As Golubev said, he and Khlystov have personal scores to settle. This is the Tatar-Bashkir derby. True, the former “leopard” failed to prove himself in a fight. He survived, but did not deliver a single blow.
OSCAR OSALA ("METALLURG" MG) - ENVER LISIN ("ADMIRAL")
Osala and Lisin are quick-tempered guys, so they calmly agreed on a fight. Finn came out of it as a winner, but Lisin should still be noted, who was noticeably inferior to his opponent in size.
JONATHAN SIGALET ("SLOVAN") - OLEG GUBIN ("SIBERIA")
Sibir's players rightly decided to punish Slovan's defender Sersen for being rude, as a result of which a mass brawl broke out. At the epicenter of the fight was Oleg Gubin, who got Sigalet as a rival. Not to say that Gubin lost the fight, but in all this mess, it was he who was the most unlucky.
MIKHAIL FISENKO ("AMUR") - VALERY VASILIEV ("AVANGARD")
As a fighter, we know Fisenko well from the fight with Mikhail Pashnin. Then Fisenko knocked out his namesake. He also won the fight against Valery Vasiliev. If it weren't for the judges who found a moment to intervene in the fight, the Avangard defender would have had a hard time.
SERGEY SENTYURIN (METALLURG NK) vs. EVGENY GRACHEV (LOCOMOTIVE)
Firstly, Sentyurin and Grachev started the fight very nicely. Secondly, they finished it like a man. The fight itself turned out to be equal: Sentyurin got a great first blow, but Grachev did not fall, and then even went on the counteroffensive.
DAMIR RYSPAEV (BARYS) - NIKOLAY BELOV (NEFTEKHIMIK)
At the age of 19, Damir Ryspaev is so fearless that he is ready to challenge several opponents at once. In the game with Neftekhimik, he put Belov and Bryntsev on the ice in turn, and then was not averse to continuing to sort things out with any player from the opponent's squad.
STANISLAV ALSHEVSKY (NEFTEKHIMIK) - ALEXEY PEPELYAEV (YUGRA)
Pepelyaev did not follow the rules with Yaroslav Alshevsky, and his brother, Stanislav, immediately stood up for him. A beautiful act, but very adventurous. After all, Alshevsky weighs 23 kilograms less than Pepelyaev, and for a fist fight this is a very significant difference. Nevertheless, Stanislav remained on his feet and even delivered a few blows himself.
ILYA KABLUKOV (SKA) - ATTE OHTAMAA (JOKERIT)
In Helsinki, SKA lost to Jokerit, in addition to this, Kapanen broke Kovalchuk's nose, so at some point the captain of the "army team" broke loose and unreasonably tried to take out his anger on his opponent. Korpicari refused to fight, and Okhtamaa eventually fell into the hands of Kablukov, who quickly threw his opponent on the ice, pulled his game sweater over his head, and then, it seemed, even wanted to throw him on the ippon.
NIKOLAI LEMTYUGOV (VANGUARD) - KONSTANTIN RUDENKO (BARYS)
Lemtyugov is quite a militant guy. It is after training that Nikolai can perform the song “fishing for fishing” in the locker room, but on the ice he is not so cheerful and in which case he is able to fend for himself. In the game with Barys, the Avangard striker challenged Blokhin, but Rudenko stood up for him. The opponents exchanged a series of tasty blows, as a result of which the Barys player had a broken eyebrow.
ALEXANDER SVITOV (AK BARS) vs. DAMIR RYSPAEV (BARYS)
When Damir Ryspaev grabbed Alexander Svitov by the game sweater, he already understood that he would not refuse to fight. And if Svitov takes off his gloves, then it's always a show. Ryspaev held out in battle for almost a full minute. Given the way it has evolved, this is a feat. In boxing terms, Ryspaev survived all 12 rounds, but outright lost the fight on points. During this time, Svitov made more than 30 strikes. Not all of them reached the goal, and the helmet saved the student Andrei Nazarov from serious damage.
