculiarly, the home white jersey is a size 56 and the blue road is a size 58. Neither are marked as a goalie cut, but the sleeves are very wide, though they don’t look customized, it must be a goalie cut.

I also don’t think the lace in the neck on the home jersey is original as it appears that the white sets usually had blue laces, though not always. But I can’t find a picture of Yeremeyev with the lace in place — it’s always removed, probably because it would catch the chin of his mask on occasion.

Either way, a welcome addition to the collection as Yeremeyev suited up for 36 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack during the 2000-01 season — his only complete season in North America.

Posted in Dynamo Moscow, Russian Super League | 1 Comment »

RSL Jerseys Suddenly look more Attractive

January 13th, 2008

I used to steer away from the Russian jerseys because of their flimsy construction and all of the advertisements on them. The smell was also a turn-off.

I have a few in my collection though, mostly because of the low price tag, but partly because, well, they’re so much different than the stuff we see here in North America.

But after seeing this bench clearing brawl between Kazan Ak-Bars vs Chelyabinsk Traktor from a few days ago, well, I’m actively seeking the white number 30 jersey of the fearless guy on Ak-Bars.

I can’t remember the last time I say a bench clearer like that… 1987’s WJC Canada/USSR fight, maybe? Good to know that they still teach the Russian kids to pull the jersey up and over though.

Good stuff.

Posted in Russian Super League | No Comments »