If you’ve been on Twitter at all this summer, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Sergey Tolchinsky.
Maybe not his name or his stats, but certainly his skills. Tolchinsky’s highlight reel goals at Hurricanes’ prospect camp set the internet ablaze, with viewers marveling at the forward’s smooth hands and jaw-dropping creativity with the puck. Now, the social media phenom finds himself ramping up to begin his pro career here in Charlotte.
An undrafted native of Moscow, Tolchinsky spent considerable time with the Hurricanes organization this offseason. He took part in the aforementioned Carolina prospect camp before heading to Traverse City to represent the Hurricanes at the annual prospect tournament. After turning in an impressive set of games there, Tolchinsky joined Hurricanes training camp, where he stuck around through the first wave of cuts before being assigned to Charlotte. Now in Checkers camp, he is alongside his teammates, gearing up for the rapidly approaching start of the season.
“They’ve been good practices,” said Tolchinsky after a practice last week. “Lots of skating and lots of urgency. All the guys are excited to practice. It feels great.”
Tolchinsky didn’t have the most ideal start to his camp, however. He left the ice midway through the team’s first practice after being shaken up and did not return. Tolchinsky sat out the next day’s session before re-joining the team for the third day of camp outfitted in a yellow no-contact sweater. But thankfully he returned as a full participant at the next day’s practice and doesn’t feel any lingering effects.
“I feel good,” said Tolchinsky. “I talked to the doctor and got a few days off, but I feel normal now. I’m ready to skate and ready to practice.”
Avoiding any more similar incidents will be huge for Tolchinsky throughout his rookie campaign. Listed at 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, the 20-year-old is an undersized forward who relies on his speed and quickness to create offense. He was wildly successful in junior, but the biggest question mark from others against him heading into the season has been whether he will be able to replicate those strengths against grown men at this level. For his part, Tolchinsky has been working all offseason to do just that.
“I’ve been working on my strength,” said Tolchinsky. “I’ve been lifting to try and gain weight. That was my first priority over the summer.”
The Checkers will power through another five days of practice before jetting to Iowa to kick off the 2015-16 season. After finding themselves starved for goals a year ago, the team has added several pieces to hopefully alleviate that problem. Tolchinsky should be a key part of that. Regardless of size, Tolchinsky without a doubt possess the ability to single-handedly jumpstart the scoring, and he knows that will be the key to both his success and the team’s this season.
“I think I can help this team to create more offense,” said Tolchinsky. “Score more goals, get more points and get more wins.”
