His name is definitely one of the most talked about in the hockey world this season. Star Finnish forward Mikko Rantanen (28) – Stanley Cup winner and World Junior Champion – was traded twice in one month and the first trade from Colorado to Carolina for Martin Necas (26) was very interesting. Currently, the Dallas forward spoke exclusively to Livesport News and it was obvious that a certain aftertaste of the moves still remained in him.
Rantanen signed with Dallas for eight years. ČTK / AP / Gareth Patterson
You played in Colorado for many years, won a Stanley Cup with the club, but then came the moves to Carolina and then Dallas in a short time. How did you take it all?
“It’s always a big change when a club sorts you out. Now I’m part of Dallas and I’m excited to be here and looking forward to the future.”
The move from the Avalanche obviously came as a big surprise to you, is that why things didn’t work out the way you thought they would in Carolina?
“I’ve talked about it many times and I don’t want to go into it again. So if you want to know more about it, you can Google it.”
ForwardMartin Necasis headed in the opposite direction for Colorado. How do you see his performance?
“He’s a good player. I remember him from Carolina. Really good player.”
Was the fact that there is a strong Finnish enclave in Dallas a factor in being traded there?
“It’s good to have friends in the locker room, but mostly Dallas is a really good team that has been doing a great job the last few years and came close to winning the whole thing.”
Dallas hits Colorado in the first round. How hard will it be to play against old teammates you were with for years?
“It’s a business. I’ve already managed to play one game there in a different jersey in the regular season, I think that will help and make it easier for me.”
What are the Stars’ team ambitions?
“The goal is to win it all. Dallas has been really close to that for many years, so hopefully it’s just a matter of time before it happens. And hopefully I can help. But I’m trying not to look too far ahead and take it one day at a time.”
At 37, Crosby is still one of the best players in the NHL with 51 points already in the season, which ranks him 20th in the league ČTK / AP / Jayne Kamin-Oncea
Canada’s Sidney Crosby (37) has become one of the legends of the NHL across his 20 years of playing at the top level, especially since he has spent his entire career at the Pittsburgh Penguins.However,Crosby‘s current contract expires after the ongoing season. The three-time Stanley Cup winner spoke exclusively with Flashscore about his future plans and much more.
You don’t seem to be slowing down even at almost 40. What’s your recipe for longevity?
“Good question… I don’t feel like I’m slowing down. I think it’s about always having some passion in you. I’ve been part of a good team and a great organization for a really long time.
“So the main thing is that you have to love what you do. And I do. I still love hockey as much as I did in my first season.”
Do you have any regular rituals?
Jesus! How much time do you have? (laughs) I have a lot! Over the years, you develop your routine, how you want to prepare. Something that gets you ready for games, for training and for the season in general.
“It takes a lot of work off the ice as well. And a lot of your confidence comes from all that work.”
You overcame a concussion, you’re back in great shape and health. What do you have to do to get to that level consistently?
“As I get older, I try to get to know my body as much as possible. It’s also important to schedule my rest. I’m always trying to work on getting better, stronger, faster…
“And that’s more of a challenge when you’re 37. You have to find a balance, that’s the most important thing.”
You’re in the top 10 of the NHL’s historical scoring chart.Joe Sakic is right behind you and you’re looking up at Mario Lemieux. What does that mean for you?
“To be a part of this company is special. I watched all the players you mentioned when I was a kid. My dream has always been to play in the NHL. I didn’t even envision myself in any rankings.
“The main thing was to get to the NHL and then win the Stanley Cup. I was able to do both, which is what keeps me motivated.”
Congrats Sid!!! Crosby passes Joe Sakic for 9th all-time in points in NHL history!! 🥹💛👏🐐 https://t.co/i0Tp0O3shQ
Pittsburghhave been a long way from the Stanley Cup in recent years. Your contract was expiring. Have you considered changing clubs?
“I try not to think about any of that. We have a great group here. It hasn’t been easy for us at certain times, but we all believe in each other here. We’re strong and in an atmosphere like this, it makes it easier to focus on our goal.
“There are a lot of teams pushing for the last one or two spots for the playoffs. With this great team, it’s a little easier to fight for it.”
But you’re not planning the retire yet, are you? Look at Jaromir Jagr. At 52 years old, he’s still on the ice…
“I don’t really know how he does it. He’s an exceptional person, an exceptional athlete. We talked about passion, and his passion is huge… It’s hard to explain.
“I can’t imagine playing as long as he did. (laughs) He’s definitely a personality to look up to. He’s a great example for longevity and for keeping yourself at a high level.”
Before the current generation of Swiss hockey players emerged in the NHL, Mark Streit (46) was one of the few who proudly represented the Alpine country in the best league in the world.
The former New York Islanders captain and 2017 Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh, Streit was in Prague during the IIHF World Championship to show off the latest edition of the watch company he co-founded, Norqain.
In this exclusive interview with Flashscore, he talks about the ongoing tournament, the thirteen World Championships he played in during his career and, of course, his rich career in the NHL.
Tell me, is it a coincidence that you found yourself in Prague promoting the Norqain brand at the exact moment of theIIHF World Championshipor was that planned?
“Actually, it’s half and half. The CEO of the company, Ben Küffer, came to us with the idea that we were going to have a company event at the Koscom store in Prague in May, so I immediately thought it was the perfect date.”
And how did you enjoySwitzerland‘s win over Finland in the group stage?
