Eli Tverdovsky, son of two-time Stanley Cup champion Oleg, enjoying growth spurt with Blazers

“You always want to get that first one and it was awesome to get it at home,” Eli said. “The next couple of games, it kind of brought a little bit of confidence and I started trying more stuff.”

Added Oleg: “I’m not surprised he’s doing what he’s doing right now. I looked at [training] camp and told him myself he’s ready to go. I think once he gets more confidence, he’ll be scoring on a regular basis.”

Eli, born in 2009, was too young to remember watching his father play professionally, with Oleg in the twilight of his career and playing in the KHL before retiring in 2013.

“Just watching him on YouTube, his highlights and stuff, really got me into the game,” Eli said. “He got me skating and I kind of just went from there. I really enjoyed it. He was my coach growing up until about my U14 year.”

Eli and his older brother, Daniel (who attended Blazers’ training camp in 2025), both made the move to Penticton to play for Okanagan Hockey Academy in time for the 2023-2024 campaign.

At the time, Robert Dirk – Oleg’s first defence partner with the Mighty Ducks in 1994-1995 – was head coach of the OHA U18 prep program.

“I knew the program was great,” said Oleg, who joined the Nanaimo Clippers’ ownership group earlier this year. “Canadian youth hockey is one of the best in the world. I think Russia and Canada have always been at the same high-level hockey. The league was great and I think that was the best place for my sons to be.”

Eli tallied 20 goals and 36 points in 27 games for OHA U14 Prep in the 2023-2024 Canadian Sport School Hockey League season. The Blazers snared Eli sixth overall in the 2024 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft.

Last June, Eli broke his kneecap, an injury that made it next to impossible to crack the Kamloops lineup in time for his 16-year-old season. Oleg said his son likely wasn’t physically ready for the WHL at that point anyway.

“It actually worked out pretty well,” Oleg said. “Nobody forced him to try to speed up his recovery. He got physically stronger this past summer and that gave him a chance to be in the best shape for the camp for the Blazers.”

Eli is playing on an emergent line with a pair of 16-year-olds, Teagen Bouchard and Brady Ondrus.

“Our line has been good,” Eli said. “We’ve been contributing some goals, but we’ve also been good defensively. I feel a lot more confident.”

The right-shot forward who can speak Russian has five points in eight games, with a plus-2 rating.

“Now, he’s strong enough on the boards and protecting the puck and winning the battles,” Oleg said. “The Blazers did a great job. It’s a great development program where they bring in the young kids and teach them to play hockey the right way. They’re playing hard, playing in the right position and just working.”

Eli is taller than his dad, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing about 190 pounds.

“He’s definitely gotten a lot more physical than he has ever been,” Oleg said. “He has a good stride and ability to separate himself from the player that is chasing him or around him. He can get an extra second for himself to score or to make a play. That’s probably his best asset. And, he has scoring touch. He can score goals.”

The Blazers (6-3-2-0) have won four of their last five games and will be looking for a third consecutive win on Friday [Oct. 23], when the Vancouver Giants come to town.

Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Sandman Centre.

“I want to keep contributing to the team in any way that I can and, hopefully, take it all the way to the playoffs,” Eli said.

Vancouver (8-2-1-1) sits atop Western Conference standings, with a four-point lead on third-place Kamloops.

Oleg tries not to offer coaching tips directly after games are over, but he is always watching and quick to offer tidbits of wisdom.

“Always be confident,” Eli said when asked to relay some of his father’s advice. “If you have a bit of a slump or you’re not playing well, just remember who you are and what you can do.”

CATCH UP WITH OLEG

Oleg Tverdovsky reflected on his NHL career with CFJC Today on Thursday.

He spoke about his Stanley Cup victories, being traded to Winnipeg in a blockbuster trade that involved Teemu Selänne in 1996 and his foray into B.C. Hockey League ownership.

Find the complete interview below.

Oleg Tverdovsky complete interview

by Marty Hastings

Eli Tverdovsky, son of two-time Stanley Cup champion Oleg, enjoying growth spurt with Blazers

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