Svitov appreciated the stamina of the 19-year-old tough guy, but. Why did you have to throw young guy under the tank?
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6 KHL players who can punish Ryspaev
Tough guy "Barysa" Damir Ryspaev (21 years old, height 187 cm, weight 92 kg) beat three hockey players of the Chinese "Kunlun" and wanted to fight them also on the bench. The KHL has already suspended Ryspaev from matches in the preseason, and Match TV names six people who are capable of punishing Damir more seriously than the league.
Sergei Orlov, Avangard. 18 years. Height 191 cm, weight 94 kg.
One of the most victimized teams in the league finally has big fists: 18-year-old Omsk graduate Sergey Orlov is in Avangard on a bilateral contract. So far, he has little experience in playing, let alone fighting in professional hockey: last season he did not play even 10 matches for the Omsk Hawks in the youth league, but he managed to fight once. But Orlov has been doing MMA for four years in the hall of the fighter Alexander Shlemenko - and this year he even won the city tournament. Sergei said that he was interested in a fight with Ryspaev and expressed the hope that there would be a person in the team who would explain the details of the hockey fight. And there is such a person: Dmitry Ryabykin has been working at the Avangard headquarters since this year. Ryabykin was not a super fighter, but he never ran away from the most dangerous fights: while his teammates preferred to cover their heads with their hands and fall to their knees, Dmitry fought against both Alexander Yudin and Brandon Sugden.
Probability of victory over Ryspaev: 30 percent. Sergey's only fight in the MHL lasted eight seconds. Orlov is too raw for such an opponent: his chance is to knock Ryspaev down with the first blows. If the fight drags on a little, Ryspaev will win: in a fight, he has better balance on skates and he will probably grab his opponent by the sweater more successfully.
When can they meet: August 27 (Omsk), December 28 (Astana), February 18 (Astana).
Evgeny Artyukhin, Siberia. 33 years. Height 196 cm, weight 117 kg.
The fight against Ryspaev in 2015 Evgeny Artyukhin most likely won (although the best and most precise blow the fight was left to Damir), but he is unlikely to have fun remembering that game. Artyukhin was released in the first shift, he had a fight with Ryspaev - and did not appear on the site again. His playing time was 10 seconds.
Text: Alexander Lyutikov
In the 90s, hockey fights were commonplace, and tough guys were present on every team. In almost every match there were daredevils who wanted to correct each other's smile with their bare fists in a fair fight. Fans were waiting for these meetings, and full-fledged feature films were even devoted to stories about the life of hockey tough guys. In modern hockey world in the pursuit of safety, hockey fights do not even go into the background, but into the background, becoming, unfortunately, a rare sight. Blog MASSKOTT made his top of the brightest and mass fights in history Russian hockey, giving preference to both men's duels and impressive wall-to-wall battles with the involvement of goalkeepers and substitutes. In this top there is no rating and a clear location of places, since each fight is unique in its own way and, in someone's opinion, even beautiful.
Damir Ryspaev Vs Kun Lun Red Star, 2016
Many people call Damir Ryspaev the last pure tough guy in the KHL. Unlike the same Svitov, Ryspaev, from the point of view of hockey skill, would hardly even fall into the 4th link of league outsiders, but for his ability to wave his fists (with the patronage of coach Nazarov) he became a local star of the team and the hero of numerous videos on Youtube. However, as a tough guy, many fans have questions for Ryspaev, as he often attacks an opponent without warning, and some also note the player’s tightly fastened helmet, which few of the opponents manage to rip off during a brawl. During his short career, Ryspaev has earned a certain image, so every appearance of a player on the ice caused a revival in the stands, anticipating the carnage. In the match with the Chinese "Red Star" Ryspaev outdid himself, first beating the opponent's players on the ice, and then, not calming down, rushed to the bench. It seemed that Ryspaev wanted, as in the films, to lay down all opponents alone. The player was not forgiven for this trick and was disqualified. No one knows when we will see Ryspaev next on the ice in the KHL.
