Vitaly Kolesnik

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Goaltender
catches = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 198
team = Colorado Avalanche
league = NHL
nationality = Kazakhstan
birth_date = Birth date and age|1979|8|20|mf=y
birth_place = Ust-Kamenogorsk, KAZ
career_start = 2005

Vitaly Kolesnik (born on August 20, 1979 in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan) The 6'2", 198 pound ice hockey goalie was signed as a free agent by the Colorado Avalanche on August 16, 2005. Unlike the vast majority of NHL players, he was never drafted.

He played for the Avalanche's minor league hockey team, the Lowell Lock Monsters, where he logged a 2.80 goals against average and a .916 save percentage with a pair of shutouts. His first game played with the Colorado Avalanche was on December 7, 2005 in which they beat the Boston Bruins 4–1. On December 28, 2005, the Colorado Avalanche announced that Kolesnik was being sent back to Lowell, after starting 7 NHL games, going 3–3–0, with a 3.29 goals against average, and a .887 save percentage. Earlier in the week, on December 21, it was announced that Kolesnik was selected to represent his home country of Kazakhstan in the 2006 Turin Olympics.

Kolesnik was recalled by the Avalanche on March 9, 2006 to dress as a backup to Peter Budaj. Kolesnik finished the season with Colorado, appearing in eight games.

For the 2006–07 season, Kolesnik left North America to play for Mytishi Khimik in the Russian Elite League.

Honours

* Pajulahti Cup, 2007

External links

*hockeydb|90134