Sasha Chmelevski Explained

Sasha Chmelevski
Birth Date:9 June 1999
Birth Place:Huntington Beach, California, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:180
Position:Center
Shoots:Right
League:KHL
Team:Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Former Teams:San Jose Sharks
Ntl Team:USA
Draft:185th overall
Draft Year:2017
Draft Team:San Jose Sharks
Career Start:2018

Alexander "Sasha" Chmelevski (born June 9, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey forward for Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut with the team in 2021.

Playing career

Chmelevski played major junior in the Ontario Hockey League for four seasons. In 2015 the Sarnia Sting selected him 10th overall in the OHL Priority Selection.[1] He joined the Sting, but was traded midway through his first season to the Ottawa 67's. He played three and a half seasons with Ottawa. At the 2017 NHL Entry Draft Chmelevski was selected 185th overall by the San Jose Sharks.[2] He signed an entry-level contract with the Sharks on April 3, 2018.[3]

In 2018 Chmelevski made his professional debut, playing six regular season games and a further four in the playoffs with the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. He played one season with the Barracuda in 2019–20 season, cut short due to COVID-19.

He made his NHL debut on February 5, 2021, in a 5–4 shootout win over the Anaheim Ducks, recording an assist.[4]

As a restricted free agent from the Sharks following the season, Chmelevski opted to sign abroad in agreeing to a one-year contract with Russian club, Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL, on July 26, 2022.[5]

Personal life

Chmelevski is of Ukrainian ancestry and his family resides in Northville, Michigan since he was aged 12.[6] Until then, he grew up in California, practicing at the KHS Ice Arena in Anaheim.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2014–15Honeybaked U18HPHL1 0 0 0 0
2015–16Sarnia StingOHL29 9 8 17 2
2015–16Ottawa 67'sOHL5 2 0 2 2
2016–17Ottawa 67'sOHL58 21 22 43 206 2 2 4 2
2017–18Ottawa 67'sOHL68 35 41 76 245 1 4 5 4
2017–18San Jose BarracudaAHL6 3 1 4 04 1 1 2 0
2018–19Ottawa 67'sOHL56 35 40 75 3618 12 19 31 10
2019–20San Jose BarracudaAHL42 11 16 27 22
2020–21San Jose SharksNHL5 0 2 2 2
2020–21San Jose BarracudaAHL27 9 11 20 32
2021–22San Jose BarracudaAHL47 12 25 37 23
2021–22San Jose SharksNHL19 0 8 8 4
2022–23Salavat Yulaev UfaKHL67 26 22 48 436 4 1 5 4
2023–24Salavat Yulaev UfaKHL67 27 29 56 486 2 5 7 0
NHL totals24 0 10 10 6
KHL totals134 53 51 104 9112 6 6 12 4

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2015United StatesU176th5 2 2 4 0
2016United StatesIH184 4 5 9 2
2019United StatesWJC7 4 3 7 2
2021United StatesWC8 2 2 4 27
Junior totals16 10 10 20 4
Senior totals8 2 2 4 27

Awards and honors

AwardYear
OHL
Bobby Smith Trophy2017
CHL Scholastic Players of the Year2017
Roger Neilson Memorial Award2019

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sarnia Sting select Honeybaked forward 10th overall, add Hatcher's son in 4th round. April 11, 2015. London Free Press. February 7, 2021.
  2. Web site: 2017 NHL Draft: Sharks select Alexander Chmelevski in sixth round. June 24, 2017 . fearthefin.com. June 24, 2017.
  3. Web site: Sharks Sign Forward Alexander Chmelevski. National Hockey League. April 4, 2018. April 3, 2018.
  4. Web site: Sharks recover, defeat Ducks in shootout in first game in eight days. National Hockey League. February 5, 2021. February 5, 2021.
  5. Web site: Alexander Chmelevski will move to Salavat Yulaev . . July 26, 2022 . July 26, 2022 . Russian.
  6. Web site: Bridge . Terry . Get to know a little more about Sarnia Sting first-round draft pick Sasha Chmelevski . theobserver . June 5, 2021 . April 20, 2015.
  7. Web site: Kurz . Kevin . Versatile prospect Sasha Chmelevski could be in position to crack the Sharks roster, but he'll have competition . The Athletic . June 5, 2021 . September 11, 2019.