“It was no big deal for Finland, but the atmosphere in the arena was still great. I love Prague, I played here at the championships in 2004 and 2015 and when I connect it to all the championships I’ve been to, Prague is the top for me in terms of the city, the fans, the hotels or the infrastructure.
“Although playing at home in Switzerland was of course great too.”
What made the tournament so special for you?
“People love hockey here, the stadiums are always full, the people are friendly, there is beer drinking, singing and cheering everywhere. Plus, it’s beautiful here. There are lots of interesting things to do in the city on your days off.
“That’s why I convinced Ben that we should come during the tournament and experience it all again.”
The Swiss have advanced to the final four at the tournament
So you only caught one game live, but I assume you watched the tournament before that?
“I didn’t miss the Swiss matches on TV, and I still know a lot of the players and am in contact with them. I texted Nino Niederreiter and goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni after the game, that’s all I could do. They had to quickly head to Ostrava for their quarter-final against Germany.”
‘The best team we’ve ever had’
Switzerland have a really strong squad at the current tournament, led by defenderRoman Josiand forwardKevin Fiala. How do you evaluate the tournament from a Swiss point of view?
“It’s probably the best team we’ve ever had at the World Championship. It’s great that all the NHL players were able to come, the only one missing from the stars is actually the injured Timo Meier.
“For me, it is very important to have experienced players in the team, because in key games patience, calmness and the aforementioned experience are irreplaceable.”
If you have to single out one Swiss player, who do you like the most?
“Roman Josi is without a doubt one of the best defenders of today. He regularly plays 82 games in the NHL, averages 24 minutes on the ice, struggles in the playoffs and then comes to represent anyway, even though he’s definitely banged up from the season.
“I really appreciate this dedication, Switzerland need him and he’s playing great. I met Roman at the championship in 2009, we started training together over the summer and became good friends. We even attended each other’s wedding. He is an excellent hockey player.”
Josi is now 33 years old but the Swiss have a younger generation, such as 2017 No. 1 draft pick Nico Hischier.
“He’s excellent, of course, and I also expect a lot from Lian Bichsel, the 20-year-old defenseman drafted in the first round by Dallas two years ago, but otherwise I’m not so optimistic. We need more young and skilled players, right now I don’t quite see us producing another first-round draft pick.”
Streit was captain of the NY Islanders for two seasons
On the other hand, ten Swiss have played in the NHL this season, nine of whom have key positions in their clubs. Slowly that number is going up. Do you know how many Swiss were in the competition when you started there in 2005/06?
“There were goalkeepers David Aebischer and Martin Gerber, and I think… Timo Helbling?”
That’s right. I must say, especially with the last name, you surprised me. However, the difference in quantity and especially in the roles on the ice is noticeable these days.
“The truth is that when I started in the NHL, I was one of a few. Now it’s easier, it’s known that Swiss hockey players can be good and they can be winners. They are personalities.
“When I established myself overseas and came to the World Championships in May, the pressure was really high. Everyone looked at me then as someone who had done something. And they thought that my arrival automatically meant a medal. Which was also hard for me, I was putting a lot more on my shoulders than I should have. And of course, the media didn’t help either, but this is a team sport, one or two players mean absolutely nothing.”
‘I’m worried about the future of Swiss hockey’
You had thirteen seasons in the NHL. You started at the famousMontreal, you became the first-ever Swiss captain at the NY Islanders and you broke the forty-point mark six times in a season. Do you feel like you’re the man who opened the door for other players from your country in the league?
“We already had a lot of very good hockey players before me, but the NHL was kind of far away. And we had it set in our heads that it was very hard to break in – a lot of games, a lot of travel, competition from the best players in the world.
“We had a number of good players who tried but came back home again without success. Then I broke through that thinking and got a solid position on the roster. Until then, only the goalkeepers had actually made it, but not the field players. But I think that helped a lot of the others, they saw that if I could do it, they could do it.”
And thanks to you, there are a lot of quality compatriots in the competition.
“But in my opinion, there should be a lot more. We have some star players in their ideal years and then there is a big gap. There’s a lack of lower-tier hockey players like Pius Suter in Vancouver.
“It makes me wonder what our national team will look like in, say, ten years. We need more competition from our own players in the Swiss league, right now every team is allowed to have six foreigners on the roster, that seems like a lot to me. And I’m not even talking about the second-highest league, which has many problems of its own since the days of COVID.
“This competition is important for young players between 16 and 17 years old. That’s where they should learn, so that’s why I’m a bit worried about the future of Swiss hockey. Besides, the Swiss league is attractive and the quality of life in the country is high, I understand that sometimes players don’t want to leave.”
Let’s go back to the NHL, you played 786 games in the league between 2005 and 2017 and scored 434 points. What’s the memory that ranks highest for you?
“The fact that I played for Pittsburgh at the end of my career and was part of the Stanley Cup-winning campaign was amazing. Sharing the locker room with(Sidney) Crosby, (Evgeni) Malkin, (Kris) Letang and (Marc-Andre) Fleury was great, you just needed a few moments in the locker room and you could immediately feel why you were there to win. Pittsburgh is a top-notch organization.”
Streit brought the Stanley Cup to Bern
What was it like to hoist the Stanley Cup over your head?
“You see very quickly why it’s such a valuable trophy. It’s hugely addictive. But I also have fond memories of my first NHL game because it was always a dream to play there.
