Georgii Merkulov, an AHL All-Star, working hard for the Providence Bruins
Before AHL All-Star weekend, which begins tonight with the skills competition, Georgii Merkulov has been lighting it up for the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League with 17 goals, 25 assists, and 42 points in 41 games. Due to his exceptional performances, Merkulov was called up to the NHL in late December to play for the major club. In four games, he averaged 10:34 of ice time, finished with three shots, and received a plus-one rating.
When Merkulov learned that he would be attending the NHL, he was ecstatic. He also thought his stay in Boston was excellent. While he appreciated the team environment, he noted that the NHL game moves more quickly. Merkulov enjoyed being near the team and practicing much of the time, so he compared his lifestyle in the NHL to that of Providence.
Merkulov recently said to BSJ, “It taught me to just stick with my game and earn every opportunity I get.” Russian-born Merkulov spent his early years in Moscow, three and a half hours northwest of Ryazan, where his parents were hoping to find him a better hockey opportunity. At the age of 19, Merkulov packed up and relocated to North America in order to chase a chance to play in the NHL.
Though it took him several months to adjust to a new nation and get past the language barrier, Merkulov feels that hockey is played faster in America. Despite this, he still makes time each day to FaceTime with his parents and fiancée, who are still in Russia.
Merkulov began his career in the United States Hockey League, spending two seasons with the Youngstown Phantoms in Ohio. Merkulov played collegiate hockey for Ohio State for one season, sharing the rink with current Bruin Mason Lohrei. He chose to remain in the Buckeye state.
Playing with Lohrei, Merkulov remarked, “It’s nice to have him by my side since we were friends and go to the next level together.” After finishing his rookie season with 20 goals, the most of any NCAA freshman, Merkulov was selected for the All-Big Ten First Team and All-Big Ten Freshman Team. After spending 2021–2022 as an undrafted free agency at Ohio State, Merkulov was signed by the Bruins.
Merkulov said, “I try to prove to others that I can play because I’ve never been drafted anywhere.” Merkulov made his NHL debut on December 30th against the New Jersey Devils, seeing action for 15:08 and blocking two shots, after garnering attention in Providence. He didn’t have any offensive stats, but he still helped build up extended offensive zone shifts with Trent Frederic and James Van Riemsdyk.
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