Ilya Kovalchuk is a famous Russian hockey player, left-handed striker of the Russian national team, holder of many titles, as well as a face of famous brands and a model.
Ilya was born in the city of Kalinin (real name Tver) in the family of a professional basketball coach and dentist. Ilya has an older sister, Arina. Ilya owes his name to the Russian hero Ilya Muromets.
The boy inherited excellent physical characteristics and athletic perseverance from his father. Under the guidance of his father, he learned to swim at the age of 3. Subsequently, he tried many sports, including acrobatics, trampoline, swimming, basketball.
The father chose for him the direction in which his son would succeed, as a result, he settled on hockey. Among his father's friends was the Honored Hockey Coach of Russia Viktor Zhukov, it was he who became Ilya's first mentor.
At the age of five, the boy skated for the first time. The father insisted that his son be enrolled in a group where children 2 years older than Ilya were engaged.
Hockey became the boy's real passion, he fell in love with this sport with all his soul, which helped him to achieve significant results at a rapid pace.
Even among boys older than himself, he always stood out. Valery Kharlamov became the idol for the young athlete.
The more Ilya played hockey, the more time he needed to train. A period of frequent travel began, and at this time the father became a mentor, coach and friend for his son, and provided him with all kinds of support.
The father worked with his son even in the summer, when hockey players usually have holidays. On the wall, he drew a frame imitating the gate, and practiced blows with Ilya, including his famous "wrist" throw.
Until the fifth grade, the boy studied at an ordinary school, and then moved to a sports boarding school in Tver. He finished secondary education already in Moscow at the school of the Olympic reserve. By the way, his classmate was gymnast Alina Kabaeva.
Adulthood
By this time, he had already taken part in many All-Russian tournaments, and at the age of 16 he was enrolled in the main team of Spartak. After the first performance with this team, the first contract was signed with Ilya, he became the youngest hockey player in the Major League, getting into the adult team, bypassing the youth team.
The young man's game was noticed in the NHL, and since 2001 he began to play for the Atlanta Thrashers, but at international tournaments he continued to defend the honor of Russia. He graduated from the Academy of Physical Culture in absentia according to an individual program.
As part of the Russian national team, he repeatedly brought medals to his native country at the world championships. On account of his participation in four Olympic Games.
In 2010, he signed an unprecedented 15-year deal with the New Jersey Devils for a total of $ 100 million.
But the first season was unsuccessful for the player, he needed a long adaptation on the unfamiliar right flank. Experts began to express doubts about the advisability of signing such an expensive and long-term contract.
But the next season, the hockey player was completely rehabilitated. He spent part of the third season playing for SKA at home, and after returning to New Jersey, he injured his shoulder and was unable to play until the end of the season.
In the summer of 2013, he unexpectedly announced that he had decided to end his performances in the NHL and return to Russia. This caused a flurry of criticism in North America. But the hockey player said that he feels better among his family and friends.
SKA management immediately offered him a more expensive contract, which he signed in mid-July. This agreement made him the highest paid hockey player in the KHL. He was appointed captain of SKA.
Behind the ice rink
Ilya Kovalchuk is married. Nicole Ambrazaitis, a former soloist of the Mirage group, became his wife. For the first time, Ilya saw his future wife in the group's video and even then decided to get to know her by all means. He invited the girl to a cafe, the young people immediately liked each other.
In addition to sporting achievements, Ilya was distinguished by good upbringing and modesty. They met for five years, after which they had a daughter, Carolina. When the daughter was 2.5 years old, the couple got married.
A year later, in 2008, the newlyweds held a wedding in a church. In 2009, the son Philip was born, a year later the second son was Artem, and even later the second daughter was Eva.
During the American contract, Nicole lived with her children in America to be close to her husband. She decided to end her singing career and devote herself to her family. Ilya's children, following the example of their father, are also fond of sports.
Ilya is actively involved in charity work, on his initiative charitable matches were organized with the participation of professional hockey players, this action was named "From the Heart". He believes that people who have reached certain heights should help those who need it.
Nicole Ambrazaitis and Ilya Kovalchuk are today considered one of the most exemplary married couples in domestic hockey. An exemplary mother of four children, a faithful and modest wife, an excellent hostess - and all this is about Nicole Ambrazaitis. Wikipedia introduces us to her as the wife of the famous Russian hockey player Ilya Kovalchuk. However, once the girl almost became a popular pop singer. She was one of the members of the Mirage group. By the way, this group has a very scandalous fame, since all the soloists performed their songs to someone else's phonogram. In addition, Nicole Ambrazaitis was once famous as an erotic model. Photos of the girl in the style of "nude" were posted on the Internet in large numbers.
