Photo was taken by Jamey Baskow last week.
After the Delaware Thunder traded away leading scorers, such as, Brandon Contratto, and Ryan Marker. Anton Kalinin now spear heads an organization that might be in need of a goal scorers touch.
Kalinin, a native of Russia, is like a Russian Missle on the ice. The young 21-year-old was traded to the Thunder earlier in the season, after playing in just five games for the Watertown Wolves. He has razzled and dazzled as a member of the Thunder by tallying 14 goals, and 12 assists for a total of 26 points in 24 games played, “We got a great coach here,” Kalinin said last week, “I just keep working hard, keep working in practices.”
A former, Mechel Chelyabinsk U18 player in Kalinin has a knack for the net. He’s fast, and Kalinin is an asset while short-handed. He tallied a shorty this past week, as Kalinin does everything Head Coach Charlie Pens Sr. asks of him. The young man has a wicked wrist shot, to pair along with his great vision of the ice, “Speed helps,” Kalinin said, “First two steps you have to work on that. Speed definitely helps make you a better hockey player.“
Kalinin continued, “I played in the MHL, and started playing hockey at four-years-old. My dad gave me everything, he’s a coach, he gave me my speed and hands.”
This young 21-year-old in Kalinin appears to be a natural, and a player that knows how to score goals. He looks good this season for the Thunder especially with the way he carries the puck up the ice, and the way he kills penalties. If he keeps producing at the rate he is currently doing, Kalinin could have a good shot at reaching the ECHL, as early as next season. Whatever the case maybe, Kalinin is exactly the player this young Thunder team needs right now.
