The moment that Aleksei Kolosov skated out to take up position in the net for the Philadelphia Flyers, he was making NHL history. He’s the first goalie from Belarus to play in an NHL game. 

When he was recalled from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to make his NHL debut in a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on October 27, 2024, that was the first history-making moment for Kolosov. That appearance made him the first Belarusian to tend goal in an NHL game. He was also just the 17th Belarusian native to play in the National Hockey League.

He added another etching into the NHL history books on November 24, 2024. Kolosov made 19 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. It was his first NHL win and thus, the first-ever win by a goaltender from Belarus in NHL history.

Kolosov became the fourth goaltender in Flyers history to record their first career win in overtime. He was joined by Rob Zepp, Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov. That means all three of the current Philadelphia netminders were posting their first NHL triumph via an extra-session victory.

That he was in net at all for the Flyers was an issue that was in doubt for much of the summer of 2024. The Belarusian puckstopper declined to attend the team’s summer development camp. In the fall, he expressed a desire to get out of the Philadelphia organization, not wishing to spend another season playing in the AHL. 

Kolosov was hoping to be loaned back to his hometown team, Dinamo Minsk. The impasse was resolved when the Flyers set out a guarantee that Kolosov would be given an NHL opportunity during the 2024-25 season and they lived up to their word.

Certainly, even before he arrived to play in the NHL, Kolosov was already establishing credentials that arguably were making him the most accomplished netminder from his homeland. On the international stage, he has represented Belarus at the under-17, under-18, under-20 and senior level. 

He played in the World U18 Championship in 2018-19. Kolosov represented his homeland in Division 1A of the World Junior Championship in both 2019-20 and 2021-22. And in 2020-21, Kolosov tended goal in four games for Belarus at the IIHF World Championship.

Kolosov played four seasons for Dinamo Minsk in Russia’s KHL. The Flyers would make him the 78th overall selection in the third round of the 2021 NHL entry draft.