Ilya Kovalchuk says that he has always liked smart women, and his current wife turned out to be just that, even despite the light hair color. In addition, the hockey player calls his beloved wise, because she never reproaches her husband for his constant travels.
Celebrity couple Nicole Ambrazaitis and Ilya Kovalchuk - personal life and the latest news from the life of celebrities.
In 2015, the player of the Russian national hockey team and SKA Ilya Kovalchuk became a happy father for the fourth time. On January 16, his wife Nicole Ambrazaitis gave him another daughter. She was born in one of the Miami clinics, they named the baby Eve. It should be noted that stellar parents are already raising three beautiful children: two sons Artyom and Philip, as well as daughter Carolina.
Today, for Ilya Kovalchuk, family, wife and children are the whole life. However, when the athlete was 19 years old, he did not even think that he would be such an exemplary father and family man. In those years, a young and promising hockey player began his sports career at the Atlanta Thrashers club. One day he and his friends decided to watch a Russian music channel. A clip of the pop group "Mirage" was shown on TV. Then the group included the spectacular, beautiful blonde Nicole Ambrazaitis, who aroused genuine interest in Ilya. From that moment on, this girl took over all his thoughts.
Fortunately for the athlete, one of his friends arranged a meeting for the young people. They first met in Moscow. Nicole immediately fell in love with Ilya, she saw in him the features of a person worthy to become her future husband: this is male confidence, good upbringing and modesty.
A month later, Ilya had to fly back to America. Young people continued to communicate, regardless of the distance, if possible, they must meet. The hockey player persuaded his beloved to leave the stage in order to move to him. However, due to the signed contract with Mirage, the girl did it only halfway through her pregnancy.
ILYA KOVALCHUK NEW FILM MATCH TV
In 2005, the couple had their first daughter, Carolina. After two, the lovers went to the registry office. The wedding took place in Moscow, the event was attended by Kovalchuk's colleagues and his first coach. There were no more than 50 guests. A few days later, the young people repeated the banquet in Ilya's homeland - in the city of Tver. A year after the official registration, the couple got married in the Novodevichy Convent. In this way, they are forever reunited in the eyes of God.
After that, Nicole Ambrazaitis-Kovalchuk gave her husband two more children: in 2009, her son Philip, and in 2010, her son Artyom. And five years later, the fourth girl, Eva, was born. Even after many years of dating, lovers are tender and attentive to each other. Ilya loves his wife and four children, and Nicole reciprocates, treating her husband with care and love. This stellar married couple can rightfully be called exemplary.
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Nicole was born on May 24, 1984. According to one information, Cherepovets (Vologda Oblast) became the city of birth of the future singer. But in her own interview, the girl said that she was from the Baltic states. Nicole's father is Lithuanian by nationality, her mother has Russian and Polish roots.
After school, the girl signed a contract with an Italian modeling agency and spent 4 years on the Mediterranean coast, after which she went to Moscow.
An important period in the biography of the charming blonde was her participation in the Mirage group. The group became famous for its hits, popular all over the country, model soloists and for the fact that the members of the group "sang" to the phonogram dubbed by the singer Margarita Sukhankina.
Music and career
In 2004, significant events took place in the collective of this famous group. From the Jem publishing house, the composer and producer Andrei Lityagin received an offer to publish the third album of the Mirage group called “Not for the first time”.
The second event is changes in the young line-up of the group. Three soloists, "singing" in the voice of Sukhankina, were replaced by four girls - Nicole Ambrazaitis, Elena Stepanyuk, Evgeniya Morozova and Maria Kharcheva. The girls took part in a concert program, where songs from the albums "Not for the first time", "Old in a new way" sounded.
In 2005, the Mirage group celebrated its own 18th anniversary. A number of concerts were dedicated to this date, one of which was held at the Olimpiyskiy sports complex. This concert was attended by former and current members of the group. The old line-up sang with their own voices, the young performers - to the soundtrack. Later, a new parallel developing project called "Mirage-Junior" appeared, consisting of young performers performing compositions from the repertoire of the "Mirage" group.
The fame brought the girl "Mirage" and participation in erotic filming for "Playboy" and "Maxim" (Maxim). Numerous photos of Nicole at one time adorned the pages of these publications.
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Personal life
It is not known how Nicole's stellar career would have developed if the girl had not been noticed by hockey player Ilya Kovalchuk. Somehow, resting from matches in the company of friends, the athlete saw the performance of the Mirage group on the TV screen. The athlete immediately liked the blue-eyed blonde soloist Nicole Ambrazaitis. It was in 2002 when Ilya was only 19 years old.
