Olympic champion Ilya Kovalchuk says it’s too early right now to say he’ll be able to play for “Spartacus in the new season, but anything is possible.
Kovalchuk graduated from Spartak, the 40-year-old hockey player’s last job was Avangard, which he left in 2021. On Wednesday, Kazan hosts Danis Zaripov’s farewell match.
– What are your memories of Danis Zaripov’s career?
– The hottest. The soul of the team is not only on the ice, but also off the ice. Sociable, true friend. Knows how to make friends and is a very pleasant person.
– In this stellar Ak Bars of the 2004/05 season, was it possible to imagine that young Zaripov would become a star?
– Certainly. We then spent a lot of time together. Maybe that’s where our friendship really began. It was clear that a skillful guy, fighting for a place in the composition, does not lower his hands and his head. It only earns respect.
– You said in an interview with that you would get in great shape in the summer. And we see on social networks how hard you train.
No, this is just the beginning. I’m slowly getting back into shape. My trainer Dmitry Yashankin will now fly to Kirill Kaprizov to work with him.
– Is there a chance that you will train and play for Spartak at least for the playoffs?
– Let’s see. We won’t think of anything, especially now that a good coach has arrived at Spartak, they have recruited strong guys, they are training. Yesterday I met Alexei Yuryevich Zhamnov. We have spoken, and he is happy with those who are in the team. God bless them.
How long is your training cycle?
“About four weeks.
– You watched Zaripov’s farewell match ceremony, and goosebumps ran down your skin. Do you organize such a match yourself one day?
I don’t even want to guess. And it’s not a matter of modesty. And how you feel in your heart. Zaripov decided this year to organize a vacation for the city and for all of us. After all, we haven’t seen each other so long, it’s nice to talk, to gain positive emotions. And it’s respectful how this match is organized. I would like to thank everyone who took part in it, – the correspondent reports Kovalchuk’s words.
Zaripov is a five-time Gagarin Cup winner with Ak Bars and three-time world champion Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
During the last KHL championship, Zaripov played 15 games for Ak Bars. In total, the hockey player has 1301 games in the KHL and the Super League. In the regular season and KHL playoffs, Zaripov scored 685 points (292 goals + 393 assists) in 817 games.
The match is broadcast live these minutes by the Match Strana TV channel and the sportbox.ru website.
Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
