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Suzdalev Is Shining In South Carolina

The path to hockey can take different routes: roller hockey, floor hockey, even bandy.

That’s how South Carolina Stingrays forward Alexander Suzdalev was turned onto the sport. Born in Khabarovsk, Russia, Suzdalev was introduced to hockey by his father, a professional bandy player.

Photo Courtesy of South Carolina Stingrays

Bandy, a sport similar to field hockey but played on ice with 11 players per side and a rubber ball instead of a puck, was Suzdalev's first experience on skates. However, he quickly gravitated toward hockey.

"I started skating when I was two years old,” Suzdalev said via Stingrays PR. “I started with bandy first, but then I switched right to hockey. My dad tried both hockey and bandy but chose to play bandy.”

“He wanted to let me choose too, and I'm thankful that I chose hockey because I think it's better," he added with a laugh.

Hockey has certainly been the right choice for Suzdalev, who is making an impact in his first season of North American professional hockey.

Drafted by the Washington Capitals 70th overall in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Suzdalev signed a three-year entry-level contract with Washington on July 15, 2022. He has spent most of this season in the ECHL with the Stingrays, Washington's ECHL affiliate, and has emerged as one of the team's top offensive contributors, recording 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 36 games.

At age seven, Suzdalev moved to Sweden, where he spent the majority of his youth hockey career. He played in the small town of Vetlanda, which also produced NHL stars like Erik Karlsson and Johan Franzen.

"He (Erik Karlsson) actually came back and visited us and skated with us once," Suzdalev recalled. "Also, Johan Franzen is from there, too, and he was a Detroit Red Wings legend. We looked up to those two guys because they came from a small village and made it to the NHL."

Suzdalev's development in Sweden led him to international success. He won a U18 World Championship with the Swedish national junior team. After being drafted by the Capitals, Suzdalev attended their Development Camp, where he immediately impressed Washington's Director of Minor League Operations, Jason Fitzsimmons.

"I'd seen him on video, but I never saw him live until we got him over here in North America for Development Camp," Fitzsimmons told the Stingrays. "Right away, you could see the skill and the confidence with the puck. We knew he was going to be something special here. I think right now, he's on the perfect path to play in the NHL."

Following the draft, Suzdalev played the 2022-23 season with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he recorded 86 points (38-48-86) in 66 games. In Regina, he played alongside former 2023-24 NHL Rookie of the Year and current Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard.

In 2023-24, Suzdalev continued in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades, tallying 25 points in 30 regular-season games and 13 points in 16 playoff games. The Capitals placed him in the WHL to help him adjust to the North American style of play.

"I think it was the right path, going to North America and getting used to playing in a smaller rink," Suzdalev said. "It was a little bit of an adjustment because everything happens quicker on the smaller ice. You have to think faster and be quicker. I think that's when skill takes over."

This season marks Suzdalev's first as a professional in North America. He turned 21 on March 5 and has taken significant strides in his development.

Fitzsimmons saw the ECHL as the ideal place for Suzdalev to continue growing within the Capitals' system.

"The ECHL is the perfect sweet spot for where he is in his development," Fitzsimmons explained. "It's better than junior hockey, and it's not quite the AHL yet, but it's not far off. So I think it's perfect for his development. We wanted him under our umbrella, where he could get the development from our South Carolina coaches, whom we have incredible faith in."

Suzdalev has embraced his opportunity with the Stingrays.

"I really wanted to come here to see how this league is and how I can develop here," Suzdalev said. "I've been liking it a lot so far. It's good hockey, good physicality, and good for me to develop. I want to get to the NHL."

Stingrays Head Coach Jared Nightingale has been impressed with Suzdalev's performance this season.

"Suzy is very talented, and his ceiling is extremely high," Nightingale said. "I think he has done a good job embracing being here and getting better. He has played junior hockey, and now he's playing against men. It's important for his development to face that physicality night in and night out. And I think that's where Suzy has done a really good job."

Suzdalev also had the opportunity to play two games for the Hershey Bears, Washington's AHL affiliate, in February. He viewed it as a positive experience.

"It was great to have that opportunity in Hershey, especially since I've been playing a lot here," Suzdalev said. "I definitely felt like a different player, coming in there with all the playing time here and how I have developed. I went there with a great mindset and did my best to help the team win, and it was good that we won both games."

With his skill, work ethic, and the right developmental path, Suzdalev is well on his way to achieving his NHL dreams.

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