It was a milestone weekend for Battalion star Matvey Petrov.
The Edmonton Oilers prospect recently broke the franchise import scoring record which has held up for more than 20 years with the Battalion franchise.
I think it is pretty special for me," said Petrov.
"I appreciate it and I am just trying to do my job on the ice every game and try to help the team win," he said.
Matvey Petrov, who earned three assists on the weekend, passed Lukas Havel as the highest-scoring import in franchise history. Havel, a second-round pick in the 1998 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft from the Czech Republic, played the club’s first three seasons in Brampton, culminating in 2000-01. Havel had 60 goals and 93 assists for 153 points in that time.
In 108 career games, Petrov now has 60 goals and 95 assists for 155 points, good for 15th place on the club’s all-time list.
Through 45 games, Petrov has netted 20 goals and 45 assists for 65 points this season and is third in OHL scoring.
"We have a good goal on this team at least an OHL championship or even Memorial Cup," added Petrov who was returned to the Battalion by the Edmonton Oilers.
Ryan Oulahen, Battalion head coach, spent many hours on Zoom during the pandemic talking to the Moscow product while he played at home in 2020-21.
“He’s such an important piece for our leadership group and somebody that just has an off-the-charts skill set, and brain and hockey IQ,” Oulahen said.
“So there’s no shock, when you put all that together, that he’s done what he’s done in a short amount of time.”
Adam Dennis, who selected Petrov when running his first overall in his first-ever CHL Import Draft as GM in 2020, says he’s thrilled that Petrov has set the mark.
“I think the impact that he’s had not just on the ice but in the dressing room, in the community, he’s one of the special guys that’s worn this crest, so I think it’s very fitting that he’s the guy that does it," said Dennis about the accomplishment for Petrov.
"He’s always been a guy that’s so enamoured with team success, too.
“I know that, obviously, they all want the points, but he’s been focused on helping the team win, and I thought that his play of late has been showing that. He’s been blocking shots. His back checks have been awesome, and no surprise that the points are coming for us, so I am just really happy for him.”
Petrov also believes the familiarity of having a long-time minor hockey teammate in the form of Nikita Tarasevich has helped him adjust to junior hockey in Canada.
He adds that Brandon Coe helped him boost his confidence by setting him up for so many goals in 2021-22.
