Aleksei Andreyevich Kolosov (Russian: Алексей Андреевич Колосов, Belarusian: Аляксей Андрэевіч Коласаў; born 4 January 2002) is a Belarusian ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is the first Belarusian net-minder to ever play in the NHL, having made his debut on October 27, 2024.[1]

Aleksei Kolosov
Born (2002-01-04) 4 January 2002 (age 22)
Minsk, Belarus
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams
Philadelphia Flyers
Dinamo-Molodechno
Dinamo Minsk
National team  Belarus
NHL draft 78th overall, 2021
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 2020–present

Playing career

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Kolosov started the 2020–21 season with Dinamo-Molodechno of the Belarusian Extraliga. However as travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic led made the main goaltenders for Dinamo Minsk unavailable, Kolosov made his Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) debut.[2] He had also agreed to terms with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, a major junior league in Canada and the United States, who had selected him 22nd overall in the 2020 CHL Import Draft.[3] Kolosov played 9 games for Dinamo during the season, and was later named to the Belarusian national team for the 2021 World Championship.[4]

In the lead up to the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the National Hockey League's Central Scouting Bureau ranked Kolosov the second-highest European-based goaltender.[5] He was selected in the third round, 78th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers.[6] The Flyers signed Kolosov to a three-year, entry-level contract on 8 July 2023.[7] It was later announced that Kolosov would continue his development with Dinamo Minsk on loan from the Flyers for the 2023–24 season.[8]

On October 27, 2024, Kolosov became the first Belarusian-born goalie to play in the NHL, stopping 20 of 24 shots in a 4-3 home loss to the Montreal Canadiens.[1]

International

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Kolosov made his international debut at the 2019 World U18 Championships, where he played four games for the Belarusian under-18 team, winning one. He next played at the 2020 World Junior Championship Division IA level, appearing in three games and finishing with two wins and one loss.

Kolosov made his senior debut with the Belarus national team at the 2021 World Championship, appearing in four games and recording two losses. He also played at the 2022 World Junior Championship Division IA, and won all five games he played in, helping Belarus earn promotion to the top level for 2023.[9]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2017–18 BFSO Dinamo BLR-2 14 1.85 5 4.54
2018–19 Belarus U17 BLR-2 11 10 0 0 1 1.97 4 2 2 0 2.53
2018–19 Belarus U18 BLR-2 18 7 6 1 1 3.09 .892
2019–20 Belarus U18 BLR-2 21 2.28 .910
2019–20 Belarus U20 BLR-2 14 2.10 .930
2019–20 Dinamo Zubry Minsk BLR-2 1 4.07
2020–21 Dinamo Minsk KHL 9 3 5 1 513 23 1 2.69 .911
2020–21 Dinamo-Molodechno BLR 12 2.23 .910 2 3.10 .890
2021–22 Dinamo Minsk KHL 22 11 9 1 1261 61 1 2.90 .906 3 0 2 150 10 0 4.01 .880
2022–23 Dinamo Minsk KHL 42 13 21 5 2379 101 0 2.55 .912 3 1 2 175 9 0 3.08 .917
2023–24 Dinamo Minsk KHL 47 22 21 3 2609 104 4 2.39 .907 6 2 4 381 14 0 2.21 .925
2023–24 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 2 1 1 0 119 6 0 3.03 .885
KHL totals 120 49 56 10 6,762 289 6 2.56 .909 12 3 8 705 33 0 2.81 .913

International

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Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2019 Belarus U18 4 1 0 0 136 12 0 5.30 .898
2020 Belarus WJC-IA 3 2 1 0 161 4 0 1.49 .930
2021 Belarus WC 4 0 2 0 216 15 0 4.17 .886
2022 Belarus WJC-IA 5 5 0 0 300 8 0 1.60 .932
Junior totals 12 9 1 0 597 24 0 2.41 .903
Senior totals 4 0 2 0 216 15 0 4.17 .886

References

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  1. ^ a b Associated Press (October 27, 2024). "Aleksei Kolosov makes Flyers debut, becoming first Belarusian goalie in NHL history". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  2. ^ Rogalevich, Aleksei (2 November 2020). "Алексей Колосов — новая вратарская надежда сборной Беларуси?" [Aleksey Kolosov — a new goalkeeper's hope for the Belarusian national team?] (in Russian). Pressball.by. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Alexei Kolosov commits to Otters". Ontariohockeyleague.com. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  4. ^ Potts, Andy (20 May 2021). "Belarus is back". IIHF.com. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  5. ^ "2021 Draft Prospect Rankings — European Goalies". NHL.com. 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  6. ^ Hall, Jordan (24 July 2021). "Flyers draft athletic Belarusian goalie in 3rd round". NBCSports.com. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Flyers sign goalie Alexei Kolosov to a three-year, entry-level contract". NHL.com. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Алексей Колосов остается в минском «Динамо» еще на сезон!" [Alexei Kolosov remains at Dinamo Minsk for another season!] (in Russian). Dinamo Minsk. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  9. ^ Manninen, Henrik (19 December 2021). "Belarus promoted to World Juniors". IIHF.com. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
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