Andrei Kostitsyn
A powerful Belarusian winger whose blistering shot and physical play made him a first-round NHL draft pick and a fan favorite in Montreal.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Belarusian ice hockey player·Birthday: February 3·Millennials
Biography
Andrei Kostitsyn burst onto the international scene as a teenage sensation, his heavy shot and fearlessness around the net making him a standout. Drafted 10th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2003, he carried the hopes of a nation as one of the highest-drafted Belarusians in history. His NHL career was defined by flashes of brilliant, game-breaking offense—he scored 26 goals in the 2007-08 season—paired with a sometimes inconsistent application of his considerable tools. Alongside his younger brother Sergei, also a Canadien for a time, he provided moments of electric skill for Montreal fans. After his North American tenure, he returned to Europe, playing in the KHL and internationally for Belarus, where his shot remained a potent weapon. His career path exemplifies the journey of a high-end talent navigating the pressures of the world's top league.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Andrei was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrei Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Andrei's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 10th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, a landmark for Belarusian players.
- Scored a career-high 26 goals and 53 points for the Canadiens during the 2007-2008 NHL season.
- Represented Belarus in multiple IIHF World Championships and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
- Played over 400 games in the NHL, primarily with the Montreal Canadiens.
Did You Know?
His younger brother, Sergei Kostitsyn, was also drafted by and played for the Montreal Canadiens.
He played for HC Dinamo Minsk in the KHL after his NHL career concluded.
In the 2008 NHL playoffs, he scored 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in the first round against Boston.
He was known for having one of the hardest and quickest wrist shots on the Canadiens during his tenure.
“You play for the crest on the front, not the name on the back.”
