Alexander Frolov has been chosen to represent Russia, and Michal Handzus has been chosen to represent Slovakia in the IIHF World Championships, which begin Friday in Switzerland. The full news release from the Kings follows…
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LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Kings forwards Alexander Frolov and Michal Handzus will represent their native countries at the 2009 IIHF World Championship tournament, the Kings today announced. Handzus will play for Slovakia and Frolov will play for Russia at the World Championship tournament that is scheduled for April 24 – May 10 in Switzerland.
Frolov, 26, most recently played for Russia at the 2007 World Championships, where he earned a bronze medal and had 11 points in nine games.
He has also played for his country at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games; the 2004 World Cup of Hockey; the 2003 World Championships, where he
co=led his team in points; the 2002 World Junior Championships, where he won a gold medal, led his team in goals and co-led his team in points;
and the 2000 World Junior Under-18 Championships, where he earned a silver medal.
This past season with the Kings, Frolov led the Kings in goals (32), was second in points (59) and was fourth in assists (27) in 77 games. He also led
the Kings with 12 power-play goals, he was third in shots (176) and he led the Kings in shooting percentage (18.2). He is a native of Moscow,
Russia.
Handzus, 32, most recently played for Slovakia at the 2005 World Championships. He has also played for his country at the 2004 World Cup of
Hockey; the 2002 Winter Olympic Games; the 2002 World Championships, where he earned a gold medal; the 2000 World Championships, where
he earned a silver medal; the 1997 World Junior Championships; and the 1996 World Junior Championships.
This past season with the Kings, Handzus played in all 82 games and finished fourth on the team in points (42). He finished second on the Kings
with four game-winning goals and his seven power-play goals were tied for third most on the Kings. This past Saturday, he was named the club’s
Best Defensive Player (as selected by the local media) and the club’s Unsung Hero (as selected by his Kings’ teammates). Earlier this month, he
was selected by the local chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association as the Kings’ nominee for the 2009 Bill Masterton Memorial
Trophy, which is awarded each year to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to
hockey.” He is a native of Banska Bystrica, Slovakia.
It was announced last week that Kings’ defenseman Drew Doughty will play for Team Canada at the 2009 World Championships, and that Kings captain/forward Dustin Brown, and defensemen Peter Harrold and Jack Johnson will represent the United States.
