Andrei Kostitsyn

Andrej Alehavič Kaścicyn (Belarusian: Андрэй Алегавiч Касціцын; born 3 February 1985), better known as Andrei Kostitsyn (Russian: Андрей Олегович Костицын), is a Belarusian professional ice hockey forward for HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The media have nicknamed him AK-46, a play on his initials (AK) and player number (46) in reference to the Soviet AK-47 rifle. His younger brother Sergei plays as a teammate and captain for Dinamo Minsk. Both Andrei and Sergei played together on the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.\n', ' Beginning in 2000–01, Kostitsyn spent the first two seasons of his early career with Polimir Novopolotsk, competing in several leagues, including the Eastern European Hockey League (EEHL). In the summer of 2002, he signed with CSKA Moscow and moved to Russia. He split his time with the organization between CSKA 2 of Russia\'s developmental league, and also continued to play in the Belarusian league with Yunost Minsk.\n', ' After his first season with CSKA, he was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round, tenth overall, of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Kostitsyn drew favourable scouting reports from his strong showing at the 2003 World U-18 Championships and was expected to be taken even higher in the draft; it is speculated that health concerns with his back caused teams to pass him over.\n', '