Alexander Naurov enjoyed a professional hockey career that spanned many countries and leagues including the ECHL, Finnish Elite League, Russia First League, the KHL and the Slovakian Extraleague. He was selected in the 4th round (134th overall) by the Dallas Stars in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, and though he never did play in the NHL, his hockey resume is rich in experiences and highlights. Naurov has represented his country on the International stage alongside fellow countrymen Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeny Malkin. Although he recently retired from professional hockey, fans and aspiring hockey players alike can draw key takeaways from his hockey journey including a better understanding and different perspective on the trails of a professional hockey player, and that there is life after hockey.
Naurov was born in Saratov, Russia, located north of Volgograd, and didn’t start playing hockey until the age of 10, which is considered late by most standards. “My parents did not want me to play hockey,” explained Naurov. “However, when I saw the game for the first time, I knew I wanted to play.”
At the age of 14, after only four years of playing hockey, Naurov demonstrated tremendous progress and talent so he left Saratov for Yaroslavl, Russia to further his hockey career. “I left home because at that time the hockey school in Yaroslavl was the strongest in Russia. I needed to play on a more competitive team to further my development. There were a lot of us from across the entire country. I arrived there and had the opportunity to showcase my skills. They told me I had to stay, and we went on to win the championship of the country four times. Ten players from our team represented Russia at various International tournaments. The level of hockey in Yaroslavl was very high. To this day, I live and work in Yaroslavl.”
Naurov fondly remembers and cherishes his memories playing for Yaroslavl Locamotiv. “Everything was good there. We had really strong players on the team. A lot of them made it to the NHL. We had Alexander Frolov (Los Angeles Kings), Alexander Tatarinov (Phoenix draft pick), Artem Krukov who was a first round selection of the Buffalo Sabres, Andrei Mihnov who later played for the Edmonton Oilers, Alexander Radulov’s older brother, Igor Radulov who played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Ivan Nepryaev who was a Capitals prospect, and Denis Grebeshkov who played for the Edmonton Oilers.”
Naurov enjoyed representing Russia at the international level and gained a lot from the experience of playing alongside some future NHL stars. “I played in three championships in the Czech Republic, Canada, and the Under-18’s in 2003 in Yaroslavl. In that tournament we won our first game against Canada, 6-3. Canada had a really good team with all the best players. For us it was our first competitive championship and it was the one where Evgeny Malkin really played well and showcased himself. Back then, Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin were the youngest on the team. Ovechkin was always the best though. He was from Dynamo, Moscow and always scored 2-3 goals a game. He lives and breathes hockey. When he sleeps he sees hockey in his dreams. As a person, he is very down to earth. Both Ovechkin and Malkin are just ordinary people who happen to be stars in the NHL.”
In 2003, Naurov was drafted by the Dallas Stars which came as somewhat of a surprise. “I had had no contact with them. At the time I had only had a brief conversation with the New Jersey Devils. But Dallas took me just like that, without an interview or anything. Unfortunately, two weeks after the draft, when I was in Yaroslavl, I tore my meniscus and was out seven months. The recovery was long requiring therapy. I missed an entire season after being drafted to the NHL.”
Naurov eventually recovered and attended the Dallas Stars Development Camp twice, and remembers playing in the annual rookie tournament held in Tevor, Michigan. “I thought I played really well, even better than guys drafted in rounds ahead of me. It just never panned out.”
From 2003 – 2006, Naurov spent time playing in Russia and Finland. It wasn’t until the 2006-07 season that he came to play professional hockey in North America, when he signed with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL. The experience and transition to the North American style of play, though, was difficult. “When I came over to play for Idaho, I was the only Russian player on the team. I had a hard time understanding English and did not really understand what the trainer or coaches were telling me. Thankfully we had B.J. Crombeen on the team, who later made it to the NHL. He was like a dad to me. I would always try to be around him. He taught me how to speak English and even gave me pointers on what to eat before and after games.”
On the ice, Naurov was also having a difficult time adjusting to the North American style of play. “Our coach wanted me to play a different game than what I was used to. He wanted me to play chip and chase hockey on the third line and grind it out. That is when my agent said I would never be better than a Canadian at playing that type of game because Canadians tend to play that style their whole life. I began to wonder why I came to North America. I didn’t think it was working out in Idaho so I asked for a trade.”
During the 2007-08 season, Naurov was dealt to the Bakersfield Condors where he began to flourish. “The coach in Bakersfield told me to play the way I knew how. There, I had almost a point a game. When I played in the playoffs the team seemed to win. When the coach did not dress me the team would lose. I am not saying I notched a lot of assists or goals but for whatever reason when I was in the lineup we would win.”
Overall the North American experience was difficult for Naurov. “I changed as a player when I left Russia to come to North America, but that is what I needed to do in order to play in the ECHL. When I came back to Russia, I had to once again revert back to my original game. That was tough too because my time in North America had changed me.”
The following season, Naurov returned to Russia and played in the 2nd and 3rd leagues. It was during the 2009-10 season that Naurov played at the KHL level. The difference, as Naurov explains, between North American professional hockey to the KHL is that, “in the KHL the player can make an extra pass and find better positions or areas on the ice to score goals. The players in the KHL are more focused on play making and perfect passes. In Russia it’s not all about systems.”
Naurov played the following 2010-11 season in Slovakia, and the remainder of his hockey career in the Major Hockey League in Russia which is considered the development system for the KHL.
This is the first year Naurov isn’t playing hockey. “Last season I had a good year and scored 40 points. I had the chance to play in the KHL but the rules are as such that if you have not reached the age of 28, then your VHL team can extend your contract for another two years. I wanted to go play in the KHL. However, because of my age, my contract was extended for another two years to play on the same team and in the same league instead of playing at a higher level. I then realized that after that contract, when I would be turning 29, my chances of playing in the KHL would be slim. I felt that I was no longer developing. Before I had the motivation to play in the KHL after playing in North America. For me now, it is enough to play here for fun in Yaroslavl. Here there are many hockey players who have played at various high levels. For example, former Toronto Maple Leaf and Philadelphia Flyer, Dmitri Yushkevich is now a coach here. For me it is fun to skate with him. I also work two jobs. I work for Warrior Hockey through a Russian agency called Pegas, where we sell gear to teams across Russia. My other job is as a scout.”
Naurov’s story shows that the road to the NHL is not easy, and that being drafted alone does not guarantee a roster spot. In hockey, as in life, there is often adversity and unfavorable situations. However, everywhere Alex Naurov played he gave it his all and tried to make the most of the circumstances, even if sometimes the circumstances were challenging. Now Alex is happy and enjoying his newfound freedom and lifestyle. He fondly reflects back on his hockey career. Sometimes in life things don’t always go as planned. But we must remain open minded, and in doing so we will find our paths and niches that will lead us to happiness.
cpaller 