Finding home away from home: Milwaukee’s Askarov and Afanasyev on the Russian experience playing in North America

This article was written by Lainie Yank, who is part of the Professional Hockey Writers Association x To Hockey With Love Mentorship Program. This program pairs aspiring writers with established members of the association across North America to create opportunities for marginalized people that do not traditionally get published on larger platforms covering hockey.

To Hockey With Love is a weekly newsletter covering a range of topics in hockey – from the scandals of the week to providing a critical analysis of the sport.

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Yaroslav Askarov and Egor Afanasyev are two of the Milwaukee Admirals’ most popular players. As Russians playing in the AHL, they’re also a long way from home.

“I went to high school for a couple years in Michigan,” Afansyev said, “You watch those, you know, American movies with translation obviously, like Will Ferrell, like those movies. Like, high school was huge for me – you watch all those movies with college kids. In high school in America, you’re like, ‘Oh it’s so different.’ I remember for me it was the lockers, the locker room and stuff, I remember it from movies. I just remember that was something that stood out to me because I saw it before and it turned in real life.”

The NHL and its minor league affiliates are no strangers to players from other countries, with many coming to Canada and the United States from Sweden, Russia, Finland and around Europe. But just because it’s a common phenomenon, doesn’t mean that fitting in in a new country is always an easy process.

Askarov and Afanasyev, born in the cities of Omsk and Tver, respectively, spoke to what adjusting to living – and playing – in North America looked like for them.

Afanasyev first arrived in the United States to play in the HPHL as a teenager. The forward played in both the U.S. and Canada for a few years before signing with the Nashville Predators in 2019. After spending one season playing in the KHL, where he had six points in 16 games with CSKA Moscow, Afanasyev returned to North America for the Predators’ training camp and his first season as an Admiral in 2021.

On the other hand, Askarov – who, as the 11th-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, is the highest-drafted Russian goalie in NHL history – spent just one month in the United States last year before returning to Russia for the summer. He too has played in the KHL, with brief stints playing for SKA St. Petersburg. This season, he was the Admirals’ number one goalie, playing in 48 regular season games.

The two young players spoke to their experiences when learning the ropes in a new country.

Agreeing with Afanasyev’s assessment of movies providing an idea of what American life was like before leaving Russia, Askarov said that, “I not was here in high school. I see American movies too, we didn’t have same in Russia…It’s only a lot different here.”

Both players also pointed to housing – with houses being noticeably larger and further apart from one another in the States than in Russia – and food as immediate signifiers of the differences between their native country and the one they now play in.

“I think the food’s more variety,” said Afanasyev of Russia, “I just think the, variety-wise, in Russia, it is more spread out.

“Ukraine and Russia and a lot more, it was one country,” added Askarov.

Afanasyev followed that up, saying, “I think that’s why cuisine is such a big variety.”

“Our nutritionist works with them a lot about where they can find food that’s like home,” said Admirals head coach Karl Taylor.

Though Taylor emphasized that the onus is generally on players to seek out help as they need it, the team is dedicated to making sure that players “have resources to ask questions and opportunities to learn” as they transition to life in another country.

Also falling under the umbrella of cultural adjustment is one of the most prominent differences between Russia and the United States: language.

“Last year, I just know only two words, ‘Hello’ and ‘How are you?’” said Askarov.

Afanasyev echoed the same in regard to his first time in the U.S. “We take English class back in Russia, but I thought it helped me – when I came I knew two words,” he said.

Though close in age – Askarov is 20 and Afanasyev is just two years older – Afanasyev has been immersed in English for about six more years than his teammate. Even so, Askarov only needed help with interpretation a handful of times throughout this interview.

Taylor shared that, in some instances, “because Egor’s English is a little better, we’ll have the two of those guys in a meeting,” to ensure clear communication.

“For me, it was much easier because he was here,” Askarov said in reference to Afanasyev, who has previously helped his younger teammate by interpreting questions for him in interviews.

Both players agree that Askarov has been able to hold his own in English as of late: when Afanasyev was playing in Nashville on a call-up, his gregarious countryman did just fine conversing with teammates.

As Devin Cooley, the other half of Milwaukee’s goalie tandem, walked by, Askarov gestured toward him: “He’s my partner, I talk to him a lot.”

The language of hockey also helped with communication.

“I watch nonverbal a lot, so if I’m speaking with someone that I know might not understand the messaging or the sarcasm, I really try to read them,” Taylor said. “That’s what you do as a coach a lot – we all do it in life, but my job is to make sure they understand the messages and if they’re receiving it. So if I know there’s a language barrier or a challenge, potentially, I look even closer at those things and then make sure that I reach out a little more and expand on what the message was.”

“Hockey language is very small,” said Askarov.

Afanasyev added that “At the end of the day, hockey language is the same everywhere.”

Their sport helped Askarov to understand his coaches and teammates, and besides having each other to talk to in their first language, the two players also keep in touch with friends and family in Russia.

“Talking to parents and buddies back home,” was a priority for both, said Afanasyev.

“First few months are so hard for your mental –” here Askarov had trouble finding a phrase.

So, Afanasyev jumped in, “Mental health.”

Askarov continued, “After couple months, everyday you feel more confident, more comfortable.”

“We talk to them a lot as far as understanding… how things work. We just try to make sure they’re comfortable; we pair them up sometimes with an older player who’s been here,” Taylor said, in reference to players like Askarov who are new to North America.

If their play as of late is any indication, then the Russian teammates are certainly both feeling comfortable and confident. Afanasyev recently scored his first NHL goal on April 10 of this year, and Askarov made his NHL debut against the Canadiens this past January.

Now back in Milwaukee, they’re currently in the midst of a playoff series against the Manitoba Moose on the hunt for the Calder Cup. In the first game of the series, played on Friday, April 28, the Admirals won 6-2, thanks in part to Askarov’s 35 saves. In the second, the Admirals fell to the Moose by a margin of 3-2 in overtime.

When they were asked about the potential backlash from fans in the context of Russia’s anti-LGBT law signed last year, or the ongoing war in Ukraine, both players and their coach made it clear that they haven’t experienced any misappropriated blame.

“Our fans love Yaro and Egor,” Taylor said. “They’re fan favorites here in Milwaukee: I know Asky usually has the longest line for autographs.”

As Afanasyev put it, “There’s people with no brain everywhere, people who think maybe it’s our fault or anything.”

His coach assured that “I think it’s online you’ll see stuff unfortunately, but in person I haven’t seen any of that.”

Askarov and Afanasyev are optimistic that their presence on the team and in the AHL and NHL can help dispel stereotypes about Russian players and the country they’re from.

With Afanasyev interpreting, Askarov said that ,“We’re here to show that Russian people are great people as well.”

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Finding home away from home: Milwaukee’s Askarov and Afanasyev on the Russian experience playing in North America

More from the PHWA x To Hockey With Love Mentorship Program