Russian Hockey Player Artemi Panarin Wins NHL Calder Memorial Trophy

Russian hockey winger playing for the Chicago Blackhawks has won the 2015-2016 Calder Memorial Trophy, the US National Hockey League (NHL) announced.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League."

"The winner of the Calder Trophy as the League’s top rookie is Artemi Panarin," NHL said on Twitter on Wednesday night.

Panarin, 24, surpassed all rookies in goals (30), assists (47), points (77), power-play goals (8), power-play points (24) and game-winning goals (7) in 80 games in 2015-16.

'Definitely he has some chances. And he's trying really hard. He'll score, for sure,' AP about Patrick Kane. pic.twitter.com/UH3P0qdjXR

— Artemi Panarin Fans (@PanarinArtemi72) April 20, 2016

​The Russian winger is the first Chicago Blackhawks player to win the Calder Memorial award since American Patrick Kane, who got the 2007-2008 rookie trophy.

#BreadMan!

Artemi Panarin wins the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year! pic.twitter.com/iV1tlW8svX

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 22, 2016

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