Radulov Vs Gorovikov, 2015
It is worth watching only for the shots where three referees cannot restrain Alexander Radulov, who knocks the helmet off Konstantin Gorovikov with one blow.
Lokomotiv Vs SKA, 2017
A fresh fight from the last Gagarin Cup, in which Yaroslavl Lokomotiv did not want to give in to the tournament favorite. In an equal fight, refereeing mistakes came to the fore, which heated up the nerve of the game and eventually turned into an epic fight of several players at once. Three bright fights, which, of course, and individually could get into the reviews of the best hockey fights, and together they created a masterpiece.
Vityaz Vs Avangard, 2010
In this collection, it was simply impossible to do without the “Vityaz”. This battle is remembered by many, and its individual moments are still savored. Already at the rollout, the first beginnings of a future battle broke out, and the fight itself had to wait a few minutes. The air seemed to be soaked with gasoline, and a small flame was enough to ignite. As a result, already at the beginning of the game, Svitov met Vero and away we go. The fight took place in full force, not without the participation of Jaromir Jagr himself. As soon as one fight ended, another broke out during the next shift. The referees unsuccessfully tried to get the match back on track, issuing disciplinary fines one after another, but in the end the game had to be simply canceled, since there were simply no players left in the compositions of both teams to go on the ice. Not only all the substitute players took part in the fights, but even those already removed jumped out onto the ice again and rushed into the thick of things. By the way, the return game was even cooler - already in the 6th second of the game, Vityaz's tough guys rushed to the first line of Avangard, inflicting quite serious injuries on the opponent's leading players.
Artyukhin Vs Brennan, 2011
Well, what about without Artyukhin. Many players in the KHL were afraid of this thug, but Kip Brennan was not afraid and actively started the fight, but when it seemed that another second and Artyukhin would fall, everything turned upside down. The case when both opponents looked decent.
Ak Bars Vs Traktor, 2008
The score was 7-5 in favor of Ak Bars, half a minute to go, a double redemption from Kazan - it seemed that nothing foreshadowed a mass brawl. However, the guests stuffed the puck from the penny and had already gone to celebrate the goal, when the judges recorded the cancellation of the goal. Nerves could not stand it, and local mutual poking grew into an ice battle, in which more and more conflicts flared up, and even goalkeepers took an active part in the fight. The video is also worth watching for the sake of the young Nazarov with a haircut like Dima Bilan's. It was 2008, one of the best periods in Russian history.
Alexey Zhdakhin Vs Andrey Razin, 2015
Not only the KHL is alive domestic hockey, because in the VHL also happen interesting stories. In 2015, Andrei Razin did not yet fall in love with some of the neutral fans of Russia with his approach to training and directness in his judgments, but modestly worked in the Izhstal team. In the semi-finals, having come to visit THC, the coach decided to cheer up the relaxed team by his own example. With the score 0-2 in favor of the THC, a fight took place between the coaches, baring to the waist and some of the most striking shots in the history of the VHL. Perhaps this is what allowed Razin to be in the KHL next season. By the way, the example of the coach had a positive effect on the team, which, following the results of the game, pulled out a victory with a score of 3-2.
Lokomotiv Vs Avangard, 2005
Local brute force against the legendary Jaromir Jagr became the catalyst for the battle between all the players on both teams. Even the second goalkeepers decided to find out the attitude, although Sokolov did not manage to pull his young opponent off the bench. A fight that can't even be described. You just need to turn it on and watch.
Ak Bars Vs Vityaz, 2012
Although it is better to call this fight Panin vs. Posnov. It was the third fight in the match, but it turned out to be the most epic. Truly boxing clear blows at the beginning turned into a fight on the ground, and ended up circling in an embrace with the judges.
