1992 Olympic champion, 1994 Stanley Cup winner Alexei Kovalev in an interview with spoke about the prospects for the Togliatti “Frets” in KHL noting that he wouldn’t mind coaching a hometown team.
Kovalev was born in Tolyatti and played for Lada in 1994/95. The specialist began his coaching career at Chinese club Kunlun Red Star, where he has been practicing since 2018, first as an assistant and then as a head coach. In February 2022, the parties completed their cooperation, now Kovalev lives in New York.
– How do you like the news that Lada can return to the KHL (in the 2023/24 season)? You are from Togliatti yourself. How long have you been there?
– After all, a new hockey palace was built in Togliatti. And after a year or two, the team was dropped from the KHL. It looked strange. The arena is fine.
In the second half of 2022, I flew home twice. Not so long ago I went to Moscow, I was with my mother in Tolyatti. It’s so hard to believe that Lada will return to the KHL. But see, God bless them. Plus, the city has it all for big hockey, and Lada is doing well on the VHL board.
The team is there. You can collect a decent composition. The main thing is to have the right approach, and the money would be invested in development. I would like to return the famous Togliatti school in which we were brought up. It would be great to see a new generation of talented hockey players.
— Would you like to work with Lada in the KHL?
Who doesn’t dream of coaching a team from their hometown? It would be interesting to pass on the experience of this old school so that a new generation rises, so that Togliatti has a worthy team that can fight for the Gagarin Cup.
– “Lada” is no worse than “Kunlun”.
She can be better. “Kunlun” won’t even come close! Although, if the Chinese club starts signing Russian players… But then it won’t be Kunlun anymore. But if this team of Chinese hockey players is defined in the VHL, then I’m not sure that Kunlun will be the leader there.
Source : MatchTV
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