“Fedotov will be fit in two to three months. We will bring it back to the game with caution. Interview with CSKA goalkeeping coach

Fedotov signed a rookie contract with Philadelphia in July 2022, but was drafted into the military for a year. After returning from service, he signed a two-year contract with CSKA. On Saturday, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) announced that it had registered Fedotov’s contract with CSKA.

“” spoke to Sergei Naumovwho takes care of the army club’s goalkeepers and whose efforts will depend a lot in the near future in terms of Fedotov’s prospects.

“Ivan is open to work, to all innovations”

– How did you take the news that Ivan Fedotov signed a two-year contract with CSKA, and that this contract was registered by the KHL?

– Vanya served in the army and now he can focus on hockey. There is only positive.

“But I can imagine the amount of work ahead of you.

– I know Ivan as a determined and hardworking guy. It is clear that last year in hockey, he was in the red. He took on all the physical exertion he could afford. But in hockey it sometimes happens when players miss an entire season – for example, due to injury. The situation is therefore not unique. And it’s good that there were no injuries.

The question of playing the game is acute. It is necessary to gain in physical condition and technical elements, but it will not take much time. Remembering what happened with our work before, Vanya will be back in shape in a few months.

But it takes practice. And we will introduce Fedotov’s game carefully. Let’s start with skating, we will remember the elements that need to be done on a subconscious level. We have August, September, even October, these are the key months for Ivan’s preparation.

– Fedotov came from Traktor, and in the 2021/22 season you made him the main goalkeeper of the country, with whom Olympic silver was won. From an ordinary goaltender, you have made the best goaltender in the KHL. It turns out that Ivan quickly grabs everything on the fly?

– You yourself understand that you cannot do anything from anyone if the person himself does not strive for it. Ivan is open to work, to all innovations. And when you absorb all of that into yourself, truly understanding what you’re doing, it pays off.

Fedotov belongs to such a category of players who make deliberate decisions in their work, which helps them reach the highest level.

“A great body should not only be light, but also strong”

– A month ago I saw Ivan Fedotov in St. Petersburg, and it seemed to me that he had lost weight. How will this affect his game?

It’s not just a question of weight, it’s also a question of muscle mass. You can be thin, but not have a strong enough core and muscles. Ivan positively perceives physical activity, actively works with a barbell. And that makes our job easier.

Vanya is taller than any goalkeeper, he is two meters tall. So he needs more muscle mass. A large body should not only be light, but also strong.

– We need to step up.

– Anyway. These are the basic elements that comprise a general fitness package. And then specific exercises useful to goalkeepers will be superimposed on that.

– When Fedotov served in the army for a whole year, did you keep in touch with him?

– It was not easy, Ivan was not always available. You can send him a message and get a response after a while. We communicated periodically. I won’t say this continuously, but we’ve been messaging each other – both by voice and by correspondence. Communication became less in the spring, when Fedotov was already training, if possible, went to the ice.

– The emotional component went from bottom to top, the less was left to serve.

– Yes, at the beginning it was a difficult period where you have to adapt to the army. Somewhere, someone needed more attention. And when you get used to the situation, you gradually let go.

“Fedotov will play in the Cup of the Mayor of Moscow”

– Did you have a conversation about what Fedotov should do – go to the NHL or return to CSKA?

– No, they talked more about how to return to hockey in general. Don’t lose shape, be in shape during your military service. I guess the person was met halfway, allowing them to practice.

And we didn’t specifically discuss where to go after the army. The fact that Fedotov returns to CSKA, I learned from the news. Ivan could make any decision on his own, because he was interested. But we talked about how he wants to come back, play hockey faster, get back in the mood.

– As Fedotov said about himself: “I am now in such good shape as never before.” It is clear that he is inspired.

Every situation should be turned to your advantage. I understand that Vanya did. He looks to the future with a positive attitude.

– How are you going to prepare for the championship?

– We are leaving on August 1, and on the 5th we will go to the training camp in Minsk. This is where more focused and in-depth work will begin to render Fedotov’s form. First of all, like I said, we’re going to flip fitness.

– The first tournament is the Moscow Mayor’s Cup at the end of August?

— Yes, although we can discuss friendly matches in Minsk. We played there last year. But we’re not going to charge Fedotov right away. It is important that he enters the game consciously, understanding what he is doing and how. And not just jumping on emotions and jumping mindlessly, trying to catch pucks. It must be the correct technique and physical form. But I don’t think it will take a long time.

– Will he play at least one game in the Mayor’s Cup?

– This is Moscow, filled stands – this also affects. It’s one thing to train, it’s another to feel the atmosphere of the match. We take advantage of this chance before the start of the regular season.

– And the team of CSKA goalkeepers is good, there is Alexander Sharychenkov.

– And not only him – I also like the state of young goalkeepers Vsevolod Skotnikov and Dmitry Gamzin. In the last championship, they played five and two games, winning three and two respectively. A smooth transition awaits them, so that in a year or two they will also be able to claim a place at the base of CSKA.