MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - ( Rochester , NY ) - Former Amerks left wing Maxim Afinogenov and defenseman Dmitri Kalinin captured the gold medal at the annual International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, following Russia ’s 5-4 OT win over team Canada Sunday in Quebec City .
Atlanta Thrashers’ all-star Ilya Kovalchuk scored the game-tying goal with 5:14 left in regulation and then the OT winner on a power-play goal 2:42 into the extra frame to give Russia its first World Championship since 1993. The game was also the first time since 1989 that Russia and Canada met in the gold-medal game. Both teams brought a perfect 8-0 record entering the final contest.
Afinogenov found the back of the net five times in eight games for the Russians, while Kalinin chipped in with a goal and two assists after skating in all nine games.
Afinogenov played the latter part of the 1999-00 season with Rochester , recording six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 15 regular season games. The Moscow native also dressed for eight postseason contests for the Amerks, picking up three goals and assisting on another.
Kalinin spent back-to-back seasons (1998-2000) wearing the red, white and blue for the Amerks. In 79 total games with Rochester , the 6-foot-3, 206-pound blueliner registered 22 points (2+20) and 66 penalty minutes (PIM). Kalinin also tallied 11 points (2+9) and 14 PIM in 28 playoff appearances.
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