Russian hockey player turns stick into javelin to score in shootout

Russian hockey player Vladimir Tkachyov of the KHL’s Ak Bars Kazan attempted a shot on goal during a recent skills competition that is likely something that has never been done or seen before. Until now at least.

Shootouts in hockey have always provided its fans with some of the game’s most exciting goals, especially since the NHL made them a mandatory way to avoid a tie between two teams back in the 2005-06 season. But some of the best shootout goals have come from outside of the world’s top hockey league.

Most recently the goal by Tkachyov, who’s still grinning from ear to ear about what he did. Hopefully his smile looks a little better than these guys:

The forward and his teammates recently participated in event for the public that was meant to showcase the talent on this season’s roster. A number of players took part in a few skills competitions including a shootout contest.

Then this absolute amazingness of a goal happened.

A video posted by Хоккейный клуб “Ак Барс” (@hcakbars) on Jul 30, 2016 at 10:38am PDT

While the goal certainly would not be legal in an actual, meaningful game (a puck cannot thrown into the net to score a goal), it certainly brought the wow factor to the ice. If the team ends up not doing so well record wise year, they should be able to at least provide some entertainment for their fans.

It would be great to know what the goalie thought when he saw what Tkachyov was doing. Perhaps something along the lines of, “wait, what is he doing? He’s not going to throw the stick. Oh no, he actually did throw it!”

Maybe not exactly in those words (also in Russian probably), but similar thoughts likely ran through the goaltender’s head when he saw Tkachyov skating toward him as if he was about to throw a javelin.

Greatest hockey goal ever? It is up there as far as the innovation, but when it comes down to pure skill there is not much that can be better than this one.