| D Marek Posmyk | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 HC Zlin | 45 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 137 | (-3) |
| 2001-2002 HC Zlin (Playoffs) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | (-1) |
| 2002-2003 HC Slavia Praha | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | E |
Posmyk is playing for HC Slavia Praha along with former NHLers Josef Beranek and Franticek Kucera.
| W Ivan Rachunek | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 HC Zlin | 48 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 141 | (-3) |
| 2001-2002 HC Zlin (Playoffs) | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 27 | (+1) |
| 2002-2003 HC Zlin | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | NA |
After a strong playoff run last season, Rachunek has started off the season for Zlin with two multi-point games in the first five of the season.
Finland
| C/W Karri Akkanen | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 Ilves (Jr.A) | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | E |
| 2002-2003 Ilves (Jr.A) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | NA |
Akkanen has been named an assistant captain of Ilves Jr. A team this season despite the fact he only played five games at that level last season.
| LW Erikki Rajamaki | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 HPK | 56 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 75 | (+9) |
| 2001-2002 HPK (Playoffs) | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | (+1) |
| 2002-2003 HPK | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | E |
Rajamaki was named third star of the game on 9/26 in a penalty filled 3-0 loss to TPS. Rajamaki is currently playing a checking role on HPK’s third line.
| RW Eero Somervuori | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 HPK | 56 | 25 | 23 | 48 | 34 | (+25) |
| 2001-2002 HPK (Playoffs) | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | (+6) |
| 2002-2003 HPK | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | (+1) |
Somervuori scored two goals in HPK’s 4-2 opening night victory over the Pelicans and followed it up by scoring the game winning goal on Thrashers prospect goalie Kari Lehtonen in a 2-1 victory over Jokerit. Somervuori received first star honors in both games.
| D Sascha Goc | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 Alb/Spr (AHL) | 46 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 42 | (-4) |
| 2001-2002 NJ/TB (NHL) | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (-2) |
| 2002-2003 Adler Mannheim | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | NA |
Goc has been a steadying force on Mannheim’s blueline, helping to put them atop the DEL table.
| LW Anton But | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 Yaroslavl | 48 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 12 | NA |
| 2001-2002 Yaroslavl (Playoffs) | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | NA | NA |
| 2002-2003 Yaroslavl | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 6 | NA |
But is absolutely tearing up the Russian Superleague for the defending champion Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. He has scored a goal in all five contests so far this season including a pair in the team’s opening tilt against the Soviet Wings. He also has two multi-point games already on the season.
| C/W Dimitry Bezrukov | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 Neftekhimik | 38 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 45 | NA |
| 2002-2003 Spartak Moscow | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | (-1) |
Bezrukov is currently third on Spartak in points despite the fact he has only pointed in one game, a one goal two assist effort against Molot Perm.
| C/W Alexei Gloukhov | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 Khimik (Upper League) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| 2001-2002 Khimik (Playoffs) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA |
| 2002-2003 Khimik (Upper League) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | (-1) |
2002-2003 brings a promotion to the Upper League for Alexei Gloukhov who saw much of last season at the junior level. After a strong preseason, where he scored a point a game, Gloukhov scored his first Upper League goal 9/15 in their second game of the season. (stats current as of 9/19)
| C/W Alex Polushin | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 CSKA (Upper League) | 50 | 24 | 19 | 43 | 12 | NA |
| 2002-2003 CSKA (Superleague) | 5* | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2* | NA |
After helping CSKA earn promotion to the Superleague level, Alex Polushin is getting his first taste of Russia’s top league playing on the first line for coach Boris Mikhailov. He had an assist in the team’s opener against Kazan.
* Statistics are difficult to get in a timely fashion from Russia, even for a team with a million dollar scouting budget like the Tampa Bay Lightning. We are endeavouring to find statistics for Dimitry Kazionov, Vasily Koshechkin, Vitaly Smolianinov, and Ilya Solarev. We can tell you, however, that Solarev failed to secure a Superleague jobwith Molot Perm and was sent to Kurgan Mostovike of the Upper League, and that Pavel Sedov has yet to play a game this season for Khimik of the Upper League.
Sweden
| D Henrik Bergfors | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 Sodertajle (J-20) | 37 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 60 | (+16) |
| 2002-2003 Orebro (Alsvenskan) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (-2) |
The Orebro Pirates are hoping the burly North American style defender Bergfors can help settle down their team’s backline which was woeful last season. He is currently playing on Orebro’s third pairing.
| LW Johan Hagglund | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 Orebro (Alsvenskan) | 36 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 50 | (-15) |
| 2002-2003 Orebro (Alsvenskan) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (-1) |
Bergfors teammate in Orebro will be Johan Hagglund, who made the jump from J-20 to the Swedish second tier league last season. He is currently playing left wing on the team’s first line and scored a power play goal 9/25 in a 3-2 Orebro loss to Morrums.
| D Andreas Holmqvist | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
| 2001-2002 Hammarby (Alsvenskan) | 42 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 97 | (+15) |
| 2002-2003 Linkoping (SEL) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | (-1) |
After spending the summer rehabbing from major wrist surgery, Holmqvist capped his remarkable recovery scoring his first SEL regular season goal in a 3-0 win over Djurgardens in the season opener. He has cemented himself on Linkoping’s second pairing, despite the fact he is a rookie to the SEL ranks.
| G Frederik Norrena | W-L-T | GAA | Sv% | SO |
| 2001-2002 TPS (SM-Liiga) | 14-11-5 | 1.98 | .932 | 2 |
| 2001-2002 TPS (Playoffs) | 2-4-0 | 1.64 | .952 | NA |
| 2002-2002 Frolunda (SEL) | 1-1-0 | 2.50 | .896 | 0 |
Norrena, who at one time was thought to have the inside track on the Lightning’s backup job this season, lost in his first game with Vastra Frolunda 3-1. The Indians netminder allowed 3 goals on 16 shots in his debut. He rebounded in his second start as Vastra Frolunda beat Leksands 5-2 on the strength of 30 Norrena saves.
Note: All statistics as of 9-26-2002.