The successful, sought-after Russian hockey player Ilya Kovalchuk, the owner of the Olympic “bronze”, “gold” of the world championship and other awards, when meeting his wife, could not even think that he would become an exemplary family man and a father with many children. It was the time when the young hockey player started playing in the first overseas club - Atlanta Thrashers.
Regular trainings and matches did not allow to relax, did not leave time for personal life. This time Ilya decided not to back down. Through mutual acquaintances, the hockey player invited the singer to a cafe. On the very first date, a spark ran between Nicole and Ilya. The young people were of the same age and immediately found common topics of conversation.
The girl liked the restrained and gallant young athlete, and Ilya established himself in his own sympathy. Relationships developed rapidly, barriers disappeared, each of the lovers felt comfortable, free and carefree. A pleasant discovery for Ilya was that the blonde Nicole is not only charming, but also smart, which the athlete noted later in an interview.
From that moment on, the lovers almost never parted. Nicole still had obligations under the contract concluded with Mirage, so the girl could not fully devote herself to her beloved. The group's contract was terminated when the couple learned that Nicole was pregnant. The girl did not make a career as a singer, because she chose a family and devoted her life to her.
For the first five years, Nicole and Ilya lived in a civil marriage. The athlete's fans had a question - why don't young people get married? The personal life of the star couple haunted the participants of fashionable parties. But the couple, meanwhile, enjoyed life without a stamp in their passport, not paying attention to gossip and gossip. The birth of their daughter Caroline in 2005 was an important event. When the girl was 2 years old, the couple finally legalized the marriage.
The wedding was celebrated on a grand scale: in Moscow and in Tver. The Moscow ceremony was attended by the groom's colleagues, the coach and other guests close to the newlyweds. The wedding in Tver, to which many of Ilya's relatives came, was remarkable in that it was celebrated in the Russian style: with horse teams, a loaf and a Russian feast. A year later, the wedding took place in the Novodevichy Convent.
During Ilya's cooperation with the American hockey club, the Kovalchuk family moved to America. After a break, during which the athlete performed for the Russian Ak Bars and Khimki, Ilya returned to America again, this time to the New Jersey Devils club. The family was always there.
In 2009, son Philip was born. When the boy was 4 months old, Nicole found out that she was expecting a baby again. Artem was born in 2010. 5 years have passed, and a large star couple has a fourth child - daughter Eva. During this time, changes took place in the career of the father of the family - Ilya Kovalchuk signed a contract with the St. Petersburg SKA. Life began in two countries.
Nicole Ambrazaitis now
In the summer, Nicole and her children live in a house in Miami, and in the winter, the whole Kovalchuk family move to St. Petersburg. Ilya's wife takes care of her family, home and supports her husband in everything. Ilya is fond of expensive cars and has a weakness for branded watches. Kovalchuk is an honorary citizen of Tver. In his hometown, the hockey player runs a restaurant.
The older children have grown up, and everyone has a favorite pastime. The eldest daughter Carolina is passionate about rhythmic gymnastics and is studying the basics of acting. Philip attends the football school of the Zenit club and has already gone to competitions several times, Artem goes to the hockey section. When Ilya has a free minute, the father devotes all the time to communicating with the children. Friends of the Kovalchuk family became members of another sports family with many children - basketball player Andrei Kirilenko.
The hockey player makes an effort to keep the family happy and protected from the troubles of the outside world. Compared with other stellar couples, the Kovalchuk family can be called ideal. Despite regular reports in the press about the divorce of the spouses, the couple still remain together, not paying attention to the gossip of reporters.
After the birth of her fourth child, Nicole became interested in fitness. In August 2017, the girl started her own page on Instagram, where she posts pictures and videos from classes. Nicole's fans are surprised by the athletic figure that any fitness model will envy.
In February 2018, Nicole, along with her eldest daughter Karolina, went to support Ilya Kovalchuk at the Olympics in the Korean city of Pyeongchang, where the athlete played for the Russian national ice hockey team as a striker. The team confidently walked towards victory, having beaten the teams of Slovenia, USA, Norway during the competition.
The last match with Germany took place on February 25, 2018. The game was tense, the score froze at around 3: 3. And only Kirill Kaprizov's puck, which the Russian hockey player sent into the opponent's goal during overtime, decided the fate of the national team. Ilya Kovalchuk went to the gold medal at the Olympics, according to him, from the age of five, when he first skated. In addition, this year Ilya Kovalchuk received the title of the most valuable player in the Olympic hockey tournament.
Olympic silver went to Germany, bronze to Canada. At the awards ceremony, Russian athletes did not hold back their emotions and sang the Russian anthem.
