Sergei Kostitsyn
A skilled Belarusian winger who, alongside his brother, formed a dynamic duo in the NHL, known for his playmaking grit and international loyalty.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Belarusian ice hockey player·Birthday: March 20·Millennials
Biography
Sergei Kostitsyn's hockey path was forever intertwined with that of his older brother, Andrei. Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the same 2005 class, Sergei followed him to North America, and the two eventually became a potent combination for the Nashville Predators. Where Andrei was the pure sniper, Sergei was the feisty playmaker, a winger with sharp hands and a competitive edge that sometimes boiled over. His NHL career was solid if unspectacular, defined by moments of clever playmaking and a willingness to engage physically. After his North American chapter, he returned to Europe, becoming a stalwart for the Belarusian national team in multiple World Championships and Olympics. His legacy is dual: as one half of the most famous brother act in Belarusian hockey history, and as a talented player who represented his small nation with pride on the world's biggest ice hockey stages.
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.
Sergei was born in 1987, 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 Sergei Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Sergei's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
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
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 353 regular-season games in the NHL, recording 146 points (47 goals, 99 assists) for Montreal and Nashville.
- Represented Belarus at three Olympic Winter Games (2010, 2014, 2018).
- Won a silver medal with Belarus at the 2006 IIHF World Championship Division I, earning promotion to the top division.
- Led the Kontinental Hockey League's HC Sochi in scoring during the 2016-17 season.
Did You Know?
He and his brother Andrei were drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the same year, 2005, with Andrei going in the first round and Sergei in the seventh.
They are one of the few pairs of brothers to have played together for both the Montreal Canadiens and the Nashville Predators.
His father, Oleg, was a professional hockey player in Belarus.
He served as an alternate captain for the Belarusian national team at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
“We had our moments in Nashville, but hockey is a team game above all.”
