Victoriaville adds an import goalie ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
With the CHL import draft happening last month, July serves as a time where plenty of teams across the QMJHL will be looking to sign the top European players they just selected in the draft.
The Victoriaville Tigres have just inked their top selection from 2026, Russian goaltender Andrei Nikolayev.
The 17-year-old played last year in the USHL last season with the Des Moines Menace, posting a .892 save percentage and 2.88 goals-against average on a pretty bad team.
As a youth, Nikolayev developed in the Spartak Moscow youth systems before choosing to come over to North America for the 2025-26 campaign.
The 6-foot-4 goaltender also has some experience for his native Russia at the U16 international level.
For Victoriaville, signing a high upside goaltender like Nikolayev makes sense. With the departure of Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick Gabriel D'Aigle to the professional ranks, the Tigres needed someone new between the pipes.
Nikolayev should be a good platoon option alongside Anthony Catanzariti in goal, with the two making a respectable tandem in the crease.
Victoriaville has been one of the worst defensive teams in the QMJHL for a couple of years running now, but just invested some key draft capital into their blue line. Now, with another goalie signed, there's a pathway to an improvement to the back end for the Tigres.
Nikolayev is committed to join Boston University of the NCAA following his junior career.
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