Path to stardom: Arseny Gritsyuk

KHL.ru continues telling stories of those who showcased an exceptional level of playing despite their young age. Despite being only 23, SKA’s Arseny Gritsyuk has already more than 200 KHL games under his belt, other than representing Russia several times on the international stage.

Arseny Gritsyuk was one of the hottest names in the pipeline for Russian hockey talents since 2017, when he made his debut with the U17 national team when he was still within the Avangard Omsk system, and he comes from a hockey family.

Arseny first stepped onto the ice at the age of three in 2004, in Zheleznogorsk near Krasnoyarsk – his place of birth. His father Sergei, who was also a hockey player, introduced him to skating at the local rink. Arseny later continued his hockey development at the Fakel sports school in the village of Podgorny.

“Back then we just played and had fun: we really shot the puck a lot because it was fun, we also practiced shootouts. I learned game details, there, but individually I learned more on that rink. You would go out with the guys, stand there, and shoot a hundred pucks at the goal and see which one of you would hit the crossbar first. That’s how we learned to shot, and we just had fun.”

Arseny Gritsyuk

Gritsyuk’s team eventually reached the finals of the district championship, where they competed against Sokol Krasnoyarsk. During the match, Arseny scored three goals, earning him an invitation to join the Sokol school, where he played for the 1999-born team. At the age of 12, while participating in a tournament in Novosibirsk, he caught the attention of Avangard scouts. Shortly thereafter, Gritsyuk moved to the sports boarding school of the Omsk franchise.

“Of course, at that age I did not want to leave my parents, it was hard. But my dad explained that this is a chance that few people get. The first two months I really missed home and family, but then I got used to it. I am very grateful to my parents that they actually made that decision – it made me who I am today. I spent seven years in the sports boarding school, after which I joined the junior team. The older guys took it easy – we had a great team and coaches. It took me a couple of games to realize that the decision-making speed is faster here, it’s more contact hockey.”

Arseny Gritsyuk

In addition to his father, Arseny’s uncles and grandfather played hockey – the whole family supports him, and his father and grandfather are still his personal analysts and advisors even today.

In the 2020–21 season, Gritsyuk made his debut in the KHL with Avangard, after a breakout season in the JHL and representing Russia at the 2019 U18 WJC in Sweden. Though he only played in 12 games that year, his contributions included a goal and an assist, indicating his potential as a valuable player. His presence on the team coincided with Avangard Omsk’s successful campaign, culminating in their victory in the prestigious Gagarin Cup that season. This early exposure to high-stakes competition undoubtedly played a role in shaping his approach to the game.

The following season, 2021–22, was a turning point for Gritsyuk. He significantly increased his output, scoring 16 goals and accumulating 28 points over 39 KHL games. This performance earned him the Alexei Cherepanov Award for the league’s best rookie, following another Avangard’s top prospect – Yegor Chinakhov.

In May 2023, Gritsyuk’s career took another significant step forward when his KHL rights were acquired by SKA Saint Petersburg. Recognizing his potential, SKA signed him to a two-year deal. This move placed Gritsyuk with one of the league’s perennial contenders, offering him the opportunity to further develop his skills and contribute to a team with high aspirations. Joining SKA Saint Petersburg marked a new chapter in his career.

Gritsyuk’s talents were not confined to club hockey alone. In 2022, he represented Team Russia at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. His participation in the Olympics provided a global stage to showcase his skills. Gritsyuk’s efforts contributed to the team securing a silver medal, adding an international accolade to his growing list of achievements as he finished the tournament with a goal and two assists through six games.

Arseny’s main motivation on the rink is to win: in a game, in a playoff series, in the season. He alwats takes a philosophical approach to losses.

“When you win, it's like candy for kids – you always want more and more. But losses are necessary too, they make you stronger. When you lose, you realize what you were missing today. After victories, no one looks at how you played, you have fun as a team. And it’s after the losses that you understand what you need to improve. But of course, winning is sweeter.”

Arseny Gritsyuk

And considering how SKA is compiling its roster for the new season, it looks like Gritsyuk will have a lot of candies in the upcoming campaign, although achieving post season success won’t be easy.