"Vityaz" Vs "Tractor", 2011
The beginning of the 2010s is the time when the Vityaz near Moscow unofficially bore the title of a team of tough guys, who became famous for their fights much more than for playing hockey directly. Can you guess at once - who was the head coach of the team at that time? Well, of course, Andrey Nazarov. "Vityaz" at that time did not play hockey very well, so the rivals did not fear for the final result on the scoreboard, but they were very worried about their health own hockey players. It was the issue of protecting the leading players that was the main thing for all the mentors before the game with Vityaz. Traktor Chelyabinsk ended the away match calmly, winning 5-1, and it seemed that the fight was avoided when Vityaz confirmed its image with less than a minute before the end of the game. Bright fisticuffs irrigated the ice in Podolsk with blood, and the highlight was a full-fledged duel of goalkeepers, in which Matt Dalton nevertheless defeated the worthily fought Kevin Garnett.
This compilation couldn't do without Alexander Svitov, who fights about as often as he scores goals. Of the variety of Svitov's fights, we chose the duel in the match "Avangard" - "Ak Bars", in which Svitov knocked out Alexei Emelin with just one wicket.
Dynamo Vs Ak Bars, 2007
Not even the most the best quality A rather old video does not let you pass by this fight, in which an enraged Vadim Shakhraichuk collided in turn with three Ak Bars players: Nikulin, Tereshchenko and Stepanov. The case when the saying "Do not fall under a hot hand" clearly fits.
They always talk about Ak Bars as a defensive team, but I do not agree with this opinion. We just have a balance between attack and defense. And there is no pronounced advantage in the direction of defense or attack.
This season, both matches against SKA against Ak Bars turned out to be very interesting. Which game was harder: at the start of the season in St. Petersburg or in winter in Kazan?
It was harder in winter game. The break, although it did good, but after it it was hard to roll into the rhythm of the game. Well and so, always between these commands excellent matches turn out. It's good that both times this season we were more fortunate - we won twice in shootouts.
In the game against SKA in Kazan, Ak Bars played overtime in the new three-on-three format for the first time this season. There was a curious moment when a player retired from St. Petersburg, you played “four on three”, the opponent’s penalty expired, he went on the ice and both teams were simply in a stupor: continue to play “four on four” or return to a truncated format ...
This often happens when something new appears. There was a little confusion among the players, but the coaches quickly prompted everything from the bench. The referees also joined in and explained that in such situations, the game simply continues until the whistle in a four-on-four format, and then goes back to three-on-three. But there really was a fuss. My opinion: overtime in this format is more interesting. Teams have more free ice- more chances to score a goal. SKA in the game with us showed a good idea especially for this format. The player from the far bench tried to quickly run away into the gap.
Lokomotiv head coach Alexei Kudashov recently expressed the opinion that overtime in this format in the KHL would not be as spectacular as in the NHL.
Perhaps he is right. After all, look, we have a larger platform. Overseas, they play more in the zones of both teams, the puck is quickly transferred from one zone to another. Our attacks are more protracted.
"Thanks to Gimaev and Hitchcock"
Now ending in Canada youth championship peace. What memories do you have of this tournament when you played there in the early 2000s?
What we managed to win in 2002. And it was always difficult there, especially in matches with Canada. In the final they lost, but they managed to turn the tide of the decisive match and win. Those emotions cannot be put into words.
- A year earlier, the World Cup was remembered not by a victory, but by a brawl with Switzerland ...
Yes, in 2001 I, Kovalchuk and Yegor Shastin fought with them. Then they took seventh place. A year later, they played again with Switzerland and again grappled with them.
In general, your career can be called successful: there is a championship with national teams different ages, there is a championship in Russia. But your career in the NHL did not work out, although you were the third pick in the draft in 2001.
