Lyudmila Belyakova Back to Russia

After one season in the NWHL, Russian winger Lyudmila Belyakova decided to get back to Russia to skate for Tornado Dmitrov.

@belyakova9 Tornado My team for the season 2016/2017 pic.twitter.com/Cjr4lXt1GL

— Ludmila Belyakova (@belyakova9) September 2, 2016

Belyakova looked very good in some parts of the 2015-16 season, but apparently, it was not enough to convince the New York Riveters to offer her a new contract. In 15 games with the Riveters, she scored five goals and ten points, adding one goal in two playoff clashes. In Russia, she can carry on her pro career, improve, and maybe become a more complete player in the future with better knowledge of the language.

The language barrier is what allegedly did not allow her to show her best side during the 2015-16 campaign with the Riveters. Belyakova was already a member of Tornado Dmitrov prior to her departure to North America. During an exclusive interview last year, Belyakova said she was really enjoying life in New York City, but now she’ll be in more familiar soil.

The 22-year-old native of Moscow has already played her team’s first two games, scoring two goals to help Tornado defeat Agidel Ufa 6-4 in her second game.