Ottawa Senators defenceman Sergei Gonchar becomes 6th Russian to play 1000 NHL games
The number 1000 has suddenly taken on a new significance in the Ottawa Senators dressing room. For one, Daniel Alfredsson, the Sens’ long-time captain, recently scored his 1,000th career point by scoring
a hat trick in a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, 22 October.
But the number will be especially significant for another veteran player on Ottawa’s roster. In the Senators' 5-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday 26 October, defenceman Sergei
Gonchar played in the 1,000th career game of his NHL career. That makes him just the sixth Russian player ever do so.
“I never thought it was going to happen, and it seems like those 1,000 games just flew by,” Gonchar said of the milestone.
“Since I got into the NHL and started playing, I never thought about 1,000 games. It’s something I’m probably going to be proud of, but I haven’t really had time to think about it.”
Like many players before him, Gonchar can easily recall his first game in the NHL. Drafted 14th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1992 NHL draft, Gonchar made his big-league debut
on 7 February, 1995 in a game against the Buffalo Sabres.
“The game was in Buffalo,” the 36-year-old defender recalled. “It was a tight game, a close game. I think it was 2-1 ... we played a very defensive style at the time. I just remember it
was a great feeling.”
“When I was growing up, I never dreamed of playing in the NHL. As a Russian guy, at the time you only dreamed about playing for your local pro team or maybe the national team if you were
good enough.”
With the Russian invasion to the NHL having only come after 1991, there aren't many Russians who've been able to put up the 1000 game mark. Just six out of the 250 total players to have
done it are Russian, including Gonchar's team-mate Alex Kovalev. Additionally, with the rise of quality Russian leagues, where many Russian players now bookend their careers, it might be just as rare in the future to see a Russian with 1000 NHL games.
“I would like to play as long as I can,” said Gonchar, who signed with the Senators during the offseason. “I’m still enjoying the game and the fun on the ice, and it’s fun being around
the guys. I like to win, and when you’re winning, it’s a special feeling and it never gets old.”
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