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Aleksander Aleksandrovich Barkov, born on September 2, 1995, is a Finnish-Russian professional ice hockey center, serving as the captain of the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Notably, he was drafted by the Panthers in 2013 and is renowned for his elite two-way play, winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2021. Prior to that, Barkov began his career with Tappara in the Finnish Elite League before joining the Panthers in the NHL. Despite early injury setbacks, Barkov's performance steadily improved, earning him recognition as one of the league's top players. Furthermore, he became the Panthers' captain in 2018 and has led the team to multiple playoff appearances, setting franchise records along the way.
Aleksander Barkov Nationality
Aleksander Barkov holds dual citizenship of Finland and Russia. Moreover, Barkov was born in Tampere, Finland, to parents of Russian descent. His father, Alexander Barkov Sr., is a former professional ice hockey player from Russia, while his mother, Olga Barkov, was a professional basketball player who represented the Russian national team. Despite his Russian heritage, Barkov has primarily represented Finland internationally in ice hockey competitions.
Aleksander Barkov Birthplace
Aleksander Barkov was born in Tampere, Finland. As a native of Finland, Barkov has represented his country in both junior and senior ice hockey tournaments internationally. He debuted with the Finland men's national junior team at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. In 2012, Barkov participated in the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he became the youngest Finnish player at just 16 years old. He also competed in the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships. Barkov's success continued at the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he tallied three goals and seven points. He later joined Finland's senior team at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, scoring four goals and three assists.
FAQs
A. Aleksander Barkov has an older brother named Juri, who aspired to become a professional tennis player before injuries cut short his career.