“Gave Morozov some good life advice”
– In June, many hockey players are already training hard and strong on their own, but what are the coaches doing?
— There is a lot of telephone work now. I am in constant contact with the club management, we call each other every day, discuss our potential newcomers and other work issues. Well, I’m gaining strength in the country. After all, in a few weeks the uninterrupted work will begin, we will prepare for the championship.
– Do you exercise yourself?
– After the end of my hockey career, the sport for me consists in lifting weights in all their forms, I always liked that. But now I don’t train as hard as I used to. However, 48 years already. I keep doing it, but not every day, a few times a week.
– I see that new players appear in Sochi. Also, the focus is on the young guys, that you’re coming back to our league from across the ocean.
– Yes, Alexei Melnichuk and Dmitry Zavgorodniy came to us, they spent last season in the NHL club system, Mikhail Abramov moved to Sochi from Kunlun. Sergei Popov was also sent back to his native country from Finland.
They are all young players who need to have a chance to open up at the KHL level. And we will give it to them. If we do everything right – and we certainly will – and these guys start playing in our league, they will become a good helper for the Russian team. And in general, they will serve as an example for the popularization of our hockey. We will clarify that going abroad at a young age to try to open up in the North American leagues does not make sense for anyone. Many people go there just to try their luck. And we have to receive it here, in our clubs. Of course, people will always go for the NHL. But already trained as players, at a more mature age.
– Very good approach. We need to open up and grow. It is necessary to storm the NHL, being already fully prepared for it.
– Yes, and it is desirable not only to reach a certain level, but also to spend a few seasons in the KHL on it. Swear and please your fans. Now the example of Andrey Kuzmenko is before my eyes. The striker has spent the last four seasons at SKA, in recent years he has become the undisputed leader of the St. Petersburg club. And now, at the age of 26, he has decided to try his hand in Vancouver. Or Ivan Morozov, who played for us last season. These guys first show good hockey in Russia and then they leave.
– Do you think Morozov will succeed in Vegas? Or can Ivan return to the KHL and maybe continue playing for Sochi?
– No, Vanya will not return to us in any case, we have already exchanged the rights for him at SKA. Therefore, if Morozov decides to return to the KHL, then only to his beloved St. Petersburg. As for her future career, I gave Vanya some life advice. If he uses them, everything will be fine. He therefore has all the physical and professional qualities to evolve at a high level in the NHL.
“My favorite exercise is the 18 kg vests, you will have to run and dance with them”
— It’s no secret that you work successfully with young players. But don’t you think that Sochi could now use a few experienced and well-known masters?
– The current composition is not yet final, of course there will be changes. I agree veterans should be on any team. We continue to monitor the player market closely. Take, for example, Nikita Pivtsakin. He is a 30-year-old defender who has reached the Gagarin Cup final three times with Avangard and CSKA.
– How will the pre-season training camp for Sochi players begin?
– There will be a lot of physical exercises, weightlifting, jumping, cycling. You need to prepare properly. We haven’t seen the schedule yet, but judging by the rumours, the championship is going to be hectic, with a large number of matches. To cross it without injury, you must first be very well prepared physically.
– Are you a fan of the toughest workouts at summer boot camp or the gentler diets?
– Everything must be moderate, we will not break anyone. Our club has an excellent medical team, they monitor every hockey player. Many are already undergoing medical examinations. That is, at the start of training camp, they will be checked more than once. If someone has sores and problems, it is known in advance, we do not jump all at once. At the same time, we require hockey players to be at least sixty percent prepared, or better, eighty percent prepared. We operate in all areas: medical, coaching and psychological.
– Do you have some kind of killer drill in your coaching arsenal like Vladimir Krikunov’s famous balls?
– Of course, and the guys have already appreciated it. This is everyone’s favorite vest exercise. They weigh 18 kg, and you have to do everything in them: run and dance.
“The Sochi Hockey Open is a grand event for the entire KHL, a quality warm-up for the championship”
– Does the Sochi Hockey Open home tournament help you a lot in your preparation?
— It will be a great event not only for our club, but for the entire KHL. Everyone is already missing the big hockey. And then such giants as SKA and Avangard will come to us. Dynamo Minsk will give the tournament international status. “Admiral” will arrive, strong guys from all over the league will gather in the Olympic team. A representative tournament, and I’m happy that it takes place on the basis of our club. Taking this opportunity, I invite the fans to the stands from August 3 to 9. This is a very serious and high quality warm-up for the KHL Championship.
– I saw the news that Sochi released pucks with your portrait. You look tough! Whose idea?
– The guys in our marketing department decided that my face would sell well. I hope the fans will enjoy it. We are constantly trying to offer them something new.
– What do you think of the idea of dividing the KHL into two parts according to the sporting principle?
– I take it very simply: as the league decides, so be it. The coach works under contract, his job is to prepare the team well and lead it during the game. And under what formula to hold the championship, let the leaders of the KHL and all of our hockey decide.
Do you follow the Stanley Cup final?
– Of course, I just watched the third game on the eve of our conversation. Good hockey. I looked and rejoiced that such a world exists. And even more – only in Tampa and Colorado our guys are in the leading roles.
– Why didn’t Tampa have a good game at the start of the final?
– Apparently they just relaxed a bit after a tough win over Rangers. And then we got together and we had a great game. The most interesting things are yet to come.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
