Spartak Moscow forward Alex Galchenyuk has called the club's red-and-white supporters the best in the Kontinental Hockey League.
The 32-year-old American player made the comments to Russian broadcaster Match TV after joining the capital team ahead of the new season.
Galchenyuk described playing in front of the Spartak crowd as a thrill. He stated that even during his former spell with league rivals SKA Saint Petersburg, he recognized that Spartak possessed the finest fans in the league and provided the most powerful emotions.
The American forward explained that he completed his summer conditioning in St Petersburg before linking up with Spartak for pre-season training camp. He added that he has already relocated to Moscow with his wife and successfully found housing in the Russian capital.
Pre-season expectations and Gagarin Cup outlook
Regarding Spartak's prospects of competing for the Gagarin Cup, Galchenyuk refrained from offering any predictions for the upcoming campaign. He noted that he had only played in a single pre-season match so far, explaining that it was difficult to make declarations at such an early stage and adding that he was not a prophet who could look into the future.
Galchenyuk agreed to a two-year contract with Spartak during the off-season. He previously played in the Kontinental Hockey League for both SKA Saint Petersburg and Amur Khabarovsk, accumulating a total of 115 points across 181 appearances in the league.
Background on Spartak Moscow and the KHL
The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey tournament founded in 2008, featuring elite teams across Russia and Eurasia. Its top prize, the Gagarin Cup, is awarded annually to the playoff champion at the conclusion of the season.
Spartak Moscow, traditional rivals to SKA Saint Petersburg, are one of Russia's historic sporting clubs, playing in red and white colors. SKA, based in St Petersburg, remain one of the dominant powers in Eurasian hockey, while Amur Khabarovsk represent the league's easternmost outpost in the Russian Far East.
Galchenyuk and his new Spartak teammates are now continuing their pre-season preparations as the club builds towards the regular season schedule.
