“I like the style of Russian hockey”
– Hello Sasha! How are you? Where are you now?
– Very good mood. And I’m in Detroit, Michigan right now.
“You just need to get a visa for Russia?”
– Yes, everything is fine. On Monday, we signed the contract. I am very happy to play for Salavat Yulaev. As soon as I get a visa, I will fly to Russia on the first flight.
Have you ever been to our country?
– Only a few times when I was little and came to junior tournaments.
Why did you decide to go to Russia now?
“We have been thinking these last few days with my agent Dan Milstein. He presented me with a range of options and I chose the best – flying to Ufa.
“There are still issues to be addressed…
Yes, of course, I keep that in mind. But I’m sure there won’t be any problems. I go to a very good club and my agent will help me solve all the nuances. When there is such support, then you don’t get distracted by the rest, but just play hockey.
– Did you watch Salavat Yulaev’s performances on YouTube?
To be honest, I haven’t watched many videos. I’m just going to turn it on now. When you play in America, you don’t see KHL games because of the time difference. But I know I’m going to a strong club. And I imagine what it is – Russian hockey. I like that style.
– You became the top scorer of Glinka Memorial, you showed yourself well in youth. And just played against the Russian team.
– Thanks. Yes, I had this experience. Even then, I remembered that Russian hockey is a smart passing game. The puck is not thrown, it is valued. And on Glinka, everything went well for us. Alas, the American team lost the final. But the tournament turned out to be of high quality both for me and for the team.
“I became friends with Melnichuk and your guys”
– Last season, you scored 8 (0+8) points for the San Jose and 37 (12+25) other points in 47 AHL games for the Barracuda. The statistics are impressive. How would you rate your progress in North America?
“I think my progress has been very good. I’ve been playing in the San Jose system for three years now, and every year I’ve gotten better. I really enjoyed last season, almost 20 games in the NHL, it’s great. I know where to add. But that confidence inspired me, and I took a step forward.
– At the same time, you have enough penalty minutes. Do you like fighting?
– You have to show yourself on all sides of the game – not only score points, but also show strong hockey, even fight. But at the same time, you have to show useful and intelligent hockey. I think I will quickly understand what can and cannot be done in the KHL.
– Many Russians have played for San Jose. Did you consult them before leaving for the KHL?
– Yes, and now we are also friends – with the same Lesha Melnichuk, I have excellent communication. We got on really well last season. Three or four Russians played for the team and we always spent our free time together.
It was nice talking to them. And I know they were very happy when someone could translate interviews for them if they didn’t speak English very well.
– During your career, you have played 24 games in the NHL. What game or moment do you remember the most?
– Two years ago, I played a game, going out with Patrick Marleau. He ranked first in most games in NHL history. It was cool, of course. Patrick is just a legend, and I remember that moment.
Or we played the Chicago Blackhawks, then Patrick Kane. The players I admired when I was little. And here I am against them.
I remember when we played against the Dallas Stars and I almost scored a goal. Miraculously, the puck missed the net. And it was funny that the puck got stuck on the tape. We ended up scoring, but that moment showed how hard it is to score goals in the NHL.
– By the way, you scored 10 (0+10) points, but you didn’t score any goals.
– Suppose I postponed my first goal for the future. It’s hard to score in the NHL, but sometimes the puck just doesn’t go in the net. I created a lot of chances and there will be more. I’m not thinking about goals or assists, but about how to play hockey as well as possible. If the puck is not thrown by you, but by a partner, is that bad? The main thing is that your team wins.
“I lived in Detroit and I always looked up to Pavel Datsyuk”
– Have you ever met Salavat Yulaev’s head coach Viktor Kozlov?
– Yes, we talked, it was very nice to meet you. I am very happy to play under such a coach, who himself was a tough hockey player, who played successfully in the NHL and KHL.
– And what did San Jose goalkeeper coach Yevgeny Nabokov tell you before leaving?
— Nabokov is a good friend and coach, it’s always a pleasure to work with him. But to be honest, Zhenya didn’t advise anything – we didn’t discuss it, it was just our decision.
– You won Youth Silver and Adult World Championship Bronze. What are your dreams in terms of Team USA?
– It’s important to play at international level. It is an invaluable experience. I don’t have a gold medal yet. I hope the time will come and I will fight for the victory in the national team. I don’t think about it much. The main thing is to play hockey well. When it does, people will congratulate you, invite you to the national team. You need to show yourself to Salavat Yulaev, then you will be called up to the national team.
– Your profile says “front center or right edge”. What position do you play most often?
– Even when I was little, I competed in juniors, I always went out to the center. But I can also play on the edge. It’s in the center that I feel most comfortable, but at the same time, you have to be versatile so that the coach can always put you in other positions.
– Which centre-forward do you like the most? Who is your role model?
– I lived in Detroit, so I always watched Pasha Datsyuk. I really like players like him, Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron. You want to be like them. They are real leaders, they bring victory to their team. Each won one, two, three Stanley Cups. And you also want to try to make your club a success.
– You have good Russian for a guy who was born in California and has lived his entire life in the United States. Where did you pull it like that?
— My parents speak Russian, and when I was born, our family spoke two languages. And when I lived with my grandmother, she always communicated with me in Russian. Because she didn’t speak English. That was a great workout. And now, in America, I talked a lot with Russian players.
I know my Russian sounds a bit funny, sometimes I mix up the words. I want to learn your language even better to speak perfectly. But I try very hard.
– What are the top three things an American going to play in the KHL should take with him?
– iPhone, charging from iPhone and key. And you still need to “fun” – in a good mood. It doesn’t matter how and where you play, how everything goes in life. You should always be positive. And hockey is a fun game.
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.
