Chilliwack Chiefs player Vladimir Nikitin will likely go down in BCHL history after scoring an extremely rare “goalie goal” from across the ice on Saturday night (March 2).
The team was up 2-1 over the visiting Alberni Valley Bulldogs with just over two minutes left in the 3rd period. They were well on their way to victory, but the Bulldogs had two extra players on the ice thanks to a power play and pulling their goalie, and were closing in on the Chiefs’ net.
A Bulldogs forward took at shot at Nikitin, but the 18-year-old Kazakhstan-born goaltender easily snagged the puck. He then did something few hockey fans have ever seen and fired the puck clean through the onslaught of players in front of his net, across the ice and into the waiting empty net.
The stands exploded as the Chiefs confirmed their third goal of the game.
“Are you kidding me? That thing is going to go viral,” a hockey commentator said. And, indeed, video of the goal has been blowing up in the hours since, with people expressing their amazement over the move.
The Chilliwack Chiefs also shared video of the goal, alongside a pre-game clip with a video message Nikitin’s father Viktor sent him, expressing his pride of his son. Viktor wasn’t able to fly in from Kazakhstan for the annual parents weekend, but his video message appeared to provide all the support Nikitin needed to pull off his cross-ice goal.
Unable to fly from Kazakhstan to Chilliwack for our annual Parents Weekend, Vladimir Nikitin’s Dad Viktor sent in a message to play during morning video about how proud he is of his son ❤️💛
Vlad’s response? Score a short handed goalie goal. pic.twitter.com/IiqbscQIXc
— Chilliwack Chiefs (@Chiefs_Hockey) March 3, 2024
It was a night to remember for Chiefs’ fans too, with energy in the stadium electric following the goal. No doubt that support and excitement will power the team for the next three games it is set to play at home. The first of those is against the Langley Rivermen on March 9.
Absolute scenes after that GOALIE GOAL by Vladimir Nikitin! @Chiefs_Hockey pic.twitter.com/0RaK8icMNn
— Ryleigh Mulvihill (@RyleighKMulvy) March 3, 2024
