Evgeni Nabokov - International Career

International Career

While he is a Russian citizen, he was previously denied permission by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to play for Russia, because he had played for Kazakhstan as a 19-year-old in the 1994 World Championships. In 2005, Nabokov was granted permission to play for Russia in the IIHF World Championships, but declined. Nabokov had tried to gain the IIHF's permission to play for Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics, but failed as there were regulations in place forbidding players from representing two different countries. He was finally allowed to play for Russia in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, after being given an exemption by the IIHF, and was named to the Russian team for the 2008 World Championships. During the 2008 World Championships he posted back-to-back shut-outs before defeating Canada 5-4 in the Gold Medal game. Team Russia won the 2008 IIHF World Championships, earning Nabokov his first gold medal.

He was named as the starting goaltender for Team Russia in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. There, he led Russia to the quarterfinals against Canada. Nabokov allowed 6 goals and was then pulled in favor of Ilya Bryzgalov in a 7-3 defeat.

He represented Team Russia in the 2011 World championship in Slovakia.

Played for Kazakhstan in:

• 1994 World Championships

Played for Russia in:

• 2006 Winter Olympics
• 2008 World Championships (gold medal)
• 2010 Winter Olympics
• 2011 World Championships