Richard Delacy,



To mark the end of the second full month's play of the tenth season of the Championship, The Kontinental Hockey League has named the best players of October in four categories.

– Best goaltender was Ryan Zapolski (Jokerit). The USA international helped the Helsinki Men claim eight wins in 12 games, including four shutout victories. Zapolski recorded a save percentage of 94.28, a goals against average of 1.59, and a shutout series which ended at 245 minutes 17 seconds – the best of the season and the third longest in KHL history;

Ryan Zapolski: We have all we need to match SKA's winning streak

– Best defenseman was Nikita Tryamkin (Avtomobilist). The 23-year-old Russian had a superb October, helping the Yekaterinburg team to victory in seven of his 11 appearances, topping up his account with 8 (3+5) points, a +3 efficiency rating, 18 blocks, 23 hits (more than any other defenseman), and an average of more than 21 minutes on the ice. Tryamkin ended October with a four-point game and a call-up to the Russian national team;

– Best forward was Nigel Dawes (Barys), who in nine outings struck 10 goals (the highest total of any player in the League), assisted on 4 more and earned a +6 for the month. The Canadian sniper with Kazakh citizenship contributed 36 shots at goal, 8 hits, averaged 21 minutes 28 seconds of ice time, and his impressive tally of goals included four doubles and four game-winners;

– Best rookie was 18-year-old Jokerit forward Eeli Tolvanen, whose statistics for October include 12 matches, 8 victories, 9 (5+4) points, a +3 rating, 42 shots at goal, 13 hits and an average of 17 minutes 3 seconds on the ice. The month ended with the Finnish youngster being selected to represent his country at senior level in the Karjala Cup.