Shoots Left Weight 84 kg Height 1.80 m | Name Mikhail Donika Playing career Positions Defenseman | |
Born May 15, 1979 (age 44)
Yaroslavl, Russia ( 1979-05-15 ) NHL Draft 272nd overall, 1999
Dallas Stars | ||
Mikhail Donika (born May 15, 1979) is a Russian ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted in the 9th round, 272nd overall by the Dallas Stars in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Donika never came to North America to play professional hockey, spending his entire career in Russia, playing for Yaroslavl Torpedo, Moscow Dynamo, Moscow Spartak, and Lada Togliatti.
Contents
Professional play
Donika played professional hockey in Russia for Yaroslavl Torpedo starting in 1997. He was not drafted by a National Hockey League (NHL) team in his first year of eligibility, but in 1999, he was selected by the Dallas Stars in the ninth round (272nd overall) of the 1999 NHL Draft. Donika did not play professional hockey in North America at any level, instead playing in Russia and Belarus.
International play
Donika represented Russia in international competition at the junior level. He played in three consecutive world junior tournaments, playing in 20 games total, and recording three assists. At the 1997 World Junior Championships, he helped Russia capture the bronze medal. In 1998, Russia lost to Finland in overtime during the gold medal game, settling for silver. The 1999 World Junior Championship was Donika's last year of junior eligibility. At the tournament in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Donika and his Russian teammates captured the gold medal by defeating Canada in overtime. With the victory, Donika and his teammate Roman Lyashenko became the only two players in the history of the World Junior Championships to capture gold, silver and bronze medals.