There is no single reason why it didn't work out. When I was drafted, I missed a year. There was a story with the army when Stanislav Chistov and I were sent to the barracks. Played three games during the season. Thanks to Sergey Nailievich Gimaev, who then took us to the second team of CSKA and gave us the opportunity to play. Although we were under special control and Stas and I were forbidden to play everywhere.
As for the NHL, I immediately got to the coach, who eventually dispersed all the Russian hockey players from his team. When I first arrived there, they told me that I would not get much playing time: 6-7 minutes per game maximum.
Should I just fight every match? I have never considered myself a fighter and do not consider myself. All situations are playable. In general, I will say this: in my career, I myself have never started a single fight first. Never.
- Because of the size, they immediately signed me up as a power forward.
Yes, I played in the fourth line with local fighters.
- In what year did you decide that the issue with the NHL was finally closed?
When he returned to Russia in 2007 and signed a contract with Avangard. Although Ken Hitchcock Main coach Columbus in the 2006/2007 season - approx.) called me for a few more months, calling me back. He was clearly determined to get me back.
- There are legends about his relationship with Russian hockey players ...
I don’t know about others, but somehow I immediately got along with him. Quite a democratic specialist, he gave me a lot to play. There was maximum trust on his part, he tried to reveal my best sides, thanks to him for that.
Each coach has his own vision for each player. This is not only the case in the NHL - in Russia there are also many similar stories when coaches do not see certain players in their team. Personally, everything was in perfect order with Hitchcock, only pleasant memories remained.
Now everything suits me in Kazan. As for my playing career, I will play as much as I have strength. As long as I'm useful and in the interests of the team, I'll go out on the ice.
- With the Omsk club management in 2010 parted not very well?
It's just that the club, apparently, did not want to leave me. And I have always had a good relationship with the management itself. It turned out to be a purely working moment: they didn’t extend me - I was looking for new team. Many mistakenly say that I myself left Avangard then.
Was the decision to move from Ufa to Kazan in 2013 an easy one, or were there any barriers due to rivalry between the clubs?
There is nothing to hide - there were doubts. There were other proposals then. But I spoke with Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, who at that time headed the Russian national team, and Valery Belov, who took over the Kazan club, and the decision was immediately made. When the coaching staff itself gives confidence, it spurs on. I didn’t think about other clubs anymore and signed a contract with Ak Bars.
- Did you feel that in Ufa they coldly accepted the transition to the camp of a principled rival?
Maybe there was something like that, but no one will say it in person, right? And so, any transition causes discontent. You can't please everyone, but that's the life of an athlete. There is no escape from negativity.
“In the championship Ufa they enjoyed the game”
If you go back ten years, at the age of 24, has a lot changed in terms of hockey in preparation for matches, for example?
Over the past 7-10 years, not much has changed. The warm-up always follows the same plan and depends on which muscles need to be stretched. Pah-pah-pah, this year, injuries were bypassed. Now there are no sores that greatly interfere with playing. Yes, somewhere it became a little more painful with age. But everything passes. It hurts and stops.
- When did you realize that it was useless to insert the front teeth?
When I started to lose them. In Ufa it was first. About five years ago, at a training session, a player from his own team knocked out half a tooth with a stick.
I am pleased that there are always those who support, do not forget. I always bring a bag of gifts from Omsk. They played there in the fall - they brought a pillow. The guys themselves knitted, with a number, with decorations, with a bow.
- From whom did it come?
From Oleg Saprykin. We were then just put in one link. I had to put in a pin. Then time passes, I'm already in Ak Bars. We played in Omsk two years ago: I lay down under the puck and catch it with my beard, lip, teeth - everything I can. As a result, he tore his lip, broke the entire previous pin under the root, and it came to an understanding that there was no point in putting a new one.
- And in that match, from whom did it come?
From Dan Kulyash.
What season do you remember the most? Champion with "Salavat Yulaev"?
