Today at CSKA Arena the “Match of the Year” will take place, in which hockey players from the KHL and NHL will play. will broadcast this match live from 14:30 Moscow time. The legendary forward will also take part in it Ilya Kovalchukwho even managed to be traded from the KHL team to the NHL team. As Utah defenseman Mikhail Sergachev joked, “we gave up a solid defenseman Nikita Zaitsev and a couple of good picks for Covey.”
“Back to hockey? Now I’m focusing on golf.”
— We remember how gala matches with the participation of NHL players were held in the 90s at the Spartak Cup. You were still a child then.
– Yes, of course, I remember that tournament. My parents and I came to see it. At a Spartak Cup, I gave flowers to René Fasel. Then, the IIHF president was the chief referee of the show game and I handed him the puck for the first throw-in. I have a photo and even a video.
At another Spartak Cup, we came to the Rossiya Hotel, where a presentation of a team of NHL stars was taking place. And they gave me a wooden KOHO stick with paintings of all the guys. I also have it at home in Tver.
Such events are very memorable when from a young age you can personally touch these legends and watch them. It stays with you forever and definitely motivates you.
— You said that 99% of you will not play in the KHL anymore. But there is one percent left! Have you already decided what you will do next?
– Of course, there is this 1 percent. But now I focus on active leisure. I started golf. Recently, they even lowered my handicap, so I start playing tournaments. Already on Saturday, before the hockey “Match of the Year”, there will be a tournament in Skolkovo, in which I will participate from 10 am to 1 pm. So I will come from one match to another.
I play golf, relax, take care of the children. The little ones are there. The eldest son plays football for Dynamo. The age is difficult, 15 years old. You definitely have to be nearby. Sometimes push in the right direction because hormones play. There are a lot of thoughts – teenagers think they know everything. I would like to help in time so that the children do not stumble.
— Is it realistic for you to build a professional career in golf?
– Definitely not. For me, golf is definitely not a competition. And fun, spending time with friends, communicating, beautiful weather, and then delicious food. It is a great outdoor activity, you can play at any age. There are guys in the club who are already over 70 years old. But they like to play on the 18 holes or drive a golf cart there.
— Pavel Datsyuk said that he wants to hold his farewell game in Yekaterinburg. He will soon be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Will we ever see your farewell game?
— First of all, it’s very cool that Pasha was accepted into the Hall of Fame. It’s a million percent deserved. He’s a real leader, a champion. He’s won a lot in the NHL, KHL and on the international stage for the Russian national team. I’m very happy for him, I sincerely congratulate him.
As for his farewell match, everyone decides for himself. After all, a new arena will soon be built in Yekaterinburg. This is also one of the reasons – I think Pasha wants to spend his vacation in the new stadium. We will look forward to it.
My farewell match, I haven’t thought about it yet. I have said many times that it is a strange event for me. Because what you say goodbye to is not clear. After all, life goes on, and only with new colors everything is played out, other opportunities open up, and they are not only related to hockey.
We’ll see… We’ll discuss it later, first with my family: with my mother, with my wife Nicole, with my children. What it will look like, where it will take place. I myself was born in Tver, then I grew up in Spartak, I played in St. Petersburg, then I played again in Moscow. We’ll have to think about how to do all this properly.
“Kuznetsov will not repeat the mistakes of the past”
— Evgeny Kuznetsov has terminated his NHL contract and will most likely move to St. Petersburg. You did the same thing 12 years ago. What advice would you give to Kuza now?
— If this happens and Zhenya joins the KHL now, it will be a huge plus for the entire league. People of such caliber and talent always attract attention. Our league needs them now. I hope that KHL marketers will properly promote these players so that many young people will come to watch them.
It is clear that Kuznetsov has some things for which he is not exactly an example for young people. But I am sure that he has improved. And all the mistakes he made will not be repeated. And on the ice, he is one of the most phenomenal players I have played with or against.
Yes, everyone already understands that Kuznetsov will come to the KHL. It will be very cool, a huge plus. Spectators will definitely flock to these guys.
— But why does everyone move from the NHL to SKA? Are you, Datsyuk, now Kuznetsov? They hated you because you didn’t go to Spartak. They’ll hate him if he didn’t come to Traktor.
– My situation is a little different. When I returned, it seemed that Spartak did not have a team at all. This is different. Kuznetsov now has a choice. Chelyabinsk is his hometown. But if he comes to play for SKA, will they give him a four-year contract? – Nothing will prevent you from migrating to Traktor later. He is only 32, age allows. And I am sure that it can be useful everywhere.
The most important thing is that new large stadiums are being built all over the country, where personalities like Evgeny Kuznetsov will attract a large number of spectators. This is what the KHL wants, because now the league has split and become independent. Has this been officially announced yet?
— They will approve it into law soon. Is that good?
– Of course. The KHL is a separate organization that needs to make money.
“But the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) will ban us and prohibit us from participating in the world championships.
– No, why? There is the NHL, there are precedents. We need to sit down and talk, we are all human. I am sure that there are KHL leaders who are able to negotiate with the IIHF, the NHL and all partners. Today, completely different opportunities are opening up. And the same matches between the KHL and NHL clubs have become much closer. Now there is no need to obtain additional permissions from anyone.
“I will watch the Olympics and cheer on our athletes”
— The Olympic Games will soon begin in Paris, where 15 of our athletes will compete in neutral status. Is this interesting for you?
— I don’t know if the Olympics will be broadcast here in Russia. So I’ll take a look. I’m interested in basketball, volleyball, handball and also athletics tournaments.
The fact that they didn’t let us in is absurd. It has already been discussed a lot. This is a unique injustice. And those who made this decision will regret it. Ruining the careers of young boys and girls when they are at their peak and their sporting age is very small – they were deprived of the opportunity to compete for their dreams. It’s very ugly. Besides, some of them are even minors. And they don’t even have the right to vote.
If we talk about the guys who went to the Olympics, I know that opinions are divided. But I myself was in this situation when we went to Korea in 2018, where we won the Olympics. We also played without a flag and an anthem. But as we said then, Russia and its flag are in our hearts. And I think that all these guys who are going to play now, we are obliged to support them. I will definitely support Daniil Medvedev in tennis. And for all the guys who reached the Olympics. There is also rowing, trampoline, swimming and cycling.
Good luck to everyone and do not listen to what is happening around you. Unfortunately or fortunately, there are now a huge number of networks that broadcast any information. For the most part, it is implausible. I am sure that 99 percent of the inhabitants of our wonderful homeland will worry and support our athletes. And if, God willing, someone wins, we will honor him as an Olympic champion.
The meeting between the stars of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and the National Hockey League (NHL) will take place on Saturday in Moscow and will start at 15:00. Watch the live broadcast of the match from 14:30 on the channel, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
TV Match
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I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
