The Coventry Blaze have added size, experience, and puck-moving skill to their blue line with the signing of American defenseman Ivan Chukarov for the upcoming 2025–26 Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) season.
Chukarov, 29, heads overseas after two strong seasons with the Jacksonville Icemen, where he emerged as a dependable contributor on both ends of the ice. In 2024–25, he posted 33 points (7G, 26A) over 67 games and added four playoff appearances. The year prior, he recorded 28 points (5G, 23A) in 70 regular-season games and helped Jacksonville reach the 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Before landing in Jacksonville, Chukarov spent two seasons with the Adirondack Thunder, where he served as a stabilizing presence on the blue line. During the 2022–23 season, he played in 58 games and contributed 12 points, adding one playoff appearance. He also earned a call-up to the AHL, skating in one game with the Utica Comets.
Chukarov began his pro career with the Worcester Railers, making his ECHL debut in the 2018–19 season. He played 53 games over two campaigns with Worcester, showing steady development as a physical, defensively responsible skater.
Across five ECHL seasons, Chukarov appeared in more than 230 games, steadily building a reputation as a durable, versatile defender who could log key minutes and contribute on the power play and penalty kill.
NCAA Foundation and Junior Breakout
Before turning pro, Chukarov played four seasons at UMass Amherst (NCAA), logging 128 games from 2015 to 2019. A steady stay-at-home defender with flashes of offensive upside, he developed into a trusted presence on the back end despite challenging seasons for the program.
His path to college was paved by a breakout year with the Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL), where he recorded 43 points in 55 games during the 2014–15 season and added six points in 12 playoff contests. His ability to transition the puck and read the game stood out early and carried into his collegiate and professional career.
A New Chapter Abroad
Chukarov now makes his first move overseas to join a Coventry squad looking to add veteran stability and leadership to its defensive core. He becomes the latest in a wave of North American blueliners seeking new opportunities in Europe—and the Blaze will count on his poise, experience, and quiet consistency to make an immediate impact in the EIHL.
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