27-year-old defender Andrei Mironov – a unique phenomenon in the KHL. Having started playing in our elite league ten years ago, Andrey has always only played for “Dynamo”. The only exception was the 2017/18 season, which the hockey player spent in the NHL with Colorado. Back across the ocean, Mironov could choose any Russian club, but remained in Moscow, rejecting more lucrative offers.
The situation completely repeated itself this spring, when the Whites and Blues began to part with expensive players, reducing the budget. Andrey again received very tempting offers from top KHL clubs. And again he chose Dynamo with a more modest salary. He didn’t choose money, but what was in his heart, he put love for Dynamo and his hometown above everything else. And he thinks he didn’t lose.
At the same time, in the Moscow club, Mironov will become not only a hardened defender, but the undisputed leader of the team, which the fans love. Most likely its captain.
But let’s not rush. After all, KHL players still have vacations on the schedule. Which in fact has long turned into an independent preparation of the season.
“I really enjoyed playing the 3v3 format. Great fun”
“I remember last summer, my June call found you in the bathhouse. Where is this time?
“You won’t believe it, but I just got out of the bath,” laughs Andrey, a big fan of the Russian hammam. – I’m serious.
“Then with light steam!” I know you like to travel. How did you spend this summer, as many countries are now closed to Russians?
– Well rested. But he only flew in Turkey. I spent four days in Bodrum, then four in Kemer. And then he went to Alanya to visit his father. Then he returned to Moscow and began to train regularly.
– I just wanted to ask – how are you preparing for the season, what are you focusing on in training?
– I have been training for a month in the field with my coach Leonid Dmitrichenko, who in the spring reached the final of the Gagarin Cup at the headquarters in Magnitogorsk. He’s been preparing me for the season for twelve years now. And yes, we are friends. I go on the ice four times a week. I go to Morozovo to Artem Olenev, the founder of the ARTHOCKEY school. And the other day, I participated in the 3 against 3 tournament organized by the FHR. He was in Balashikha.
– And how do you like the new hockey format?
– I liked it a lot! We have a good team. Andrey Stepanov, Kostia Glazachev, Alexey Lipanov, Ziyat Paygin. At the Vanka Prosvetov gate. It’s a shame that we lost in the quarter-finals in a shootout. But everything was well organized. And it’s great for summer hockey. In the heat of 30 degrees it is pleasant not only to play, but also to sit on the podium in the cold. Moreover, you can see familiar players, chat. NHL guys came – Vasya Podkolzin, Vladislav Gavrikov. Ilya Lyubushkin acted as a coach. In terms of preparing for the season, it was very pleasant to play in this format, and to have fun.
– Ovechkin is scoring goals for Dynamo football this summer. Have you ever wanted to try your hand at lawn?
– I am very happy for Sasha, he played football for his native club. As he himself admitted after the match, it was his dream. But the main thing is that he scored a goal, which eventually became victorious. I just played in the “3 on 3” tournament that day. Otherwise, Ovechkin would definitely come to see football.
– By the way, Sasha scored beautifully, on the move and from his favorite left flank. Did you like the goal?
– I liked its reception power even more. There, Sanya runs with the ball, and the opponent decided to hit him a little. The man ended up on his side, as if flying off the wall. And Ovechkin, in my opinion, did not even notice. It turned out like on ice! This game is awesome. And for the fans, and in general for our whole sport.
“No hockey player will play forever, not even Jagr”
– In the spring, you once again shocked the fans by refusing more lucrative contracts on behalf of Dynamo. Why did you do it? After all, such loyalty to the club is an exceptional thing these days.
“That’s the kind of person I am, that’s how I was brought up. Dynamo is my home club. Therefore, I never hid that in the first place I wanted to play for him. Even when proposals from other clubs were already on the table, I honestly told people: first I will wait for Dynamo to propose, then I will make a decision. In the end, we agreed on everything. Although, maybe someone will not understand me.
– Actually, it looks very good – to put the native team above the money.
– I make all the basic decisions in my life myself, I never look back on someone else’s opinion. Dynamo is the club that brought me up. Moscow is the city where I was born and where I grew up. I am comfortable here. So here is the choice.
– Head coach Alexei Kudashov and Dynamo leaders see you not only as a talented defender, but also as a leader. Do you like this role yourself?
– I spoke with the coach and with the management. Everyone showed interest in me. Even taking into account the restructuring of the team.
– Dynamo parted ways with a number of well-known players this summer. With whom was it more difficult for you to part personally – with Shipachev, who moved to Ak Bras, or with Eremenko, who ended his career?
I don’t even know how to compare this stuff. Shipa has moved to another club, we’ll see you on the ice. Sasha decided to finish. It’s clear that we spent a lot of time together and it’s sad to part. Especially with Eremenko, because we won the Cup together in 2013. Largely thanks to Sasha, they then became champions. But it’s our life. Sooner or later, there comes a day when your career ends. No hockey player will play forever. Even Jaromir Jagr (Czech striker at 50 continues to play for Kladno. – )!
“It’s great that there is only one break in the championship, and that there are more matches”
– What do you expect from the next season? Considering the fact that the composition of the team will change by fifty percent. And suddenly several high-level players will no longer play for Dynamo, as in previous years, but against?
– While I’m ready for a good summer camp. First you need to properly prepare for the season. Then the coaches will begin to familiarize us with the tactics. And the task of the players is to unite and become one family. And push, push, push forward! Well…
– Further – how are you going?
– No, “how’s it going” – we don’t need it. Everything must go well.
– Maybe it’s time to remember 2013? Birthday anyway. Then, by the way, the “white-blue” team was also far from the most expensive.
Maybe it’s time, we’ll see. Moreover, I myself took part in this, I remember everything. But let’s start with the fees. No need to think about the playoffs right away in June. The team grows and gradually progresses towards the goal.
— What do you think of the FHR’s proposal to split the league into two parts? Would it be more interesting for players to meet stronger opponents and travel less across the country?
– Let the league decide, we will play in any format. Personally, I’m pretty happy with the current one. But the fact that there is only one break in the championship in December is very good. Breaks are not helpful. Better to play continuously.
“But there will be a lot more games than last year.
– And that’s great. Playing is better than practicing. In the NHL, 82 regular season games are played – beauty. It’s more comfortable for fans and players.
“Colorado players deserve the Cup. Rooted for them in the final.”
– In the Stanley Cup final, did you support Colorado or against?
– Of course, for Colorado, 100%. I played with a lot of guys there together, I wanted them to win the Cup. Especially since they really deserve it. For several years now, year after year, they have shown the highest level and, in my opinion, are in the top 3 of the best clubs in the NHL.
– How did Colorado manage to create such a powerful attack? After all, in every round they managed to win with big scores.
– Even when I was playing for Colorado, there was a trio that was considered one of the strongest in the league – McKinnon, Rantanen and Landeskog. And then the team continued to strengthen punctually each year. Added Kadri, Komfer grew, Nichushkin gives a great season. Makar came on defense, one of the best defensemen in the league, Johnson stayed… Colorado is very well equipped.
– Why, after all, has Nichushkin changed so much in Colorado? That’s all they say “endured”. What does it mean?
– I changed coaches and teams, I joined my own wave, they believed in him. Here is the result. A coach can turn a good player into a star or the opposite. If people believe in a person and he has abilities – and Nichi has a lot – he will definitely open up. And if you’re not allowed to play, you’ll be seated without glasses. Basically, that’s what happens.
– Watching the final with the participation of Colorado, do you feel sick to your stomach? After all, you had a good chance of being there.
– If grandma had something, she would become a grandpa! Now I’m happy to play for Dynamo.
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.
