Denis Kulyash

Denis Kulyash (Russian: Денис Куляш), the son of Vladislav and Nina, born on May 31, 1983, in Omsk (Russian Federation) is a professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the HSC Csíkszereda of the Erste Liga. On 6 November 2020 the Romanian Government offered him Romanian citizenship.[1] Kulyash has been a long-time member of Russia's national ice hockey team known for his extremely hard slap shot, which gained him a nickname "Tsar Cannon" (Russian: Царь-пушка). Kulyash currently holds a record of fastest ice hockey shot previously held by Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara with a speed of 110.3 mph (177.6 km/h).[2]

Denis Kulyash
On a game KHL SKA-Avangard (Ice Palace, St.Petersburg, Russia, 29.11.2010)
Born (1983-05-31) May 31, 1983
Omsk, Soviet Union
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 109 kg (240 lb; 17 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Erste Liga team
Former teams		 HSC Csíkszereda
CSKA Moscow
Dynamo Moscow
Avangard Omsk
Ak Bars Kazan
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Severstal Cherepovets
Daemyung Killer Whales
National team  Russia
NHL Draft 243rd overall, 2004
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2003–2022

Playing career

After failing to make it into the senior team of Avangard Omsk, Denis Kulyash made his Russian Super League debut with HC CSKA, enjoying significant success with the club and as a result getting drafted by the Nashville Predators late in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. The young defenceman then signed with HC Dynamo Moscow in a hotly contested transfer and struggled to play at the same level. His career got back on track when he delivered a productive 2007-08 season after returning to HC CSKA in 2007. In February 2009, Kulyash scored his 50th career goal and thus became a member of the "Fetisov Club".[3]

In January 2010, Kulyash was controversially traded to his home-town club Avangard Omsk in return for two other defencemen, Filipp Metlyuk and Evgeny Kurbatov. He went public with his discontent blaming HC CSKA's General Manager Sergei Nemchinov for the trade.[4] However, Kulyash was quick to retreat expressing his delight at joining his native team.[5] The defenceman managed to score against Metallurg Novokuznetsk, his second game in Avangard's jersey, but was injured in the next game and failed to make an impact throughout the rest of the disappointing season for the club.

In February 2011, Kulyash set the new world record for hardest shot during the KHL All-Star Superskills Competition. His result is 110.3 mph (177.6 km/h).[6]

On May 3, 2011, Kulyash was announced as the new player of the KHL's Ak Bars Kazan.[7] In May 2013 he signed a new two-year contract with Avangard Omsk.

During the 2018-19 season, his 11th in the KHL, Kulyash made 24 appearances with Severstal Cherepovets, before leaving the club and the league to sign for the remainder of the campaign with Korean club, Daemyung Killer Whales, of the AL.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–2000 Avangard–VDV Omsk RUS.3 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2000–01 Gazovik Tyumen RUS.3 9 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2001–02 Progress Solikamsk RUS.3 38 3 8 11 62 — — — — —
2002–03 CSK VVS–2 Samara RUS.3 24 10 9 19 73 — — — — —
2003–04 Omskie Yastreby RUS.3 8 2 4 6 8 — — — — —
2003–04 CSKA Moscow RSL 10 1 0 1 8 — — — — —
2003–04 CSKA–2 Moscow RUS.3 9 2 1 3 32 — — — — —
2004–05 CSKA Moscow RSL 59 8 10 18 58 — — — — —
2004–05 CSKA–2 Moscow RUS.3 3 0 1 1 6 — — — — —
2005–06 Dynamo Moscow RSL 44 12 5 17 117 4 0 2 2 6
2006–07 Dynamo Moscow RSL 48 3 9 12 58 2 0 0 0 2
2006–07 Dynamo–2 Moscow RUS.3 6 0 2 2 18 — — — — —
2007–08 CSKA Moscow RSL 53 9 13 22 79 6 1 1 2 34
2008–09 CSKA–2 Moscow RUS.3 — — — — — 4 0 2 2 4
2008–09CSKA Moscow KHL5616102662821320
2009–10CSKA Moscow KHL3511102134—————
2009–10Avangard Omsk KHL6112630004
2010–11Avangard Omsk KHL48111526451433612
2011–12Ak Bars Kazan KHL4461218401201137
2012–13Ak Bars Kazan KHL44491366182576
2013–14Avangard Omsk KHL5111112257—————
2014–15Avangard Omsk KHL5810172758112020
2015–16 Avangard Omsk KHL 39 5 9 14 65 — — — — —
2016–17 Salavat Yulaev Ufa KHL 58 12 10 22 46 5 1 0 1 6
2017–18 Salavat Yulaev Ufa KHL 16 2 3 5 20 — — — — —
2017–18 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg KHL 32 7 7 14 32 1 0 0 0 2
2018–19 Severstal Cherepovets KHL 24 2 4 6 41 — — — — —
2018–19 Daemyung Killer Whales ALH 11 1 3 4 20 3 0 1 1 0
2019–20 HSC Csíkszereda EL 38 14 18 32 42 7 2 4 6 10
2019–20 HSC Csíkszereda ROU 26 16 18 34 20 — — — — —
2020–21 HSC Csíkszereda EL 19 5 7 12 9 2 3 5
2020–21 HSC Csíkszereda ROU 15 9 15 24 45 — — — — —
2021–22 HSC Csíkszereda EL 34 12 15 27 39 14 4 7 11 14
2021–22 HSC Csíkszereda ROU 20 13 13 26 12 1 0 1 1 0
RSL totals 214 33 37 70 320 12 1 3 4 42
KHL totals 511 98 118 216 572 72 10 10 20 87

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2006 Russia WC 5th 7 3 1 4 6
Senior totals 7 3 1 4 6

Records

Denis Kulyash set the new world record for shot power, 110.3 mph (177.6 km/h) during the KHL All Star Superskills Competition on 3rd Kontinental Hockey League All-Star Game.

References
  1. https://sgg.gov.ro/new/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/HG-19.pdf
  2. "Denis Kulyash Profile". RussianProspects.com. 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  3. "RUSSIAN-HOCKEY.RU - Денис Куляш: 50 шайб это не предел".
  4. "Denis Kulyash: "Nemchinov told me that he needed youngsters"". sport-express.ru (in Russian). 2010-01-12. Archived from the original on 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  5. "Denis Kulyash: "Delighted to be back home"". sports.ru (in Russian). 2010-01-13.
  6. "KHL says hardest shot record broken". ESPN. 2011-02-05.
  7. "Ak Bars sign Denis Kulyash and Lauris Darzins". Sports.ru. 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2011-05-03.
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