Ivan Fedotov: “The Boy’s Word” resembles “The Brigade” in a new way. Yes, we lived like that, you can’t erase the lyrics of the song.

In a sense Ivan Fedotova can be called the man of the year in hockey. Even if you look at the quote index, no other KHL hockey player has so much written about him. But Fedotov started playing only on September 1.

Let’s not stir up this adventure story yet, it remains in 2023. We are now writing a new chapter.

Last year, CSKA’s astonishing five-game losing streak was also forgotten. It was interrupted on December 30, when the army team defeated Severstal at home with a score of 3:1, and Fedotov again defended the CSKA goal.

Just before the sunset of 2023, we discussed and summarized its results.

From this interview with Fedotov you will learn:

“I’m entering the new year at a comfortable pace”

— Was it important for CSKA to end the year on a winning note?

– Yes of course. I would like to end the year on a happy note and you are right. And it was a good match against Severstal. We dominated for two periods, the third proved to be a bit messy. Severstal played well and showed their hockey. But we completed the coaching task and received quality emotions. I would like to move them to 2024. So we are moving forward positively.

— CSKA head coach Sergei Fedorov said that you have already returned to peak form. As planned by the club, this happened in December. What do you say?

— To be honest, I agree with these words. Realistically and objectively, just at the start of December, before the break, the rhythm of the game came back to me and some things in our goalkeeping routine became more familiar and optimized. Therefore, there is confidence, less unnecessary movement and fidgeting. In general, the picture leaves a positive background. And we discuss it as a team, and people notice that the picture is very good. And we even like it when we analyze the moments.

Of course, the result is the result, but you have to hold on to the process. And if before that there were crumpled things that needed to be corrected, now it is as Sergei Viktorovich said: December was productive for me. And we enter the new year in a comfortable rhythm. Only with positivity!

“Finally you can take a real steam bath in the sauna”

— How are you celebrating this new year? Do you have three days off?

– They haven’t announced it yet. We hope the coaches will be lenient with us and give us some rest.

—Are you going to jump on the Sapsan and go to your native St. Petersburg?

– No, no, until you get there, until you see everyone, you need to share all your emotions…

My friends, family and I will go out of the city – we rented a dacha and spent time in nature. Quiet company, no fuss. Maybe my parents will come. Here it is more necessary to replenish the emotional and energy reserve. Just go for a walk somewhere and play in the snow. Finally, you can take a steam bath. And start again, gaining emotions and strength. Therefore, a completely detached vacation.

— What is the main event of 2023 for you personally?

– Come back, of course. Waiting for everything to work out for you. The anticipation of being back in some focus and mental frame. That moment when you have to come back, take a step back – in hockey.

And then – get back on the ice and enjoy the game. Because the first half of the season was emotionally taxing. I hope now it will be like we said in the locker room: “Guys, we’re going to leave the worst of the old year behind. And in the new one, we will play the hockey we know how to do. In particular, I am like a goalkeeper.

We will see, we will not anticipate. I don’t want to predict any outcome or anything. We have to take it, I still think so, day by day. Just move…

– Like a samurai, there is only one way.

– Yes. These are all trivial things, but they are very correct. The path continues and you are in the present moment. It is clear that you have a goal and some kind of task. But we don’t know how you will get there, when and under what circumstances. The most important thing is to be moving. And there will be twisted convolutions that guide you on this path.

“I picked up Ilf and Petrov’s books again”

– Do you like reading books. Which one are you most excited about in 2023?

— I read different literatures. I don’t remember the title clearly, but a book was about the value of socialization in modern society. How people are managed, where they are sent. How things are manipulated, formed, how programming is done, how communities are created. An interesting book of 200 to 300 pages.

I tried reading psychological literature. Recently I returned to the subject of Romans. Their mentality, their philosophy. This is such a difficult read and deep mental thoughts. This is not always easy to perceive. But we feel the most philosophical depth. However, these times were not easy.

There is also a genre of entertainment. Now I picked up The Twelve Chairs for the first time, and then I want to read The Golden Calf. As a child, you watch old films and now you realize that you need to read the books themselves by Ilf and Petrov.

— What movie or TV series will you remember in 2023?

— The last series that hooked me was “Yellowstone” with Kevin Costner. I recommend everyone to watch it. I also liked the series “Vikings”, it was very motivating. Cool series “See” with Jason Momoa. There, the heroes see nothing, but there are children who are born and who see. And the plot is built on that.

— Have you seen “The Boy’s Word”?

– Yes. It’s like “Brigade” in a new way, but in a modern interpretation. For me, it’s a cool series that has created a certain resonance. There is also a historical format. Yes, we lived like that, we can’t erase the lyrics of the song. There’s no reason to be ashamed of anything, it happened. I react calmly to this. Well, yes, there is a romanticization of this topic among modern youth. This is quite understandable.

— Which trip in 2023 do you remember the most?

— Maldives and Dubai. Because I spent the whole year in the barracks. And for me, every holiday was like a gift to a child. I was extremely tired and emotionally exhausted. So I got high.

– It is clear that you will wish CSKA in 2024 – this is another Gagarin Cup. What do you wish for yourself?

— I am thinking, after all, of peace and tranquility of mind. Harmony is very important. You have a life, a health, you do not want to upset your loved ones. Therefore, you need to enjoy the present moment without imposing some kind of psychological framework on yourself.

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