Yes, that season can be set apart. But not only the championship in memory remain, of course. I remember the 2001 final, when I played in Avangard against Magnitogorsk. Then the confrontation between Omsk and Magnitogorsk reached a new level, there was an incredible excitement, constant cuts between the clubs. Even though our team lost that final, those games are remembered for a long time. I would also note the final against Ak Bars in 2006. Here, in Kazan, I will also single out the final. SKA failed to beat in 2015, but the games were memorable.
There was a story with the army when Stanislav Chistov and I were sent to the barracks. Played three games during the season. Thanks to Sergey Nailievich Gimaev, who then took us to the second team of CSKA and gave us the opportunity to play.
- How can you characterize that "Salavat Yulaev" in 2011?
Was very strong team, a close-knit team, everyone fought for each other. I think that it was the friendship within the team that decided a lot. Plus coaching ideas. Everything that the coaching staff said, we carried out, everything worked out on the ice. They played for their own pleasure - they enjoyed hockey, they also won the Gagarin Cup at the end of the season.
In the championship locker room, the first thing you said was that you were dedicating the victory to heaven, to one hockey boy with number seven ...
We communicated very well with Alexei Cherepanov. I still have a relationship with his father to this day. We call up. More often, of course, he calls me, asks how things are going. He now lives in Omsk in the apartment where Lyokha lived.
We had friendly relations in that Avangard between me, Cherepanov, Antokha Kuryanov and Slava Belov. Often you could see the four of us somewhere together. Now, as soon as I come to Omsk, I always go to Cherepanov's grave. You pass not far - Sanya Vyuhin is buried. Leonid Georgievich Kiselev in the same place. All in the same cemetery, literally tens of meters from each other.
"I never considered myself a fighter"
- What can you say about the current "Ak Bars"?
I like our current team for its cohesion and organization. Plus, we always try to follow the instructions of the coach. Hence the result, perhaps.
- As a captain, do you often have to raise your voice in the locker room?
There are always different situations. Somewhere you need to shout, somewhere, on the contrary, to defuse the atmosphere, somewhere to start a team. I try to cheer up the guys in every game both on the bench and in the locker room. The main thing is to be positive.
From the outside it seems that the team has become liberated. Including in game moments, for example, in attack, you score a lot.
I would not say that we score a lot. Moments have always been created. Another question is how they were implemented. They always talk about Ak Bars as a defensive team, but I do not agree with this opinion. We just have a balance between attack and defense. And there is no pronounced advantage in the direction of defense or attack.
We played in Omsk two years ago: I lay down under the puck and catch it with my beard, lip, teeth - everything I can. As a result, he tore his lip, broke the entire previous pin under the root, and it came to an understanding that there was no point in putting a new one.
- Do you see your maximum benefit on the ice in the links of the creative plan or the so-called “Checker” ones?
I do not care. Where they say to play - there I will. I try to find mutual understanding with any partners. I can say that I feel comfortable everywhere. And about the benefits for the team - this is to coaching staff. As they decide, so be it.
- As a captain, do you rule the music in the locker room?
We don't have one DJ. (Smiling.) Sometimes I bet, sometimes other guys. When I try to charge club music before the games. Something faster, more dynamic to start.
How do you feel about criticism? Many in Kazan, both journalists and fans, say that, they say, Svitov is no longer the same. He doesn’t fight, which means he doesn’t fight for the team ...
Everyone has their own opinion. Whoever sees what he thinks - then he says. I am absolutely calm about this. There is no single truth, truth.
Understand, I, as a hockey player, on ice try to do everything the same as fifteen, and ten, and five years ago. How people perceive it is another matter. Well, should I just fight every match? I have never considered myself a fighter and do not consider myself. All situations are playable. In general, I will say this: in my career, I myself have never started a single fight first. Never.
We communicated very well with Alexei Cherepanov. I still have a relationship with his father to this day. We call up. More often, of course, he calls me, asks how things are going. He now lives in Omsk in the apartment where Lyokha lived.
