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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Polshakov Transitions to Canadian Game

November 9, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB - Belarusian forward Zakhar Polshakov has learned a tough lesson first taught by Tom Petty 40 years ago: The waiting is indeed the hardest part.

The 18-year-old's visa got tangled up in diplomatic channels, forcing him to miss Brandon Wheat Kings training camp and nearly a month of the Western Hockey League season.

Polshakov, who understands some spoken English but is still learning to speak it, communicated via Google Translate with the assistance of Wheat Kings broadcaster Branden Crowe.

"It was very difficult," Polshakov said. "The process is very long but it's good that I'm here now."

The Wheat Kings added Polshakov in the Canadian Hockey League import draft on June 20. The Wheat Kings officially had the 29th overall pick, but the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League both passed, making Polshakov the 27th player selected.

The five-foot-11, 179-pound forward from Minsk served as captain of Belarus's entry at the world under-18 hockey championship, earning an assist in three games as he recovered from COVID-19.

In 38 games with the U18 Belarus team last season, Polshakov had nine goals, 17 assists, 20 penalty minutes and a plus-minus of -17 in the Belarus2 league, where the U18 team plays against men.

At the Belarus Cup, he was also team captain, scoring twice and adding an assist in six games.

Unfortunately for Polshakov and the Wheat Kings, his visa and those of some other Belarusians in the WHL were affected by a number of issues outside their control, including the pandemic. He still managed to arrive in shape, however.

"I trained alone but it didn't help, but thanks to friends and teammates, I went on the ice with them and now I'm in great shape," Polshakov said.

He joined the team during their Alberta road trip in late October, watching the game in Edmonton, taking the game day skate in Red Deer but not playing and then scoring shorthanded in his WHL debut against the Calgary Hitmen on Oct. 24.

He didn't watch the Wheat Kings play online prior to his arrival, so it was all a new experience.

"The game is basically the same," Polshakov said. "The size is much bigger than Belarus, and so is the speed. It's much faster."

He apparently adapted pretty quickly.

Polshakov made it two goals in two games when he converted on a 2-on-1 with Brett Hyland against the Prince Albert Raiders on Oct. 29.,

"I was happy to score in my first two games," Polshakov said. "It's going to give me much more confidence in the future."

Unfortunately for the Belarusian, that future isn't now. After he shot the puck for his second goal, he lost an edge and his momentum carried him into the end boards at the Art Hauser Centre. He sustained an upper-body injury on the play, and remains out day to day.

"It's tough but now I get a chance to take a rest and think about the next game," Polshakov said.

If he was out to make a good first impression on the coaching staff, he certainly accomplished that in his first two games.

Head coach Don MacGillivray liked what he saw from Polshakov.

"He's real competitive, good on faceoffs, hard on pucks, has some high skill, positionally he's really sound, he's good at both ends of the ice," MacGillivray said. "He's a really good player."

MacGillivray said the inability to speak directly to a player is tough but said Polshakov is picking up what he needs to. The veteran coach added he didn't have to tell the team's veterans how important it is for the Belarusian to feel comfortable, and they have made a point of welcoming Polshakov to the team.

"It's a challenge," MacGillivray admitted. "You're hoping that he understands. He's been able to take from video and put it into the games. I think he's doing really well and fitting in with the guys. They're trying to communicate with him and he's communicating back. We're using Google translate a little bit.

"We were having a meal one day and we translated 'How are you doing?' and he looked over (and gave a thumbs up). It's challenging for sure but I think he's adjusting."

Polshakov said it hasn't been an insurmountable issue, with he and his teammates finding ways to say what needs to be said. Ridly Greig, the team captain, sat beside him at practice on Monday.

"My teammates have had no problem with the language barrier," Polshakov said. "They've helped me with it if there is something I need, but there's been no problems meeting me and talking to me as a person."

Prior to Google Translate kicking in, Polshakov nodded during an interview when asked if he's learning the language more quickly since he's in an entirely English environment.

"I hope with the more time that I spend, that I learn the language quickly," Polshakov said.

Polshakov, who signed with the club in mid-July, joins overage forward Marcus Kallionkieli of Finland as the team's two imports.

He said the hockey side of things is easy to understand because he's done many of the practice drills before. He is hoping to do his talking on the ice with the strengths of his game, which he suggested stretches 200 feet.

"In my opinion, what I'm best at is giving good passes to my linemates, and I play a good game defensively," Polshakov said.

Both Polshakov's father Alexander and grandfather Valeri played and coached in Belarus, so he comes by his knowledge of the game honestly. He's hopeful his game will ultimately translate in the most important spot, the standings.

"I come with high expectations, but not personally," Polshakov said. "I want this team to win."

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