4 NHLers on Belarus Olympic hockey roster
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 | 10:54 AM ET
By Chris Iorfida, CBC Sports
Andrei, left, and Sergei Kostitsyn have experienced different kinds of seasons with the Montreal Canadiens so far in 2009-10. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)Brothers Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn of the Montreal Canadiens and Mikhail Grabovski were all named to the Olympic roster for the Belarus hockey team on Wednesday.
The forwards are joined by veteran defenceman Ruslan Salei (Colorado) as far as NHL representation is concerned. The remaining players compete in the Continental Hockey League (KHL).
Andrei Kostitsyn has 10 goals and 12 assists in 35 games for Montreal. The 24-year-old has been hot for the Canadiens recently, with eight goals and three assists in the last nine games.
Younger brother Sergei has three assists in 15 games for Montreal after starting the season in the American Hockey League, an assignment he initially balked at.
Grabovski has seven goals and 16 assists in 37 games with Toronto, cooling off of late after a strong November.
Russia next to announce roster
Salei, 35, has played just one game with the Avalanche this season because of a back injury. He has recorded 188 points in 829 NHL games, with previous stops in Anaheim and Florida.
Mikhail Zakharov is now the coach of the team after Canadian Glen Hanlon had a parting of the ways with the country's hockey federation last month. Hanlon in recent days signed on to be part of the Vancouver Canucks' staff.
Next up to announce its roster is Russia, on Christmas Day.
Canada will announce its team the morning of Dec. 30 from Saskatoon, site of the world junior hockey championships.
The United States will be the final team to unveil its planned lineup, doing so during the NHL's Winter Classic on New Year's Day.
