Ilya Valeryevich Kovalchuk / Илья Валерьевич Ковальчук - Born April 15,1983 in Kalinin, Soviet Union is a Russian retired ice Hockey left winger.

- 2002 Winter Olympics Bronze Medal Winner with Russia.

- 2018 Winter Olympics Gold Medal Champion with Olympic Athletes from Russia.

- World Ice Hockey Championships Bronze Medal Winner 2005, 2007, 2019 with Russia.

- World Ice Hockey Championships Silver Medal Winner 2010, 2015 with Russia.

- World Ice Hockey Championships Gold Medal Champion 2008, 2009 with Russia.

- Prince of Wales Trophy Champion 2012 with New Jersey Devils.

- Gagarin Cup Champion 2015, 2017 with SKA Saint Petersburg, 2021 with Avangard Omsk.

Kovalchuk became the first player born in Soviet Union / Russia to be taken with the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft when the Atlanta Thrashers selected him in 2001.

Kovalchuk made his NHL debut with Atlanta Thrashers on October 4, 2001 vs Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena in a 2-1 Thrashers win.

Kovalchuk scored his 1st NHL goal vs Byron Dafoe of Boston Bruins at 16:54 of 1st period on October 6, 2001 at FleetCenter in a 4-3 OT Boston win.

Kovalchuk scored his 1st NHL hat-trick vs Craig Billington of Washington Capitals on December 6, 2002 at MCI Center in a 7-6 OT Washington win.

Kovalchuk played in 926 regular season games, scoring 443 goals (64 GWG / 17 OTG), 433 assists with 546 penalty minutes and 40 NHL playoff games, scoring 11 goals, 17 assists with 33 penalty minutes.

Kovalchuk played in NHL All-Star Games 2004, 2008, 2009.

Kovalchuk was selected to the NHL First All-Star Team in 2012.

Kovalchuk set NHL records in 2011-12 with 11 shootout goals and seven game-deciding goals, and he helped the New Jersey Devils advance to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.