“Fedotov has missed hockey so much that he will be like a lion in a cage.” Interview with Ilya Kovalchuk

We talked after the legends match in Krasnogorsk, which was organized by Alexander Ovechkin with friends. It so happened that Kovi and Ovi played for the first time in Kazan during Danis Zaripov’s farewell match, and three days later they held a show in the Moscow region.

From the interview you will learn:

“I met Zhamnov on Friday, we talked”

– I was impressed by the video of you rolling on the board above the waves. And they also wrote that this is your first time chasing a wakeboard like this. Is it difficult to find a balance?

– The first time was Tuesday and Friday – the second. I liked it a lot. This video is shot in such a way that you are impressed. But for 20 seconds I managed to stay on the waves myself without support.

It shows that you are in great shape.

No, I just have a little talent. I have been involved in sports all my life.

– Alexei Zhamnov has already reacted to reports from when you said: “I need four weeks to get fit.” Spartak head coach said: “If Ilya is ready, we would be happy.” That is to say, they are waiting for you!

– Yes, we saw each other on Friday, we spoke. I wish Spartak good luck this season. And I won’t think about my return – we’ll see.

But we have it all figured out! On December 25, 2020, you signed a contract with Avangard, and at the end of April you already won the Gagarin Cup with the Omsk club. Maybe with Spartak to sign closer to the deadline? Why play all season?

“Well, why are we talking about this now? Let’s talk about the present. For example, Alexander Ovechkin organized a beautiful match in Krasnogorsk, organized a children’s tournament. Such a great event!

“As a child, Fetisov himself gave me a club”

“In fact, everything was great. Sasha went on the ice with her son Serezha. Historic event!

– It’s a brilliant moment, as well as the fact that he usually organizes such tournaments. First is the promotion of hockey. Second, additional competitions for boys who come from all over Russia. Very cool.

“Isn’t it time to launch Covey CUP?”

— But we organize a tournament in Tver every year. I don’t advertise it much, but we do pretty much the same thing. The boys who play hockey come and go happy with the presents.

– Does your soul hurt for Tver hockey? There is no longer a THC club, although the school has remained.

– Certainly. It’s hard to understand what’s going on. But this is more a question for the leaders of the region. There is now a kind of misunderstanding with hockey and football. Trust that everything will be fine.

– What interests children when they approach you during tournaments? What are they asking Kovalchuk?

– Now they asked: what is the flex (stiffness) of my club? How much do I train per week? In fact, they are already professionals, adult boys. Although they are 12 years old, they already understand everything, they ride very well themselves. More importantly, their eyes light up.

– If you go back to childhood, who would you like to play with at 12?

– Actually, we played Spartak Cup while it was still taking place in Sokolniki. Vyacheslav Sanych Fetisov gave me a stick as the best player. We also practiced such activities. And it remains in memory for life. I hope these guys will also remember the kind of match that Ovechkin arranged for them, and it will become a motivation for them.

“When a man like Messi moves to your city, even real estate prices go up”

– Regarding football, do you go to RPL matches? In a week we are waiting for the blockbuster “Spartak” – “Zenith”.

– It is very interesting to watch the Russian league, and just on Friday I watched the match between the Urals and Spartak. We trained, I’m coming – the Spartacists lead with a score of 2: 1. I went to the bathhouse, I’m coming back – already 2:3. I think: “Wow, how interesting the guys are playing…”.

But in fact, Spartak is now a pleasure to watch. A good match awaits us, especially since Zenit now also needs points. I think it will be an interesting match.

– Is there a chance for Spartak to catch Zenit? It seems that the “red-whites” are doing well, but there is not enough stability, Sobolev shows some gestures as the fight for medals continues.

Listen, these are emotions. For example, I like emotional footballers more than amoebas in boots. God forbid there was a brilliant game, lots of goals. Because “Zenith” is not quite the same. Malcolm is gone, the other guys who made the result. So taking points from Spartak will not be so easy.

– You’re in Miami. Tell me, as a local resident, how has Leo Messi changed football there?

“I haven’t been there since he arrived. But when such a person moves to your city, even real estate prices go up. And ticket prices have quadrupled.

You spoke well about real estate.

“But it’s true!” When LeBron James joined the Miami Heat in 2010, that’s exactly what happened.

— Have you been invited to play Medialiga football?

– They called, and I was even a member of the Russian Football Union (RFU) team. I never had time to come. But it’s an interesting championship, and I support this movement in every way I can, when guys are vlogging and popularizing the sport. It’s good. I personally know bloggers. Their work deserves respect.

– Don’t want to put together your own media team?

– It is too early.

— And what do you expect from the start of the KHL championship? How will the match between CSKA and Ak Bars go?

There are no favorites here. The first game of the season, emotions. Of course, this is not the seventh game of the final where CSKA won. It is impossible to talk about revenge in the opening game. The strongest will win here, otherwise you can’t tell. But I support Radul (Alexander Radulov).

– Kazan also signed a contract with Evgeny Svechnikov. And Dmitry Yashkin, Damir Zhafyarov also came – a crazy line-up!

— But CSKA also has a strong team. Moreover, Ivan Fedotov returned. I don’t know what will be solved with the contract. However, if he plays in the KHL, it’s a huge boost for the army team.

– After a year of inactivity, can you play normally?

– I think, on the contrary – now Fedotov missed hockey so much that he will be like a lion in a cage.

– What if the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) gives the rights to the goalie in Philadelphia?

– Let’s see. Ask Fedotov already.

The FONBET regular season of the KHL Championship kicks off on September 1 with an Opening Cup game between CSKA and Ak Bars. Watch live broadcasts of tournament matches on the channel and thematic channels of the holding, as well as on the matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru websites.