Sports
Riley Sawchuk: How hockey took me around the world
When I arrived in the AHL at the Grand Rapids Griffins, it was definitely a huge step forward. Everything is faster. Everyone is good. You fight for every opportunity.
But I also remember thinking, I can do this.
MRU had prepared me for it.
Then came the East Coast League, which to be honest also helped me a lot. Sometimes taking a step back gives you the space to take another step forward. In Toledo I got more ice time and more freedom offensively, and I think the progression in my game showed that.
Then there was another fork in the road.
Do I continue chasing the grind in North America, or do I take advantage of an opportunity abroad? I had a choice between continuing my path in the ECHL or taking the opportunity to play abroad in Finland with KooKoo Kouvola, who plays in SM-liiga.
At that point in my career, Finland just felt right. Hockey-wise it was a good chance. Financially it also felt like the right time to start making some money.
Me and my wife ended up loving it there.
The hockey adjustment was interesting because of the speed and larger ice surface, but even that felt somewhat familiar because MRU also plays on Olympic ice.
After Finland, my agents called and told me there was interest from the KHL.
I really didn’t know what to expect.
I think a lot of people at home have one image of Russia in their heads because of everything going on politically, but being there was very different than I imagined. Some things about the reputation are certainly true, but there are also parts of the country with beautiful cities, great people and a deep appreciation for the game of hockey.
Moscow is honestly one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen.
And they call Sochi – where the 2014 Olympic Games took place – ‘the Miami of Russia’. It’s warm there year round and on road trips we would stay at this all-inclusive oceanfront resort. That’s definitely not what I expected when I thought about Russia, and it provides an opportunity to take a break from playing while you’re there.
The biggest adjustment for me while playing there was probably the language barrier.
In Finland almost everyone spoke English. In Russia, especially with the team I was in (Tolyatti Lada), almost no English was spoken.
Often you use Google Translate, rely on teammates to help you or just try to pick up things from coaches by reading their emotions and body language as they explain something to you on the whiteboard. When topics of conversation are hockey related, you just figure things out as they go.
And in terms of hockey, the KHL was probably the highest level I’ve ever played.
The speed, skill and structure of the game there is incredible. Even though our team was struggling in the standings, I still felt like I had a pretty productive season.
Making the all-star game was also surreal. To be honest, I still don’t even know how it happened.
Now I’m in that waiting period again and I’m trying to figure out what the next step is. Hopefully I will go back to Russia next season, whether with the same organization or somewhere else.
But when I look back on the entire journey so far, I keep thinking about how many times my path changed unexpectedly.
COVID has changed it.
MRU changed it.
This changed by staying at school longer.
Going abroad has changed that.
None of it really happened the way I originally planned, but each step added something important.
That’s probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned through all of this.
Sometimes the path you didn’t expect becomes the path that takes you where you need to go.
|
Sources 2/ https://mrucougars.com/news/2026/6/2/general-riley-sawchuk-how-hockey-took-me-around-the-world.aspx The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos
 |
 |
 |