Gushchin, Sommer on What They Liked About His Pro Debut (+)

Daniil Gushchin loves to play hockey. That might seem obvious, but that fact can’t be understated with the 2020 third-round pick.

Growing up, Gushchin’s father played bandy, a form of hockey played on a sheet of ice that is the size of a soccer field with a ball, rather than a puck. The older Gushchin wanted to put Daniil in a sport and, of course, it was hockey that he gravitated to. He says that he liked it right away. He’s never thought about playing anywhere other than forward however. “I like to be forward,” Gushchin said about his preferred position. “I like scoring goals.” 

Speaking of bandy, one of the most eye-catching things about Gushchin is from that sport.

On previous teams, including the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL and Niagara IceDogs in the OHL, Gushchin has sported No. 66, a small tribute to a friend of his dad’s who was a bandy superstar. However, both in San Jose Sharks training camp and with the Barracuda, Gushchin has worn No. 75.