Mikhail Stefanovich
| Mikhail Stefanovich | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
27 November 1989 Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, USSR |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
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BXL team Former teams |
HK Neman Grodno HK Gomel Toronto Marlies HC Dynamo Minsk |
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| National team |
 Belarus
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| NHL Draft | 98th overall, 2008 Toronto Maple Leafs |
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| Playing career | 2006–present | ||
Mikhail Stefanovich (Belarusian: Міхаіл Ігаравіч Стэфановіч; born 27 November 1989) is a Belarusian professional ice hockey player currently under contract with HK Neman Grodno of the Belarusian Hockey League (BXL). He was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, and was the 2nd overall pick in the 2009 KHL Junior Draft.
Stefanovich's career started out in his home country of Belarus, spending just over two seasons in Belarus' tier two hockey league — half a season with HC Dinamo-2 Minsk, and just over one and a half seasons with HC Homiel-2. After playing just three games with HC Homiel-2 in the 2006–07 tier two season, HC Homiel of the Belarusian Extraliga called him up. He finished the rest of the season with Homiel and drew a great deal of attention from North American teams.
Following the season with Homiel, Stefanovich was selected 54th overall in the 2007 CHL Import Draft by the Quebec Remparts. Upon arriving in Canada, Stefanovich made the Remparts roster and quickly adjusted to the North American-style of hockey. Halfway through his inaugural QMJHL season, Stefanovich was selected to play in the CHL Top Prospects Game and, following the conclusion of the season, received the Mike Bossy Trophy, which is awarded to the QMJHL player judged to be the best professional prospect.
Scouts have identified that Stefanovich possesses a quick and accurate wrist shot and superb offensive instincts, but is not an overtly physical player, even for someone of his large stature. It is also said that his play is inconsistent and his skating is sub-par, but that he has above-average hockey sense and play-reading ability. Stefanovich's play in the 2008–09 QMJHL season improved and he became a more consistent player. These improvements have been credited, some say, to his pre-season tryout with the Maple Leafs, where he befriended fellow Belarusian Mikhail Grabovski and Russian Nikolai Kulemin. In order to make the team, he realized he needed to improve these negative aspects of his game.
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