“I made my debut in Toronto as a player from rivals Montreal and I was so nervous I almost couldn’t play. To have that jersey with my name on it was unreal. Hockey is like a religion in Montreal.
“I also really appreciated the opportunity to be captain of the New York Islanders and play in the 2009 All-Star Game.”
But the Cup is just a Cup?
“That moment when you win it and then you have the opportunity to spend one whole day with it, read the names engraved on it… I’ll never forget it.”
What’s Sidney Crosby like?
“He’s an unbelievable fighter and his will to win is contagious. Plus he’s awfully humble and nice – when I was traded from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh he called me right away and welcomed me to the club. He’s also a huge professional and just watching him work hard every day and take care of his nutrition and his own body is great.”
You retired from active hockey seven years ago, how has retirement been?
“I didn’t have anything prepared ahead of time, I wanted to play as long as possible and I didn’t finish my career until I was 39. Shortly before that, I got married for the first time and we started a family. Professionally I tried my hand at being an expert on television, I was also at the hockey association for a while and then it came to setting up Norqain, which I am now involved in. But I’ve stayed with hockey a little bit because I’m on the board of directors of Bern Hockey.”
Do you still go on the ice?
“I used to go with the younger ones, especially the defensemen, and try to pass on something to them, but now it’s more about the watches. However, when you do something for so long, it’s hard to leave it. I miss hockey.
“When I quit I couldn’t watch the NHL at all, it bothered me that I couldn’t still be there. I’m so grateful that I was able to play hockey for so many years and that I had such a successful career. I’ve accomplished more than I ever thought I would, and that makes me very happy. Plus, playing in the NHL is the greatest job in the world.”
But by the watch, it’s good too, right?
“We have a great team in Norqain and many great collaborations, for example with the NHLPA and the Spengler Cup. So I’m still kind of a part of the hockey world, and I’m doing something that’s traditional for our country.”
Finally, let’s quickly get back to the ongoing tournament. Who will dominate it?
“I haven’t really been able to follow Group B that much, but I’ve heard that Sweden are playing unbelievably. On the other hand, it has happened in the past that teams that played great in the group have unexpectedly dropped out in the first battle for everything.
“However, look at how we unexpectedly lost to Germany a year ago, just one game! However, I still believe that Switzerland can make it to the final. And I really liked Canada, they played physically, they went after our best players… Canada definitely has a great chance too.“
We had the great pleasure of once again talking to Alisher Azimov chief trainer of HK Binokor Tashkent and one of only a few people in Uzbekistan to have made a living playing hockey. It is thanks to Azimov that the sport has received another lease on life.
The last time we talked was in 2016, a lot has changed in Uzbekistan. Can you tell us about how the Binokor ice hockey club has grown over the last 5 years?
Yes you are right a lot has changed since 2016, and the process is still going on. Having new Ice Rinks was a big step forward in developing the ice hockey sport in Uzbekistan. The Main Ice rink named “Humo” is the biggest one we have in the country, it was built with all the international standards and able to host all types of events. With the new Ice rinks we were able to accept many more young kids for training, after Binokor we had opened three new official clubs (HUMO, SEMURG, TASHKENT) Binokor itself has grown, we have attended many tournaments and achieved many good results.
Alisher Azimov.
Binokor youth team played in Kyrgyzstan in early June against their U20 team, how did Binokor do and what is your relationship with Kyrgyzstan?
The Kyrgyzstan ice hockey federation and us have a good relationship so far, they always invite our clubs to their tournaments, as host they always provide good hospitality and support. I would like to say big thanks to their management for what they do. About the tournament we had good results, overall it was a good experience for our team, we learned many things, team members and players enjoyed the overall atmosphere.
Binokor Youth team in Kyrgyzstan.
In 2013 a Uzbekistan Hockey League was established but since that time no championship has been played. Are there any future plans to start a league in the country?
Yes we have a plan in the near future to start our own league with clubs I have mentioned above, by that time there is a hope we might add more clubs to this league from different regions of the country.
Humo Hockey Club played in the VHL in the 2019-20 season but the playoffs were canceled due to the pandemic. This year Humo is going to play in the Kazakhstan Championship, why the sudden change in leagues?
Yes, as far as I know this year Humo HC will play in Kazakhstan’s ice hockey championship and I think it is a good thing for overall improvement of this sport in Uzbekistan
How many ice rinks have been built in Uzbekistan since 2016 and what is the total number of ice rinks in the country?
Currently we have three ice rinks arenas in Tashkent, one of these is seasonal and operates only in winter season, we have another new one in Samarkand city it is also a good addition to our sport, we hope to see some new clubs with new players coming from that region. Another one and latest one in the Andijan region, we also hope to see new clubs coming from that region too. Another very good news is, our old ice rink in Tashkent which was closed off back in 1988, is now reconverting back to ice rink again after the president’s direct initiative, this also shows the support of the government in improving this sport
Humo Arena.
The first ice arena in Samarkand City.
With Uzbekistan building a foundation with youth hockey, when will we see a Under18 or Under 20 national team play in IIHF competition?
Currently we have a team named Tashkent Select in which the players from all above mentioned clubs were invited, there are two groups #1 consisting of 2006-2007 years and the 2nd one with 2008-2009 years, attending in two groups. I really hope we can create a good team from these guys for U18 and U20 IIHF competitions in the coming years.
How long do you think it will be before we see the Uzbekistan national team play in a IIHF competition?