- Even in the very first, memorable one, with Oleg Mikulchik, when you were still a mask artist?
Yes, I didn't want to fight there at all. We played with Magnitogorsk. In general, I climbed to separate my partner in Avangard, Canadian Chris Coveney, and the opponent's player. I look, they are pushing, I wanted to separate them in different directions, but it turned out that I got into a fight. (Smiling.) Experienced Mikulchik did not like my behavior, he grabbed me by the mask - he tried to pull me off, so I answered. After the game, Oleg himself came up to me and said: "Sanya, good fellow."
This year, right at the start of the season, the leggings had to be thrown off - they had a fight in a match with Medvescak. What was there?
The first match of the season was for me. We grappled with Alexander Boldyuk. I gave a pass, and then he flew into me. And he didn’t play in the body, but knee to knee. It’s good that I managed to remove my leg, otherwise I would have come off. In principle, the game moment, emotions. I missed two starting games team, and then left. Maybe somewhere emotions overwhelmed, but I had to fight. Fight and fight, no big deal.
“I’m bringing a bag of gifts from Omsk”
Your contract with Ak Bars ended last season, which was extended in April for exactly one year. What will happen next spring?
I will not guess. All thoughts are about this season, there are certain tasks for the team - they need to be solved. Everything depends on me only as a player and only on the ice. Last year, my agent worked with the Kazan club about an extension - an understanding was found.
Both me and my wife like everything in Kazan. The club provides an excellent base. Children here go to schools: study, train. The son is engaged in hockey in the Youth Sports School "Ak Bars", born in 2008. Daughter was dancing. Last year I tried to play volleyball.
- Ekaterina Gamova's school has recently been opened in Kazan.
Maybe your daughter will be interested.
And yet, you are 34 years old, a decent age for hockey. Earlier in an interview they said that they would not mind ending their career in their native Omsk ...
Right now, I don't bother with it. How it will turn out, so it will turn out. I repeat, now everything suits me in Kazan. As for my playing career, I will play as much as I have strength. As long as I'm useful and in the interests of the team, I'll go out on the ice.
I remember the 2001 final, when I played in Avangard against Magnitogorsk. Then the confrontation between Omsk and Magnitogorsk reached a new level, there was an incredible excitement, constant cuts between the clubs.
- Do Omsk fans warmly welcome you when you come there for a trip?
Yes, we communicate with many during the season. I am pleased that there are always those who support, do not forget. I always bring a bag of gifts from Omsk. They played there in the fall - they brought a pillow. The guys themselves knitted, with a number, with decorations, with a bow.
- Do you still start preparing for the new season in Omsk every summer?
In recent years, I have been in America more in the summer, with my family, so I start preparing for the season there. I train in Miami: jogging, gym. I manage to stay in Omsk for a week - one and a half. There we ride with the guys from Omsk. We remove the ice, I train already at the rink.
There was a situation when a fan in Omsk after an unsuccessful game left a message right on the car. You even had to write an answer to the Avangard guestbook then...
Yes, it was. But I remember with a smile. Then he answered not out of malice. In Omsk fans, in general, it is impossible to be offended for a long time.
Dossier
Alexander Nikolaevich Svitov
Career: Avangard (Omsk) - 1999-2002; CSKA-2 (Moscow) - 2001/2002; Tampa Bay (NHL) - 2002-2004; Columbus (NHL) - 2003/2004; Syracuse (AHL) - 2004/2005; Avangard (Omsk) - 2005/2006; Columbus (NHL) - 2006/2007; Avangard (Omsk) - 2007/2010; "Salavat Yulaev" (Ufa) - 2010/2013; Ak Bars (Kazan) - since 2013.
Achievements: Gagarin Cup winner (2011), world champion (2012), world youth champion (2002), silver medalist of the Junior World Championship (2000), silver medalist of the Russian Championship (2001, 2006), silver medalist of the KHL (2015).