« Hockey 2014-15

Oleg Yevenko

School
Massachusetts
Position
Defenseman
Major
Management

Classroom

Oleg Yevenko has been a Dean’s List student every semester at UMass thus far and is a three-time Hockey East All-Academic Team member and 2013-14 Hockey East Academic All-Star. This past spring, he was recognized as one of two Hockey East Top Scholar-Athletes, having a perfect 4.0 GPA for the 2013-14 season. He was named UMass’ Male Winter Scholar-Athlete, which is especially remarkable in light of the fact that English is not his native language. Oleg is a management major with an IT minor. He has aspirations of owning his own company when his hockey career comes to an end.

Character

From his professor, Dr. Richard Halgin: “Oleg has been a quiet leader on the team and on campus since his arrival as a freshman. The underclassmen have the greatest of respect for him because he has given so generously of his time in providing support, advice and guidance. On many occasions he has reached out to a teammate struggling in some way and has helped him deal with stresses and find the resources needed in the particular situation. Because of his leadership talents, his teammates voted him to the position of Alternate Captain for 2014-15. Oleg’s work ethic in every sphere of his life is absolutely remarkable. In hockey, he gives to the fullest of his capacity in games, in practice and in team involvement. In academics, he is very highly regarded by professors for his dedication to his studies and his commitment to excellence. In my course of 300 students, Oleg had perfect attendance, always sat in the front row, and engaged actively and intelligently at all times.”
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Oleg comes from Minsk, Belarus, having grown up in a family with limited financial resources. They live in a small apartment, and had to make great sacrifices for Oleg to attain the success he has achieved athletically and academically. Oleg left home at 17 to pursue his hockey career and education, first playing in Germany and then in the USHL for the Fargo Force.

Community

Throughout his career, Yevenko has been involved in a variety of community outreach efforts as a member of the UMass hockey program and always approaches these activities with the same enthusiasm he has for his work in the classroom and on the ice. In his time with the Minutemen, he has assisted with a bone marrow donor drive, traveled to local schools to read to elementary school children, enjoyed interacting with the community at the team’s annual “Skate with the Minutemen” event and been involved with other programs within the athletic department as a volunteer worker at UMass-hosted track and field meets. Last year he also participated in the team’s “Movember” efforts to raise awareness for prostate cancer.

Competition

A stay-at-home defenseman, Yevenko has been a quiet but consistent and steady presence for the Minutemen on the blueline for the past four seasons. Nearing his 100th game in a UMass uniform, he has contributed one goal and five assists over his three-plus collegiate campaigns. Yevenko is coming off an eventful summer that saw him face top international competition at the 2014 IIHF World Championship in his hometown of Minsk, Belarus. He was the only player to participate in the tournament with any NCAA eligibility remaining and lined up against numerous stars from the NHL and KHL, including Evgeni Malkin. At the World Championship, Yevenko saw action in all eight of Team Belarus’ contests, playing a total of 142:58 with a time on ice average of 17:52 per game. He logged two assists and was +3 with five shots, helping Belarus reach the quarterfinals with a record of 4-3 in the preliminary round. Following the World Championship, he also attended the Bruins’ Development Camp, his third NHL rookie camp invitation of his career, after going to development camps with the New Jersey Devils in 2013 and the New York Islanders in 2012. As a junior in 2013-14, Yevenko appeared in 32 games and recorded one assist and a team-high 63 blocked shots to rank eighth in Hockey East.