If everything goes well I hope in the next 3-4 years we will have a solid own national team which can start competing in IIHF competitions.
Your son was in invited to the Next Generation Hockey School in the United States. How was the experience at the school?
This year my son Salahiddin Azimov, was invited by one of the leading hockey schools in the USA named NEXT GENERATION HOCKEY located in the state of Arizona. The invitation came directly from the director of the school and one of the leading coaches in the US Boris Dorozhenko, Mr. Dorozhenko is Ukrainian born with many years of experiences in coaching and providing many good international players with training in his career. After seeing Salahiddin’s games in the Kyrgyzstan tournament he himself invited us to his summer camp, and we were able to visit the USA and attend the camp. I have to say it was a very productive experience for my son and myself, these experiences which we have seen we can implement in our clubs to improve their games and training. During my visit in the US we have achieved an agreement between our club Binokor HC and Boris Dorojenko’s training school to have winter camp training together in the USA this year in December. We have already started the process of arranging paperwork for visiting Arizona with our team, and I think it will be a big step forward for our own club Binokor HC and to overall ice hockey in Uzbekistan. I believe the experience they will get to see in this camp will give a big boost to our team players and members.
Letter from next generation hockey school.
Hockey Camp Poster.
Boris Dorojenko and Salahiddin Azimov
Salahiddin Azimov at Hockey camp in Phoenix, Arizona.
Jazmine Miley Captain of Puerto Rico women’s national team, holds Latam cup Trophy
By George Da Silva – National Teams of Ice Hockey
We had the great pleasure of speaking with Jazmine Miley captain of the Puerto Rico women’s national team and HPOC Movement Founder& CEO Puerto Rico Ice Hockey Association Director.
What was your introduction into hockey and how did it all start?
I started hockey at a very late age. I had just moved from Queens NY to Long island NY. Being new to the neighborhood as a teenager it’s important to try to find kids my age. My next door neighbor who also recently moved in invited my mother and I to their house warming party. It was there that I one of the nieces who invited me to one of her hockey games and I fell in love at first sight.
Not only are you a player for the Puerto Rico women’s national team but you are also the HPOC Movement Founder & CEO Purto Rico Ice Hockey Association. How did this come about?
I started HPOC Movement in 2020 right before Covid and after speaking to the current Director Sydney Kinder about our time playing college hockey. Despite playing for two different programs we had such a similar experience. I wanted to make a community where all players of color are welcomed and have a place where they feel safe. It was imperative to have a program for our younger players like a big sister/brother that can mentor them and even help parents that are new to the hockey world. Coming from a one parent household that paid for everything hockey related, everyone knows that hockey is expensive and not everyone has that privilege to afford gear, travel hockey, summer camps, etc., I feel blessed. I was very fortunate that Scott Vargas included me in the making of the Puerto Rico Ice Hockey Association as the hockey Director. Being able to make history on the island is such an amazing privilege.
At the 2021 Latam Cup Puerto Rico was represented by the Men and for the first time the Women’s team. What was the selection process in picking both teams?
We advertised on hockey platforms and social media sites. We based our selections on players experience whether they play A, AA or AAA. Even now post-Amerigol Latam Cup we have many players reaching out to us with and without experience. So many people want to be a part of the team.
Puerto Rico women made spectacular debut by winning the 2021 Latam Cup which you were a part of. What was the feeling like after winning the championship and what will this do for women’s hockey in the territory?
Winning the 2021 Amerigol Latam cup tournament was such a surreal moment, especially since it was our first time playing as a team. I personally played with one other player a few years back. But besides that we were all very new to playing with each other but we clicked so well. I am excited for our future ventures as a team and being able to practice and mesh more.
Puerto Rico women win their first Trophy in there first ever tournament
When will Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum be open For ice skating and hockey?
Unfortunately there is no definitive date yet, but we plan on putting the date out on our social media platforms as soon as its available.
There is Rumors that first game at the coliseum will be against Dominican Republic?
That is a false rumor. We have not thought about who we will play once the stadium is finished.
Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum
Will the Puerto Rico Ice Hockey Association set up a leagues and programs for youth hockey?
We are definitely looking to grow Puerto Rico Hockey by including our youth players.
Outside of the Latam Cup will Puerto Rico play in any other tournaments or exhibition games in 2022?
We have established the Spring Primavera which will ultimately be an invitational tournament for the Men, Women and youth.. But we also plan to make appearances at other tournaments.
Does Puerto Rico have future plans to join International Ice Hockey Federation?
We would like to join the IIHF, we are currently reviewing the rules, regulations and qualifiers needed to join the IIHF.
Do you think the game can grow in the Caribbean and how will Puerto Rico lead the way?
I think ice hockey can grow in the Caribbean, our only set back is affordable access to ice and a building that meets IIHF’s requirements. Puerto Rico can only lead by example. The most important first step is for countries to be able to afford an expensive building that most likely will have to be built from the ground up, putting in ice and being able to run it consistently.
Meet Mark who is partner of Tal and they started the Israel Elite Hockey League.
By George Da Silva – National Teams of ice Hockey
We had the great pleasure of speaking with Tal and his partner Mark founders of the Israel Elite Hockey League.
Nobody would have ever dream of starting a league during a pandemic but Tal and Mark had a dream and with great effort and determination they were able to start a ice hockey in Israel.
How did this adventure in starting up a league start for you?
