Mikhail came into the draft with high expectations, and boy was he disappointed. Sitting in his hometown of Volgograd, Russia, staying up late to watch the draft, he became more and more frustrated as he fell down the draft board. As team after team passed him by, he began to pace the room. Then his loving mother came up to him and said, "Misha, sit down and be calm. It doesn't matter where you go, you still get to go play hockey in America. Enjoy the opportunity that you have been given." Petrikov sat back down, and right after that interaction his phone rang. It was the Prince George Firebirds, telling him that he had been drafted in the 3rd round. Misha told his mom where he was going, and they both were excited. "I never heard from the General Managers at Prince George." "Its alright, they still are a good team, you will have a great time there."

Mikhail's parents are definitely his rock, even though they split up when he was young. They remember how tough things were in the Soviet Union, and even though it doesn't exist anymore, they want nothing but the best for their baby boy.