Together with Ilya Kovalchuk, the family rejoices in the victory - wife Nicole, children, mother and sister.
Projects
2004 - "Not for the first time"
2004 - "Old in a new way"
Nicole Ambrazaitis-Kovalchuk is the wife of a famous hockey player, mother of four children, formerly a member of the Mirage group, and today she is a charming keeper of the family hearth.
Nicole was born on May 24, 1984 in Vilnius. The girl's father is from the Baltic States, but almost immediately after the birth of his daughter, he moved to Cherepovets, Vologda region. Childhood was spent in two countries - Russia and Lithuania. After graduating from school, Nicole went to conquer the European modeling world, and after a while she became a member of the Mirage group, popular in Russia.
Nicole (left) in the Mirage group
It was in this role that her future husband, the famous hockey player Ilya Kovalchuk, noticed her.
He immediately drew attention to the sultry blonde. Arriving in Moscow, the athlete first of all asked his friends to introduce him to the aspiring singer. The romance began very quickly. 
But the couple lived on different continents. Ilya played for the American "Atlanta Thrashers", Nicole continued to conquer the Russian stage and at the same time studied at GITIS.
The romantic relationship at a distance lasted for several years. 2005 was a turning point for Ambrazaitis. She found out about pregnancy. The name for her daughter was invented even before her birth - Carolina. The rising pop star made a choice in favor of the family and decided to end her career. The birth took place in America next to her beloved. But the baby was baptized in the Novodevichy Convent.
Baptism of daughter Caroline
When their daughter was 2 years old, the couple decided to get married.
Ilya and Nicole with their daughter Carolina
The wedding took place on August 17, 2007, first in Moscow, and later the celebration was celebrated in Tver - in the homeland of her husband. A year later, in June 2008, the couple got married in the same Assumption Cathedral at the monastery.
The wedding of Ilya Kovalchuk and Nicole Ambrazaitis-Kovalchuk
Almost immediately after that, the son of Philip was born.
An early third pregnancy was a pleasant surprise. And again the son, who was named Artyom.
Son Artem
A large family lived in America. Ilya's career grew up. In 2010, he signed with the New Jersey Devils for 15 years. The royalties for the entire period were $ 100 million. Nicole has become a popular fitness model. Her excellent physical condition and magnificent body were envied (and continue to do) many.
The secret of success consisted in active sports and always together with her husband.
Ilya published a joint photo on Instagram with the caption: "My athlete"
The couple could often be found in gyms and while running on the beach. Nicole also took a great interest in boxing.
In one of the interviews, the blonde told how you can keep up with playing sports, even with small children. You should park in the supermarket not near the store entrance, but at the edge of the parking lot. In this case, you will have to take more steps and burn more calories. It is preferable to climb the stairs to the high floor, rather than the elevator. Active outdoor games with children are also excellent in the fight against excess weight.
A healthy lifestyle became the foundation for Nicole. Daily nutrition consists of 7 meals, in which the required amount of fats, proteins and carbohydrates is calculated in detail. And, nevertheless, if you really want to pamper yourself with Russian cuisine, you should definitely do it - in the famous and pretentious American restaurant "Tatiana".
However, American life quickly gave way to a new stage. Ilya Kovalchuk's spouse with the new team was not doing well. In July 2013, his decision to return to Russia came as a bolt from the blue.
From that moment on, the family lives in St. Petersburg, where the hockey player plays in HC SKA.
Birthday of Ilya Kovalchuk (2014)
In January 2015, the couple Kovalchuk had a fourth child - daughter Eva.
Daughter Eva
Children of famous parents are also sports fans. They can often be found at the ice rink.
Philip is fond of football and is a member of the St. Petersburg children's team "Zenith", the elder Carolina is engaged in rhythmic gymnastics, Artem decided to follow in his father's footsteps and become a hockey player. Nicole is still actively involved in sports and develops in fitness modeling.
In February 2018, during the Winter Olympics in Korea, Ambrazaitis-Kovalchuk, along with her eldest daughter Karolina, went to cheer for her husband and the Russian ice hockey team, forced to play under a neutral flag. The victory of the spouse and his team was a victory for the whole family.
A few days later, the couple was spotted in the Kremlin while congratulating the athletes by the President of Russia.
Today Nicole is an example of the ideal wife, mother and girl who leads an active and healthy lifestyle.
Nicole with daughters Carolina and Eva
With husband and mother-in-law
Nicole and Ilya for the New Year (2017)
Birthday of Nicole Ambrazaitis-Kovalchuk arranged by her husband (2018)