7 Facts: Ilya Sorokin

The wait is over! Six years after being drafted by the Islanders, Ilya Sorokin agreed to terms on an entry-level deal and a
one-year contract extension
for the 2020-21 season and is coming to North America. Since being drafted in the third round (78th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, the Russian goaltender has developed into one of the top goalies playing outside the NHL.
Get to know him better in the latest edition of 7 Facts.

1. IMPRESSIVE KHL CAREER

During his eight seasons in the KHL, Sorokin has grown into one of the league's top goalies, especially since joining CSKA Moscow in 2014-15.
Sorokin has compiled a record of 134-64-22, a 1.70 goals against average (GAA) and a .930 save percentage (SV%). Through 69 playoff games, the 24-year-old has a record of 50-17-0, a 1.37 GAA and a .940 SV%. Sorokin was also selected for five-straight All Star games.
He was named the KHL's best goaltender in the 2015-16 season.
Instagram from @soroka\_89: Дорогие друзья!Хочу поблагодарить великий хоккейный клуб за время, которое мне посчастливилось провести в нем!Благодарю всех: начальников Команды, тренерский состав, действующий и прошлых лет, работников офиса, сервисменов, докторов, массажистов за доверие и терпение, а также руководство клуба за предоставленную возможность играть и развиваться!Отдельное спасибо парням, с которыми работал бок о бок, которые наставляли, делились опытом и советами, не жалели себя и помогали защищать ворота любой ценой! Благодарю тех, ради кого мы выходим на лёд, - Болельщиков! Людей, которые переживали вместе со мной взлеты и падения, подгоняли и мотивировали, ругали и хвалили, разделяли горечь поражений и наслаждались непередаваемыми эмоциями от побед! Хочу пожелать Команде дальнейшего развития и новых громких побед!Спасибо всем Вам за эти незабываемые 5 лет. Счастлив быть частью легендарного клуба ЦСКА.

2. GAGARIN CUP CHAMPION

Sorokin and CSKA won the 2019 Gagarin Cup (the KHL equivalent of the Stanley Cup) with a 4-0 sweep in their series over Avangard Omsk. Sorokin was named the 2019 KHL Playoffs MVP following his tremendous performance in the postseason with a record 16-4-0 with a 1.19 GAA, a .947 SV% and five shutouts for CSKA.
To add to his accomplished resume, Sorokin became the first goaltender in KHL history to record a pair of shutouts in the Gagarin Cup Final. In addition to winning the title in 2019, Sorokin led CSKA to two more finals appearances in 2016 and 2018.

3. KHL PLAYOFF SHUTOUT RECORD HOLDER

This past season, CSKA was the favorite to repeat as Gagarin Cup champs prior to the league cancelling the season on March 25 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. CSKA placed first overall at the conclusion of the regular season with a record of 40-17-5. In the first round of the playoffs, CSKA swept Nizhny Novgorod. Sorokin posted two shutouts in the series and became the KHL's all-time record holder for playoff shutouts with 16.
The Mezhdurechensk native also recorded his second assist of the postseason in CSKA's 3-0 victory on March 4. In the 2020 KHL playoffs, Sorokin registered a GAA of 0.73 and a .966 SV%.

4. INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS

At the World Stage and in the infancy of his career, Sorokin represented his country and earned a silver medal at the 2015 U-20 World Junior Championships with a 5-4 loss to Team Canada. Sorokin has won three bronze medals at the IIHF World Championships (2016, 2017 and 2019).

5. OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST

The decorated youngster continued his remarkable success at the international stage during the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Sorokin was on the Olympic Athletes from Russia squad that took home a gold medal in a stunning fashion with a 4-3 overtime victory over Germany.

6. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Sorokin represented CSKA at the KHL All-Star Game on Jan. 23 and sported special pads that were illustrated by children at a pediatric institute to raise money for Vilen Prokofyev, a young Kazakh goaltender who was battling Ewing's Sarcoma. Unfortunately, Prokofyev passed away on Feb. 3 at the age of 18.

7. FAMILIAR COMPANY

Despite there being an eight-year age gap between Sorokin and current New York Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov, the pair have crossed paths on a few occasions and during summer trainings throughout their careers.
Watch: Youtube Video