For many years players in Israel have dreamed of having a league where all the best Israeli players can compete against one another, adding import players to the mix would help increase the level of play for Israeli players and give them a chance to compete against players they might not have otherwise.
We decided to take those things and create an opportunity for both Israeli and import players to get value out of not just playing hockey in Israel but experiencing the country and everything it has to offer.
Was this league started to raise the level of play in Israel and the Israeli hockey player or are there alternative motives?
This league was started to grow the sport of hockey in Israel. When we first started this league,
We envisioned it opening up the eyes of Israeli citizens to a sport that many of them don’t know about. Not only do we want to grow the sport of hockey in Israel, we also want to expose the rest of the world to Israeli hockey along with the Israeli people and their culture. This league was started as a culmination of both objectives, and we are exceeding expectations already.
What difficulties did you have in starting up a league during a pandemic?
The league was on its way to be even bigger during our inaugural season before the pandemic hit. We had plenty of import players waiting to come and play in our league, but because of the pandemic, we could only get so many entry permits for players and most were unable to come, so we were able to bring over 12 imports. It forced us to be a much smaller league than we would have liked, but we were still able to have a fun and competitive season with a smaller group of players.
This is part of the reason why we are even more excited for this upcoming season, as we are able to import many more players from all over the world to come play in the IEHL and experience Israel like never before.
IEHL Logo
Where does the financial backing come from?
Currently the IEHL is a tuition based league & experience, each player pays a fee to come to Israel, travel around the country, live in Tel Aviv etc the hockey is a part of the entire experience. As the IEHL grows it’s sponsorship partners it will help continue to subsidize the cost for players to come and add more value for each player’s experience.
Is there a limit on how many foreign players can play on each team?
There is no limit to how many foreign players can play on each team, but we would like to have as diverse teams as possible, meaning we want to combine both our import players and Israeli players so everyone has a chance to compete together.
You just completed the first year of the league. What things would you like to improve on going into the second season?
Well first and foremost, we would like the league to be bigger than last year, and we are already on track to reach that goal with adding 2 new teams for the new season. Another big improvement for this season is we will move to 5v5 and play on an Olympic sheet of ice. We hope to continue adding sponsors to our partnership list and grow the IEHL.
HC Tel Aviv Champions of IEHL.
You mentioned this year will be 5 on 5 hockey and played on an Olympic ice surface. Does this mean all league games will be played in One ice Arena?
While there are only so many options for first class hockey facilities here in Israel,
We are currently in very close talks with one ice Arena to host the IEHL this summer.
The other option would be hosting the IEHL in Jerusalem, at Pias Arena.
Will we see any Israelis from the league play on the national team in the future?
Yes, there are several local Israel players that play on the national teams here in Israel.
We have players playing on both the U20 and Senior national teams.
This coming season almost all the national team players living in Israel will be playing in the IEHL.
Are there any plans for club teams to compete in IIHF club tournaments?
As the IEHL is a private league not affiliated with the IIHF currently, I don’t think we would have the chance to enter a team into any club tournaments. It is something that could be possible in the future with some sort of affiliation with the IIHF.
Exciting game action Between HC Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Capitals
How can fans watch and follow the league?
Every single one of our games will be streamed live on our YouTube channel,
The Israel National Hockey Society. Fans can always check up on our stats and standings on our website, Israelhockey.com, we are also in talks to have our games broadcasted locally.
После первого тура МЧМ Div IA нападающий сборной Венгрии Андраш Михалик подвел итоги матча против сборной Казахстана (1:3) и рассказал о том, каких ошибок стоит избегать в игре сборной
— Андраш, какие эмоции вы испытывали перед первой игрой на турнире? Как вам в целом матч? Оцените первую игру своей команды и оцените игру команды соперника
— Это была мой дебют на МЧМ. Вначале я был очень взволнован, для меня это большой успех, ведь я попал в окончательный ростер и получил шанс представлять свою страну. Игра против Казахстана была очень быстрой, у соперников было много опытных игроков, поэтому мы должны были приложить все усилия, чтобы не отставать от них. Казахстан — отличная команда, они быстро перемещали шайбу, поэтому мы старались играть попроще. Думаю, сработало очень хорошо. В целом я чувствовал, что мы проделали отличную работу как команда, мы оставались в игре все 60 минут. После матча извлекли уроки и продолжим совершенствоваться.
Кроме того, самое большое положительное впечатление на данный момент заключается в том, что мы, игроки, окружены очень профессиональной средой, с которой мы раньше не сталкивались, поэтому нам нужно сосредоточиться только на хоккее и играх. Мы играли хорошо, но на таком уровне каждая ошибка имеет значение. В следующих играх нам придется свести ошибки минимуму и использовать те немногие шансы, которые мы получаем.
— Какой соперник, на ваш взгляд, будет самым сложным?
— Мы попытались посмотреть на все команды. Мне кажется, что Беларусь и Латвия — сильнейшие команды, судя по их составам. Однако на этом турнире мы и все наши соперники должны сыграть пять игр за семь дней, а это значит, что команды покажут свои хорошие и также плохие стороны.
— Какие цели и задачи стоят перед командой на стартовавший турнир? Насколько команда готова к предстоящим играм ?
— Наша главная цель – остаться в группе А. Сборная Венгрии U20 никогда не выигрывала ни одной игры в этом дивизионе, поэтому мы хотели бы быть первой командой, достигшей этого рубежа. Перед турниром мы cчитаемся аутсайдерами, но мы хотим доказать, что можем конкурировать с любой командой в этом дивизионе, а также выигрывать матчи.
— От чего в сегодняшнем матче у двоих команд было немалое количество удалений?
— Да, я согласен, что в этой игре у обеих команд было большое количество необязательных удалений. Я думаю, это связано с тем, рефери здесь намного строже, чем в чемпионате Венгрии. В оставшейся части турнира мы должны помнить об этом и играть без подобных ошибок.
— Есть ли у тебя какие-нибудь ритуалы перед матчами? Как вообще настраиваешься на игру?
— В отличие от большинства игроков, у меня действительно нет никаких персональных ритуалов перед играми. Хоть и мне нравится каждый раз делать одну и ту же разминку и заматывать клюшку одним и тем же способом, в остальном я не придерживаюсь каких-либо ритуальных действий.
— Пару слов болельщикам на трибунах
— Независимо от того, выиграем мы или проиграем, или что говорит табло, мы всегда будем выкладываться на льду. Мы хотим показать болельщикам, которые приехали сюда, и тем, кто следит за нами из дома, что мы можем дать бой нашим соперникам и достичь нашей цели — остаться в этом дивизионе.
Юрий, по традиции расскажите, как оказались в хоккее?
В принципе все стандартно. Отец часто смотрел, как играет Салават. Мы зачастую ходили на игры тогда ещё во Дворец Спорта на ул.Зорге. То ли по телевизору при просмотре очередной игры, то ли еще где-то было объявление о наборе в хоккейную школу детей 99-98г.р. Как-то так мы об этом узнали и меня привели попробовать свои силы.
Опыт игры в Толпаре?
Отличная команда родной для меня системы. Очень сплоченный и дружный коллектив, профессиональный и грамотный тренерский штаб в лице Гареева Алика Амирхановича, Полозова Константина Александровича, Василевского Андрея Леонидовича, Буторина Анатолия Геннадьевича и всех остальных тренеров и персонала. Остались лишь тёплые воспоминания о этих двух сезонах. Сейчас так же слежу за успехами Толпара и вижу постоянный рост потенциала клуба и сопутствующие ему успехи. Так же хотелось бы поблагодарить всех вышеперечисленных за опыт и знания предоставленные за это время.
Чего не хватило, чтоб попасть в Салават Юлаев?
Салават Юлаев, по моему мнению топ-клуб КХЛ во всех аспектах, чтобы попасть в такого рода клуб нужен огромный труд и опыт, особенно от вратаря, посчитал лучшим для себя вариантом набраться игрового опыта. Мы зачастую не знаем куда приведёт нас то или иное решение, но в любой ситуации нужно работать и стремится, это обязательно вознаграждается.
Юрий Грошев сыграл 48 матчей с Салаватом Юлаевым Уфа
Как оказались в Софии?
В связи с общемировым локдауном, оказался в довольно затруднительной ситуации с поисками клуба. Терять время на ожидания, что тебя куда-то позовут посчитал несостоятельным. Агент Ботев Иван сам является уроженцем Болгарии и предложил такой вариант. Любовь к хоккею, желание работать над собой и играть, повлияло на мое решение в первую очередь.
Первое о чем Вы подумали, когда узнали, что будете играть в Болгарии?
С агентом долго обсуждали варианты, даже не помню тот момент когда это все было решено. Помню что стал интересоваться в принципе болгарским хоккеем, в частности клубом в который попал. Однозначно могу сказать, что после долгого перерыва был рад снова оказаться в условиях моего любимого дела. Ещё в Уфе выходя на тренировки на льду, получал огромное удовольствие, а новость о начале сезона была радостной, хотя и были некоторые мысли о незнакомой для меня стране и новом менталитете людей, но клуб создал все условия для быстрой адаптации в Софии, и конечно же для тренировок, как на льду, так и вне льда.
Вы писали, что, чтоб играть в Салавате Юлаеве Вам нужно больше опыта и труда, считаете уровень болгарского хоккея позволит Вам расти как вратарю?
Из системы Салавата я перешёл в клуб Вхл «Сокол» из Красноярска, а уже в связи в вышеупомянутом локдауном был произведён переход в «НСА». Но в любом случае, все зависит от твоей работы и желания, и если есть условия для работы, а они здесь есть, то рост зависит лишь от тебя. С Константином Лавреновым, игравшем в словакии последние несколько сезонов и по совместительству воспитанником «Сибири». Работаем над собой каждый день, мы оба оказались в непростой ситуации, но совпали в желании расти и продолжать свой путь в хоккее.
Юрий Грошев выступал за красноярскую рысь
Как проходил переезд в другую страну?
Все переезды были организованны клубом. Из Уфы на несколько дней приехал в Питер, для решения вопросов по визе. После чего прилетел в Стамбул, где меня встретил агент и персонал клуба. На машине добрались до Софии, первые несколько дней жил в гостинице, после чего переехал в квартиру. Как я уже упомянул все организационные нюансы взял на себя клуб.
Встречались уже с игроками с которыми проведёте сезон?
Да, с самого приезда в Софию мы приступили к тренировкам. Пока что возникают трудности в коммуникации из-за незнания языка, но по глазам ребят можно сказать, что у них есть желание играть и выигрывать . Приняли нас в коллективе очень тепло.
Учите ли болгарский язык, как общаетесь с командой во время игры?
