Kevin Korchinski continues to attain all of his hockey dreams
SEATTLE (BVM) 鈥� As a 10-year-old, Kevin Korchinski attended the 2015 World Junior Championship in Toronto. His home country of Canada, led by Max Domi and a then 17-year-old Conor McDavid, took home gold.
The young Canadian watched on as they each received their medals and passed around the championship trophy.
It served as motivation for Korchinski that he could one day be in the skates of those that he idolized.聽
Eight years later, he bolsters quite the resume himself.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound defenseman was selected No. 7 overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks and this past winter, he got the chance to don the iconic red and white. This time, he was the one receiving a gold medal as Canada defeated Czechia 3-2.
Kevin Korchinski finds some space and makes it 5-1 Canada!
With the assist, Connor Bedard ties Eric Lindros for the most points all time by a Canadian at the !馃嚚馃嚘
— TSN (@TSN_Sports)
鈥淎lmost every Canadian watches it whether you enjoy hockey or not. It鈥檚 something that Canada prides itself on,鈥� Korchinski said. 鈥淏eing able to represent your country in that tournament is really special.鈥�
Before he got the opportunity to represent the entirety of Canada, he represented Saskatoon as one of the top young hockey players in the area.聽
鈥淚 was always one of those competitive kids,鈥� Korchinski said. 鈥淚 just went with it. I enjoyed it and loved the game. It鈥檚 always been a part of my life.鈥�
At the age of 15, he was drafted by the Seattle Thunderbirds with the No. 10 pick of the WHL Draft, and ever since then, all he has done is produce.
In his NHL Draft eligible season in 2021-22, he totaled 65 points in 67 games for Seattle which was fourth amongst defensemen in the WHL. He also placed top 10 in the plus-minus category for the position.
This was enough to make him a top NHL draft pick come July.
鈥淚t was really special being there with my family,鈥� Korchinski said. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 really describe it.鈥�
After going through camp with the Blackhawks in the summer, he headed back to the Thunderbirds for the upcoming junior season.
Kevin Korchinski 鉃★笍 Lukas Reichel ()
These first-round picks are lookin' good. 馃憖
— NHL (@NHL)
With the added prestige as a top NHL Draft pick, there comes more expectation at the junior level. But for Korchinkski, it鈥檚 the same game he鈥檚 played for years.
鈥淎s a player, you kind of welcome and want that pressure,鈥� Korchinski said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot more pressure situations in the world. You can be a doctor or a fireman. I just play hockey.鈥�
Kevin Korchinski continues to drive the Thunderbirds offensively from the blue-line
9-game point streak and points in 19 of 21 games since the World Juniors
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi)
Korchinski is not alone in this situation, as he is surrounded by premier talent in Seattle, including fellow Blackhawks鈥� prospects in Nolan Allan and Colton Dach.聽聽
鈥淚t pushes you in practice,鈥� Korchinski said. 鈥淏eing around players like that is awesome. It helps you win games and that鈥檚 what you want to do at the end of the day.鈥�
While Korchinski could easily be focusing on the quickest way to get to Chicago, his heart and mindset are completely with the Thunderbirds at the moment and the opportunity in front of them.
鈥淲e just want to win a championship,鈥� Korchinski said. 鈥淭hat is my goal, the team鈥檚 goal and our main focus right now. When you have a chance, you have to capitalize.鈥�
