When you look at Arsenii Sergeev’s page on Elite Prospects, two things stand out pretty quickly.

First, he’s played in a lot of different leagues since arriving in North America as a 16 year old in 2019. Second, he’s managed to adapt and find success in all of these different leagues.

A seventh-round selection by the Calgary Flames in the 2021 NHL Draft, taken at 205th overall, Sergeev is enjoying some success in his first season of pro hockey. He began the season with the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush before being called up to join the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers on Dec. 13, joining fellow pro rookie Owen Say as a tandem during an injury absence to starter Ivan Prosvetov.

We spoke with Wranglers head coach Brett Sutter about Sergeev’s early results prior to their Dec. 30 game against Colorado.

“I think he’s came up and he’s played really well in both of his starts so far,” said Sutter. “I think it’s good for those two young guys to have some internal competition to push each other and to see who gets the net. So, you know, he’s a great kid. He’s came in, he’s worked hard, and he’s gave us a chance to win both games. So it’s been really positive.”

In Sergeev’s first AHL action, he faced 53 shots and set a franchise record with 52 saves in a win against San Diego. His second start saw him make 31 saves in an overtime loss. (After we spoke with Sutter, Sergeev made 31 saves in an overtime loss against Colorado and then 28 saves in a regulation loss a week later against Tucson.) Sergeev has been busy in the Wranglers net, but he’s handled it well.

“We’re fortunate that we play the same system as Rapid City does,” said Sutter. “So I think in terms of the shots, he’s getting a lot of the similar looks in both systems. I thought he did a good job handling himself in certain situations. And I think he’s made strides being down there since training camp. I think his body looks better in terms of his fitness and his conditioning, and he looks strong. And like I said, he’s got a great attitude, so he’s continued to work while he’s been here.”

The AHL is the sixth different league Sergeev has played in since coming to North America from Russia. He played on five different teams in three different junior leagues across three seasons, winning the NAHL’s Robertson Cup with the Shreveport Mudbugs in his draft year and being named the USHL’s top goaltender the following season with the Tri-City Storm. He spent three seasons in the NCAA, emerging as one of the nation’s top goaltenders in his junior year with Penn State University. He backstopped the Nittany Lions to a Frozen Four appearance before signing his entry-level deal with the Flames.

“I think right away you can see the raw talent,” said Sutter. “I remember him coming in out of NCAA. We were playing Coachella in playoffs, and he came in to practice with us and be the third guy. And you can see the raw ability in the way he moves and the way he works in practice. So I’m not surprised. But, yeah, definitely a unique path, and it’s great to see that he’s been able to work his way through it and continue to take strides.”

For his part, Sergeev seems acutely aware that he’s early in his hockey journey. He remains very focused on the process of improving himself as a goaltender, referencing a 2023 MassMutual commercial about “no goals, no financial goals” when we chatted with him.

“No, it’s not a goal in the saves,” said Sergeev. “It’s not a goal in the winning games. It’s more consistently with the game, like play the right way, do what the coaches want me to do and then just keep building my game, became a better goalie as I am before. It’s all the goal is. It’s not how many saves, not how many shut outs.”

On Wednesday, Sergeev was named the Rush’s representative at the ECHL All-Star Classic. It’s certainly a sign that his focus on the process has him moving in the right direction early in his pro career.

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