GOROVIKOV GETS GOLD
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Konstantin Gorovikov became the fourth former Grand Rapids Griffins player to win a gold medal at the IIHF World Championship, courtesy of Russia’s 5-4 overtime win over Canada on Sunday.
Gorovikov, who helped the Griffins claim both an IHL Turner Cup Finals berth in 1999-00 and that league’s final regular season title in 2000-01, joined Niklas Kronwall (2006 Sweden), Rastislav Pavlikovsky and Robert Petrovicky (both 2002 Slovakia) as the only Grand Rapids players who’ve helped their country win gold at the sport’s premier annual international event. He appeared in each of Russia’s nine games, tallying two goals and four points.
Several other former Griffins distinguished themselves during the tournament. Canada’s Jason Spezza won a silver medal, while Slovakia’s Petrovicky and Germany’s Michael Hackert each led his team in goals with four and three, respectively.
Complete statistics and results for the 2008 IIHF World Championship can be found here.
| Player | Griffins Season(s) | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM |
| Robert Petrovicky (SVK) | 1998-00 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Michael Hackert (GER) | 2005-06 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Ivan Ciernik (SVK) | 1999-02 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -1 |
| Konstantin Gorovikov (RUS) | 1999-01 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| Jason Spezza (CAN) | 2001-02 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Julien Vauclair (SUI) | 2001-02 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Anders Myrvold (NOR) | 2003-04 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | -3 |
| Goalie | Griffins Season(s) | GP | W | L | SO | GAA | SPCT |
| Stefan Liv (SWE) | 2006-07 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2.02 | 0.891 |