Hand-Eye Coordination

Today's entry isn't going to be long-winded or overly-analytical in any way. Instead, I want to draw attention to #47 in the image to the left. That's Geoff Platt who was, at one point, a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Geoff's small stature didn't help him as he saw action in just 41 games with the Jackets, but the diminutive centerman has gone on to do bigger and better things in the KHL as a member of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. There are some other interesting facts about Platt we'll see in a second, but he showed some serious skill this past week in the Gagarin Cup Playoffs.

Down 3-1 in the series and 3-1 in Game Five of their Western Conference Final, Geoff Platt shows off some ridiculous hand-eye coordination along with a pile of concentration to control this puck and put it past Lev Prague's Petri Vehanen.

Wow. Simply amazing work by Platt on that goal to not only fend off the defenceman on his back, but to control that puck in the air and getting it to the front of the net where he batted it home past Vehanen. That, readers, is pure skill!

Platt, who was born in Toronto, Ontario, is just 28 years-old. We may yet get to see him in the Olympics in the future, though, because he's actually has dual citizenship! Much like Paul DiPietro who was born in Canada but played for Switzerland in 2006, Platt accepted Belarusian citizenship on February 26, 2012 after playing five years with Dinamo Minsk in Belarus!

HC Dinamo Minsk players Geoff Platt, Kevin Lalande and Charles Linglet - all Canadians - accepted Belarusian citizenship in 2012 in what appeared to be a play by the Belarusian government to try and get the Belarus national team into the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. In order to do so, the Belarusian government waived the naturalization process "in recognition of their outstanding service to the Republic of Belarus, high achievements in science, technology, culture and sports, or in respect of people who have the profession and qualifications that are of public interest for Belarus".

I'm not sure I'm fond of this idea, but it seems to be working out for Platt pretty well, so no harm, no foul, right? Geoff Platt's goal was a beauty, but Lokomotiv Yaroslavl would fall to Lev Prague 3-2 in that game, losing the series 4-1 in the process. HBIC will have all that information tomorrow!

Until then, keep your sticks on the ice!