Болгарский язык целенаправлено не учил, но в принципе из-за схожести языков и проведённого тут времени начал его понимать. Некоторые игроки и вовсе учили русский в школе и знают его на базовом уровне, так что во время игры иногда использую русский, а с теми кто не понимают общаюсь на английском.
АНБ София Команда
Уровень зарплаты в Болгарии дотягивает до зарплат хоккеистов из России? И платят ли местным игрокам?
Зарплаты конечно не дотягивают до уровня ВХЛ, а вот с ВХЛ Б, насколько мне были известны условия во второй команде Красноярска, можно сказать что условия организованные тут можно сравнивать, и я бы сказал, что они по многим пунктам даже более привлекательны. О зарплатах с местными игроками я почти не общался, знаю лишь что платят какие-то деньги тем, кто помимо игр, ещё работает с детьми на тренировках.
Чем помимо хоккея занимаются игроки клуба?
Ребята в команде находятся в разном возрастном диапазоне, кто-то работает, кто-то учится в университете.
Приходят ли болельщики поддержать любимую команду, и вообще есть ли у людей в Болгарии интерес к хоккею?
На вопрос о болельщиках полноценно ответить не смогу. Все игры проходили в условиях карантина, и на них не пускали болельщиков, кроме друзей и семей игроков. Когда интересовался о прошлых сезонах, парни говорили что вроде как поддержка есть, особенно в принципиальных играх бывало. Интерес к хоккею конечно невелик, но как мне кажется, определенный потенциал есть.
Приходят ли болельщики поддержать любимую команду, и вообще есть ли у людей в Болгарии интерес к хоккею?
На вопрос о болельщиках полноценно ответить не смогу. Все игры проходили в условиях карантина, и на них не пускали болельщиков, кроме друзей и семей игроков. Когда интересовался о прошлых сезонах, парни говорили что вроде как поддержка есть, особенно в принципиальных играх бывало. Интерес к хоккею конечно невелик, но как мне кажется, определенный потенциал есть.
В чём для Вас главные отличия хоккея в двух странах?
В первую очередь это – уровень развития хоккея, здесь его развивают отдельные люди и он не входит в приоритет на государственном уровне. Ещё бы отметил разницу менталитета, на ребят нет сильного психологического давления, поэтому они просто получают удовольствие от игры, вне зависимости от результата.
Если Вам предложат стать вратарем сборной Болгарии, то примите предложение?
Будущее сложно предугадать, моя задача работать над собой в любых условиях, конечно в первую очередь хотелось бы реализоваться как вратарь на хорошем уровне.
Sadiq saleem, Founding member and President of a youth based organization named as ‘The Altit Sports Club And Rising Federation (SCARF)’
By George Da Silva – National Teams of Ice Hockey
We had the great pleasure of Interviewing Sadiq Saleem from Pakistan. Sadiq Saleem is the founding member and President of a youth based organization named as‘The Altit Sports Club And Rising Federation (SCARF)’. The Altit SCARF organized the Pakistan’s first ever Ice Hockey tournament in season-1 at grassroots level in 2019 and this year in 2021 they have successfully organized season-3.
Q1: Can you gives us a brief history of ice hockey in Pakistan?
The first ever community to support Ice hockey at grassroots level was first organized by The Altit Sports Club and Rising Federation (SCARF) at the premises of 1100 years old Altit Fort, for the very first time in the history of Pakistan. It was a totally a self-help event by The Altit Sports Club and rising federation. Moreover, ice hockey was also been organized by Pakistan Air Force at Naltar valley at organizational level.
How did you become fan of this sport?
A special type of hockey was played by our elders many years ago locally known as “Phinchko”. One of our members had attended a two days ice skating training camp in 2014, he later trained our local youth. One day it was a snowy day in winters of 2015) we started to skate on ice and then we learned ice hockey by ourselves and also watched some videos on youtube. Then we became interested in ice hockey and our community has supported us to organized local level championship. We, then, extended our event on the basis of our expertise and organized a provincial championship in 2021.
The Altit SCARF organized Pakistan’s first ever Ice Hockey tournament at the grassroots level in 2019 and this year in 2021 you successfully organized it again. Have the numbers of participants grown over the last 3 years?
Yes. The Altit SCARF organized Pakistan’s first ever Ice Hockey tournament at the grassroots level in 2019 as season-I and this year in 2021 we successfully organized ice hockey championship season-III. We have witnessed an increasing number of players in the last 3 years. Initially we had maximum of only 8 ice hockey players. But this year we have witnessed more than 100 players of ice hockey which includes both Boys and Girls. All of these players are trained by our senior players on self-help basis. In our recent ice hockey championship, 10 teams had participated out of them 3 teams were comprised of girls.
Youth ice hockey tournament in Northern Pakistan
Young girls take part in youth hockey tournament
Are you getting any players or coaches from other countries to help out?
Not really. But we are optimist that if we get any support and guidance, we can fully polish our skills to play ice hockey
What’s the long-term plans and how do they plan on achieving them?
Our plan is to make a national team of Ice hockey which will represent Pakistan and play for Pakistan at international level. Further. We want to create sports based diplomatic ties with other countries to promote healthy activities and brotherhood.
Hockey Night in Hunza, Pakistan
Are there any plans to build indoor ice rinks in the country?
We are currently limited to our region and maximum to our province Gilgit-Baltistan. But here as well, we are trying to build more rinks to play ice hockey by involving the local communities. We hope that by continuing our struggle we will build maximum possible ice hockey rinks in Pakistan in near future.
