A fast forward joins the Bobcats with signing of Pro Forward Maxim Sazanovets

Wytheville VA - The Blue Ridge Bobcats have signed Pro Forward Maxim Sazanovets to a professional tryout.

Last season Sazanovets skated with both HK Mogilev in the Belarus league and Dneprovskiye Lvy Mogilev in Belarus Vysshaya. Playing in 45 games and earned 13 goals, 15 assists, and 28 points.

Working as a fast forward Sazanovets spent the past couple of years working with different teams throughout Belarus including; Shakhter Soligorsk-2 and Hk Boburysk-2 in Belarus Vysshaya (2020-2021), Lokomotiv Orsha, Sobol Beryoza, and HK Boburysk-2 (2021-2022) before joining HK Mogilev in 2022. 

Earned his best season with HK Boburysk-2 in 2021 with 12 goals, 15 assists, and 27 points in 34 games.

Prior to his time in Belarus the 21-year-old Bobruisk Belarus native played his junior seasons in the States. Skating with Springfield Jr. Pics U16 AAA in the USPHL 16U (2018-2019) and the Northeast Generals U18 AAA in both the ECEL 18U and NAHL 18U (2019-2020).

Sazanovets earned his best season in juniors with the Springfield Jr. Pics U16 playing in 34 games with 24 goals, 11 assists, and 35 points on the season.

Sazanovets’ size and speed were two of the factors that made Bobcats Head Coach Vojtech Zemlicka want to sign Sazanovets.

“Max is another European coming in who plays more of a North American style of the game. He’s young but already played a couple of seasons in the Belarusian top league so he has some experience playing PRO hockey. Max has a good size for a forward and he knows how to use it to his advantage or for his teammates. He’s fast and that’s what we’re looking for, a forward who can play a fast physical game. Max plays well on both sides of the ice and that’s another thing I am looking for from my forwards group,” Zemlicka said.

You can catch Maxim Sazanovets and the rest of the Blue Ridge Bobcats for their home opener and the start of the inaugural season on Friday, October 20th at 7:30 p.m. inside the Apex Center. Don't miss any of the action this season and pick up your season tickets now here.

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