The NHL teams include many Russian players who regularly play in the most prestigious league in the world. But not all hockey players managed to build a career overseas. One of those who did not work out in the NHL is Andrei Zubarev, who returned to Russia only one season later, where he continues his successful performance, including for the national team.
Hockey training in Ufa
Zubarev Andrey Sergeevich was born on March 3, 1987 in Ufa. At 6 years old, the parents sent the boy who dreams of becoming a professional hockey player to the sports section of the local club "Salavat Yulaev", where the Russian made his first steps on ice. Speaking for the youth squad, in 2003 Andrei got to the main clip of the team. Two years spent at the base of “Salavat”, were not allowed to regularly appear on the ice of the Super League, and Zubarev changed the team in the offseason.
Moving to Kazan and Mytishchi
The new club Zubarev Andrey chose Kazan “Ak Bars”. The defender successfully fit into the “dragons” and in the first year became the champion of Russia, gaining 12 points in 40 matches of the regular championship. The next season did not work out for a talented Russian - because of problems with the game in defense and a lack of effectiveness, Andrei lost his place at the base, but again ended up on the podium at the end of the championship, this time with silver. Having played another season for “Ak Bars”, in 2008, Zubarev moved to another KHL club, Mytishchi “Atlant”.
The first year in a club near Moscow began for the defender not in the best way, but, fitting in time with the team, Andrei Zubarev, a hockey player who has an active victory in the championship, became one of the key players in Atlanta in winning 5th place in the conference and exit in the semifinals of the playoffs of the round. In 2009, the Russian was able to seriously add to the game, in particular, in its performance, and, despite the club’s not-so-good performance, it was noticed by American clubs.
Trying to tune up overseas
As a result, in 2010, Andrei Zubarev moved overseas, where he spent the first season with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL. There, the Russian made a good showing of himself, having scored 13 points in 51 meetings and moved to the league he had long dreamed of - the National Hockey League. There, the young defender took the “Atlanta Thrashers”, for which Zubarev spent only 4 matches, after which he was forced to return to his homeland.
Homecoming
In Russia, there was no need to search for a new job for a long time - Zubarev immediately accepted the offer of the former club, Atlanta. The team with great ambitions, who played in the final of the Gagarin Cup, hoped to consolidate the success, and an experienced defender should have helped in this. But according to the results of the championship, Muscovites became only 9th.
Nevertheless, Zubarev remained in demand in the hockey market and, despite having a solid place in the start of Atlanta, he replaced the club with his native Salavat Yulaev. Returning to the Ufa team turned out to be the right decision for the player - with the return of high performance, an invitation to the team came, in which Andrei became the world champion in 2014, having played in 6 meetings. In the same year, “Salavat” became the finalist of the playoffs of the Eastern Conference, having previously won second place in the Chernyshev Division. However, the year 2015 was unsuccessful for the Ufa residents, and Andrey Zubarev left the team.
Game for SKA
The new club of the defender was St. Petersburg SKA - the current owner of the Gagarin Cup. Andrey joined the champion quite quickly, having played 40 games in the first season. The 2016/17 championship is developing quite successfully for the team from St. Petersburg - the club leads in the Western Conference, ahead of its “army" rival, CSKA, by three points, and is considered one of the favorites in the fight for the Gagarin Cup.
Personal life
Most athletes are modest people, rarely showing their way of life and customs. Among them is Andrey Zubarev, a hockey player whose personal life is almost unknown. In one of his interviews, a Russian opened the curtain of secrets by telling about his wife Julia, whom he met during the game for Ak Bars. On March 10, 2015, his wife presented Andrei with a gift in the form of the birth of a daughter, in whose honor the hockey player chose a number for his sweater - 28.