Alex Galchenyuk

Alex Galchenyuk: biography

Alexander Alexandrovich Galchenyuk, born on February 12, 1994, is an American ice hockey center who is presently an unrestricted free agent. Throughout his career, he has showcased his skills in the NHL, having played for various teams including the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, and Arizona Coyotes. Notably, Galchenyuk was drafted as the third overall pick by the Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

While Galchenyuk comes from Belarusian heritage, he was born in the United States and has represented the United States internationally. Despite his American roots, he spent a significant portion of his youth in Russia, further shaping his hockey journey.

Childhood and youth

Galchenyuk was born on February 12, 1994 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Alexander Galchenyuk, a former Soviet and Belarusian hockey player, and his Belarusian mother. His father played for the Milwaukee Admirals in the International Hockey League (IHL) at the time of his birth. The family relocated to Europe when Galchenyuk was four, following his father's hockey career in Germany, Italy, and Russia. They eventually settled in Russia, where Galchenyuk began his own hockey journey. However, at the age of 15, he moved back to North America, first to Chicago, Illinois, and later to Sarnia, Ontario, where his father, Alex Galchenyuk Sr., coaches.

Hockey career

Galchenyuk concluded his last year of minor hockey with the U16 Chicago Young Americans, swiftly emerging as a standout player with an impressive record of 44 goals and 43 assists. Coach Bruno Bragagnolo, astounded by Galchenyuk's talent, likened it to winning a lottery ticket, emphasizing the rarity of having another player like Alex on his team. This outstanding performance resulted in Galchenyuk being chosen as the top pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection Draft by the Sarnia Sting.

Additionally, Galchenyuk garnered attention when he was selected 25th overall in the 2011 KHL Junior Draft by Atlant Moscow Oblast. This selection caused his father, Alexander Galchenyuk, to express his disappointment in Alex not being chosen in the first round by Dinamo Minsk, the KHL team from Belarus.

In his debut season with the Sting, Galchenyuk showcased his skills by amassing 31 goals and 52 assists, tallying a total of 83 points. This remarkable performance earned him a spot on the OHL 1st All-Rookie team alongside his teammate Nail Yakupov. However, the following year, Galchenyuk's playing time was severely limited due to a knee injury, allowing him to participate in only two regular-season games and six playoff games.

Despite the setback, Galchenyuk's talent was recognized in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, where he was selected as the third overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens. Subsequently, on July 23, 2012, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens. During the NHL lockout in the 2012-13 season, Galchenyuk returned to the Sarnia Sting in the OHL. Notably, he served as the team's captain during his final season, dominating the league with an impressive record of 27 goals and 34 assists in just 33 games.

Galchenyuk had a successful start with the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012–13 season, becoming the youngest player to complete a full season with the team since 1984. He scored his first NHL goal and finished the season with 27 points in 48 games. In the following seasons, he continued to contribute with the Canadiens, achieving milestones like his first hat-trick and a 20-goal campaign.

After his time with the Canadiens, Galchenyuk played for several teams, including the Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He had varying degrees of success with each team, including leading the Maple Leafs in goals during one season and making an impact in the playoffs. He eventually returned to the Arizona Coyotes for a third tenure.

Galchenyuk's journey took another turn when he was traded to the Nashville Predators but was not signed, making him a free agent. He then signed a contract to return to the Coyotes but was placed on unconditional waivers for contract termination after being arrested on multiple charges on July 9, 2023.

Personal life

Galchenyuk holds the position of Chairman at Galchenyuk Business Enterprises (GBE) and the Galchenyuk Agency. He is also actively involved in philanthropy and received the Medal of Honor from the Quebec Government in 2015 for his charitable efforts.

Fluency in Russian, Italian, and English is among Galchenyuk's linguistic abilities.

In 2016, Galchenyuk's then-girlfriend, Chanel Leszczynski, was arrested for assault following a domestic dispute at his apartment. Galchenyuk and his teammate Devante Smith-Pelly were questioned by Montreal police, but Galchenyuk chose not to file a domestic violence complaint, and the case was not pursued by the Crown.

On July 9, 2023, Galchenyuk was arrested on various charges, including "private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest, and threatening or intimidating." As a consequence of the arrest, his contract with the Arizona Coyotes was terminated.

Awards

OHL:

• Jack Ferguson Award (2010)
• All-Rookie Team (2011)

Montreal Canadiens:

• Molson Cup (2016)