Ice hockey equipment is very expensive, where are you getting it from?
We cannot afford to buy full equipment of ice hockey and currently we lag the safety gear as well. We buy the used skates from the Flea markets of Karachi and Lahore. We were also assisted by some individuals as well.
India & Nepal have join the International Ice Hockey Federation. Will Pakistan follow suit in the coming years?
We are optimist about our talent, potential and spirit towards ice hockey. Pakistan is a country full of young potential and confidence. As a citizen of Pakistan, I can confidently say that Pakistan will join the international ice hockey federation in coming years.
Hoping one day to play for Pakistan
Have there been any talks with India or Nepal about having joint development hockey camps or tournaments to help develop the sport in the region?
Any Government official can answer this question, if they have any higher level talks with any of the countries. As we are an independent youth organization and organize ice hockey on self-help basis, so we are not been able to talk to other countries so far.
I feel lucky that have got this golden opportunity to talk to IIHF as a president of a youth organization.
Do think that winter sports in general can get a foot hold in Pakistan sporting landscape?
A big yes. I would say, Northern Pakistan and valleys like HUNZA, especially, has this opportunity to uplift the winter sports at national and International level.
We had the great pleasure of interviewing Sebastian Kahuna who is an actor and producer, known for Santo Domingo, The App and The I-Land (2019) Sebastian is also a huge hockey fan and started hockey in Dominican Republic.
How did you get started in developing the game of hockey in the Dominican Republic?
I first started to travel to the DR for pleasure and soon came the famous NHL playoff season and I realized that it was nearly impossible to follow the games back then.
So we started what is today Kahuna on Cabarete beach on the North Coast of the DominicanRepublic. Today it is a full beach hotel with an ocean front restaurant bar on the first level . Back then it was a small typical Beach Bar but operated as an American Sports Bar with multiple TVs where the patrons gathered to watch their favorite sports.
Being Canadian, Hockey was always featured and with time… and over many beers & wings while sitting on the beach, the idea of playing hockey and having our own team came and just like that the Kahuna Hockey Team was created. Has things grew we hosted various tournament s and events including; Embassy challenges, All-Inclusive Resorts Packages including Tournaments for tourists and the Alex Burrow’s Cup.
Are all the players locals or are there expats?
A mixture of both. But mostly expats from all around the world and retired players.
DR team at the Alex burrows cup in 2016
How did former NHLer Alex Burrows get involved?
We have a friend in common, who is in charge of the Burrow s cup and we try hosting it at least once a year. ALEX is a deck hockey veteran and has always pushed its development. They, reached out to us when they heard about what we were trying to accomplish here in the Caribbeans and since we don’t have an ice rink yet it just made sense to join our journeys.
DR team at the Alex burrows cup in 2017
In 2015 the Florida Panthers hosted a hockey clinic on the Island. How did this event help bring awareness to the game?
The PR event increased drastically the energy and the hope of an Latin-American league to grow and for many Ice Rinks to be build over the region. It also spiked the interests of some current NHL retired and active Hockey players to get involved and support us.
Before this interview we talked a little bit and you mentioned that you also do ice hockey training, but you have to travel. Where do you go and how many players go with you?
Over the years we have been going to various cities for different tournaments and also to played short seasons. In my case I have been fortunate to manage to play a few full summer seasons in Alberta (where 2 Edmonton City league Cups were won, thanks to my Canadian fellows over thereunder!!!) and half winter seasons in Quebec. Toronto(Canada), New York(USA), Barcelona(Spain) and others.
Where does the funding come from?
For our normal season the money comes from us the players. Some of it has come from Kahuna initially when we first started but now that money is. mostly used for tournaments, or events (which may include beers and wings on occasion) LOL
This what teams play for the Alex Burrows Cup
There is speculation that the Dominican Republic will play their first ice hockey game in Puerto Rico when this pandemic is over. Is this true?
Yes. It is in the works! We were very close to make this a tangible reality and make it over to visit our friends over in Puerto Rico last year but COVID19 had other plans for us. Let’s hope things come back to normal soon.
Are there any future plans to play in the Latam Cup, like your neighbors Puerto Rico and Jamaica did last year?
Yes. We will most likely see for the first time in history a Dominican Republic ice hockey team in the next Latin cup. And I cannot wait to see our names appear on that CUP!!!
Possible DR Jersey’s for Latam Cup
Are there any plans to have a Hockey Association or Federation in the future?
Yes, as you know we’ve been working on having an ice hockey rink here for the last 10 years and being part of such organization would be a must.
You are an actor and producer, what sort of things are you working on for 2021 and will we see you in any movies or films next year?
Yes most definitely . Many of 2020’s releases were paused with the closures of the movie theaters, therefore 2021 will have many Productions released which I’m part of.
o keep this answer short, the best I can say for people is to follow me on social medias where I release scoops and details on some upcoming films sebastiankahuna on Twitter, Facebookand also on IMDb : http://imdb.me/Sebastiankahuna where some movie productions or being posted. One thing I can say is that hockey and baseball will be soon featured on the big screen.
WHEN ASKED; Sebastian did not deny the possibility of seeing this crazy “Hockey in the Caribbean Adventure” displayed on the big screen. Sebastian added that it made it big for the “Jamaican bobsled Team” back in the days why not doing the same again in a Hockey Movie!
