Sean Yurkov, a junior in his second season on the Stevenson varsity, models his game after Artemi Panarin and Pavel Datsyuk, mixing creativity and playmaking. And a large dose of Mike Legg, too.
Panarin, of course, is the former Chicago Blackhawks wing who now skates for the New York Rangers. Datsyuk was a flashy forward who spent his entire NHL career playing for the Detroit Red Wings and, in 2017, was named one of the “100 Greatest NHL Players” in history.
Legg? He’s best known for one game in the 1996 NCAA Tournament when his University of Michigan battled the University of Minnesota. Legg scored what is now simply known as The Michigan Goal.
Legg scooped the puck up behind the net and wrapped it around, into the top corner of the net. His goal was awarded “Goal of the Year” by the Swedish magazine Inside Hockey and the stick he used was donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Legg’s mastery with the stick is truly an ESPN Moment – and Yurkov has scored this season with The Michigan Goal. Not once or twice, and not just in practice. Yurkov has 5 Michigan goals this season and all were in games.
“It is something really special (and) truly shows the hours of dedication and hard work that I have put into it,” said Yurkov, who has long watched NHL players attempt the Michigan Goal and he has practiced the move – to mastery – almost daily at home in Buffalo Grove. “I have been perfecting it for about two years now.”
Yurkov’s first Michigan goal this season came in the Patriots’ home opener against Fenwick – on the first time he attempted the move this season. He next scored a Michigan Goal against Saint Ignatius on his second shift of the game.
Yurkov’s third, fourth and fifth Michigan Goals were in non-SHL games “where the space and time to do it was just right there given to me,” he said.
The tally against Saint Ignatius was, by far, his favorite. The Patriots were on a first period powerplay, and Yurkov was able to slam the puck past goaltender Ethan Laughlin. “The best part was, nobody knew it was coming,” he said.
Yurkov, 17, moved to the U.S. three years ago from Israel “so that I (would) have the opportunity to play at a higher level.” The right-handed shooting center now plays alongside junior Rishi Gupta and senior Connor Ponticelli – and it’s his first year being on the same line with both.
“I typically always play somewhere low around the net and when I am able to do it, I just do it without even thinking too much about it,” he said.
Yurkov nearly scored another Michigan Goal in a game against Saint Viator. Stevenson trailed 4-3 at the time and the Lions’ goalie saved Yurkov’s attempt. “But I was then able to find my defenseman Brandon Smoller who found the back of the net,” he said.
Will you keep trying the move?
Obviously. “It (has) became an essential part of my game,” Yurkov said. “I am grateful to have a coach, Dan Wood, who is all in for those goals. With the players and goalies becoming so much better, it is harder to find the back of the net these days.
“I think of (trying for a Michigan Goal) pretty much every game, and when the opportunity comes, I always at least try to do it. Like (Wayne) Gretzky once said, ‘You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.’”
Yurkov has 7 goals and 11 assists in 19 SHL games, as the Patriots sit in 10th place with a 3-14-2 record (8 points), only ahead of Fenwick (5 points). His 18 points are second-most on the team and he has 7 points on the powerplay, which is tied for the team-lead.
Stevenson plays at York on Friday, December 8, in the SHL Game of the Week.
Yurkov was admittedly hesitant about moving to the U.S., especially since his English three years ago was, at best, limited.
“Thanks to hockey I was given the opportunity to meet new people and really find my place here,” he said. “Hockey in Israel is not very common (with only) four rinks in the entire country. I was about 6 years old when I started playing roller hockey because there were no ice rinks where I lived. When I was 9, we found a rink that was an hour away where I was practicing two times a week until we moved here. I also attended hockey camps in several countries in Europe, such as Germany, Ukraine and Lithuania, where I was able to develop my hockey skills.
“As soon as we arrived (in the U.S.), I began going to school and playing hockey so I would just do my best learning (English) at school and in the locker room with the guys.”
Hebrew is Yurkov’s first language and he also speaks Russian and he understands some Ukrainian.
“When I moved (to the U.S.), I did not speak (English) at all. All I knew was the ABCs and how to count a little bit. The first year here was not the best, but hockey was really what made it better,” Yurkov said.
Hockey also has been an aide to Yurkov for the past couple of months since the war in his native Israel started.
“The ongoing war really takes a big place in my everyday life,” he said. “Most of my family is in Israel and the things that they go through really scare me. I believe that hockey is the best way for me to kind of forget about it by doing what I love to do the most.”
Stevenson was winless in its five SHL games in November, but the Patriots are ready to regroup, starting Friday in Addison. Yurkov will be key, anchored by his solid decision-making on the ice. Plus, he is one of the older players on the team.
“The desire to win and do my best to help the team win is what really motivates me every game,” said Yurkov, who wears uniform No. 13 – his lucky number – and is admittedly a superstitious player. He tapes his stick before every game – “otherwise I might not have a good game.”
Yurkov is still considering his college options but wants to remain in the Midwest. He wants to work in the medical field and pursue a career in dentistry.
“I am working on my defensive part of the game and learning how to become a better leader and role-model for the younger players,” he said.
