Nikita Tolopilo

Last updated

Nikita Tolopilo
Nikita Tolopilo Abbotsford Canucks 2025.jpg
Tolopilo with the Abbotsford Canucks in 2025.
Born (2000-04-06) 6 April 2000 (age 25)
Minsk, Belarus
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 229 lb (104 kg; 16 st 5 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Vancouver Canucks
Abbotsford Canucks  (AHL)
HC Dinamo Minsk
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2020–present

Nikita Tolopilo (born 6 April 2000) is a Belarusian professional ice hockey goaltender. He currently plays for the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League while a prospect for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Tolopilo made his NHL debut on 14 April 2025, against the San Jose Sharks.

Contents

Personal life

Tolopilo was born on 6 April 2000, in Minsk, Belarus. [1] His younger brother Maxim also plays ice hockey. [2]

Playing career

As a free agent, Tolopilo signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) on 15 May 2023. [3] After attending the training camp of Vancouver's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, [4] Tolopilo was named to their 2023-24 season opening night roster. [5] He stopped 41 shots in his league debut to earn his first AHL win on 14 October 2023 against the Laval Rocket. [6] Tolopilo began the season sharing the starting goaltending position with Artūrs Šilovs, but took over as the team's full-time starter once Šilovs was recalled to the NHL. [7] He maintained a 5–3–0 record through the first two months of the season, along with a .906% save percentage. [8]

Tolopilo was named the Abbotsford Canucks opening night roster after attending their 2024–25 training camp. [9] [10] He started the season with two wins through his first two starts and a .925% save percentage. [11] He earned his first career AHL shutout on 23 November against the Henderson Silver Knights. [12] He then became the first goaltender in franchise history to earn back-to-back shutouts following two weekend games against the Manitoba Moose in mid-December. [13] [14] By January, Tolopilo had a 2.67 goals-against average and .915% save percentage through 14 games. [15] He earned his first NHL recall on 8 March as an emergency backup for Kevin Lankinen [16] but was returned to the AHL the following day. [17] Shortly after returning to Abbotsford, Tolopilo earned his fourth career shutout on 16 March against the Calgary Wranglers. [18] By mid-April, Tolopilo had maintained a winning 18–14–2 record and a 2.68 goals against average. [19] He was called up to the NHL on 12 April 2025 under emergency conditions [20] and made his NHL debut on 14 April 2025. [21] Tolopilo made 15 saves in his debut to lead the Canucks to a 2–1 win over the San Jose Sharks. [22] Following Abbotsford's 2025 Calder Cup win, the Vancouver Canucks extended a qualifying offer to Tolopilo to retain his negotiation rights. [23]

Awards and honours

AwardYearRef
AHL
Calder Cup Champion 2025 [24]

References

  1. ↑ "Nikita Tolopilo". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "Maxim Tolopilo". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  3. ↑ "Canucks sign goaltender Nikita Tolopilo to two-year, entry-level contract". Sportsnet. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  4. ↑ "Canucks Release 2023 AHL Training Camp Roster". Abbotsford Canucks. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Canucks Announce 2023-24 AHL Opening Night Roster". Abbotsford Canucks. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  6. ↑ Righetti, Ben (14 October 2023). "Tristen Nielsen Grabs Hat Trick To Help Canucks Defeat Laval 4-3". Abbotsford Canucks. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  7. ↑ Faber, Chris (25 April 2024). "Abbotsford Canucks Take Game One as Their Quest for the Calder Cup Commenced in Colorado". National Hockey League. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  8. ↑ Faber, Chris (8 December 2023). "Building Blue: The Developing Duo of Young Goaltenders in Abbotsford". National Hockey League. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Canucks Announce 2024.25 AHL Opening Night Roster". Abbotsford Canucks. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Canucks Announce 2024 AHL Training Camp Roster". Abbotsford Canucks. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  11. ↑ Faber, Chris (24 October 2024). "Get to Know Your Abbotsford Canucks Ahead of Friday's Home Opener". National Hockey League. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  12. ↑ "The Canucks Shut Out The Henderson Silver Knights In A 2-0 Victory". Abbotsford Canucks. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  13. ↑ "The Canucks Record Back To Back Shutouts Against The Manitoba Moose". Abbotsford Canucks. 15 December 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  14. ↑ Kierszenblat, Adam (15 December 2024). "Canucks Goaltending Prospect Records Franchise First In The AHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  15. ↑ Faber, Chris (1 January 2025). "Building Blue: Early Insights of 12 Canucks' Prospects from the 2024-25 Season". National Hockey League. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  16. ↑ "Canucks' Nikita Tolopilo: Summoned from AHL". CBS Sports. 8 March 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  17. ↑ "Game Notes: Canucks vs. Canadiens". National Hockey League. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  18. ↑ Cheung, Izzy (16 March 2025). "Abbotsford Canucks' Nikita Tolopilo Records Fourth Shutout Of The Season". The Hockey News. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  19. ↑ McGoey, Steven (12 April 2025). "Vancouver Canucks Recall Nikita Tolopilo And Ty Mueller From Abbotsford Canucks". The Hockey News. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "Game Notes: Canucks vs. Wild". National Hockey League. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  21. ↑ MacIntyre, Iain (15 April 2025). "'It was a long journey': Canucks' Tolopilo caps NHL debut with win over Sharks". Sportsnet. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  22. ↑ Woodley, Kevin (15 April 2025). "DeBrusk scores late in OT, Canucks rally past Sharks". National Hockey League. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  23. ↑ "Canucks Extend Qualifying Offers To Players". National Hockey League. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  24. ↑ Kuzma, Ben (23 June 2025). "Abbotsford Canucks: The journey really was the adventure to capture 2025 Calder Cup crown". The Province . Retrieved 23 June 2025.
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