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Blog:
10 April 2008-The Playoffs are just around the corner More…
29 April 2008, №17515
P. Lysenkov
Russian National Team head coach Vyacheslav Bykov: I myself would not allow Ovechkin on the ice without insurance
ONLY 3 DAYS UNTIL THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
In an interview with reporters from 'Soviet Sport', Vyacheslav Bykov refused to confirm that Ovechkin is unable to train with the National Team without insurance. He furthermore explained that the captain of the national team will be named by the coaching staff, and not chosen by the players. One of the candidates is Sergey Fedorov.
«KOVALCHUK IS GETTING IN SHAPE»
..Before he begins his interview with the journalists, Bykov warmly embraces an opposing team head coach, Ralph Krueger.
- He's worked with Switzerland for almost ten years. I know him well, and his team is pure class - smiles Bykov.
- Krueger said that his team didn't play as well the first period, but in the second and third they played evenly with the Russian team.
- We didn't play well the second period. It's difficult to get inside the head of a player, but I think they need to be shaken up. We didn't have enough concentration, we overworked the puck, didn't have good passes...We asked the guys to get it together and give it some more hustle. Then you can take the attack to your opponent and quickly return to defense. It all depends on skating.
-There were a lot of new lines in this team. Which do you recall?
-Right now Morozov can't play due to injury, so we are trying new lines. We've placed Kovalchuck with Zinovev, and Zaripov with Tereshchenko. The guys made really good impressions during training, but we'll continue to keep looking at different things. We have a few more ideas.
- What's up with Kovalchuk?
- He's slowly getting back in shape.- He was out of shape?
- I wouldn't say that. He just needs a little time. Its been a while since Ilya played with the team.
- You have a good selection to put in front of the goal - Varlamov or Yeremenko. Varlamov had a great win over Switzerland.
- We have a healthy competition between our goalkeepers. They are masters at their games. Its no fluke that Varlamov and Yeremenko played against each other in the Russian Championship finals. I believe in both of them. I will put in Yeremenko in the game against Canada, so he can get some practice.
<<WE AREN'T COUNTING OUT THE NHL PLAYERS>>
- You're going to officially announce the makeup of the team after the game against Canada. Does this have anything to do with the splash made by the young defender Vorovev, who made two goals against Switzerland?
- We invited him to join the team last season. At that time he didn't make a real strong impression on us. This year, however, Vorovev is showing himself really well on the team. Maybe this is because we play on a smaller rink and he is a dimensional defender? Basically, this guy has a good understanding of the game.
- What can you say about Kulemin and Fedor Fedorov? They aren't looking very expressive so far.
- We need to play against Canada, and then think long and hard about the makeup of the team. You'll know the final decision Tuesday morning.
- If a player doesn't make the cut, would you want him to stay with the team in Canada until the end of the Word Championship? You've always said that the entire team is like one big family..
- Yes, but the words "what I want" aren't appropriate here. The player who isn't selected for the team has to make that decision by himself.
- What was the thinking behind bringing a minimum of seven extra players from abroad just for the sake of two exhibition games?
- You have to understand that any game brings with it the risk of injuries. If I had let a bunch of players go back in Moscow and then we needed them, we might not have been able to get them back. Can you imagine if we suddenly lose two or three players? Anything is possible in hockey. Where would we find replacements? Could we call to Russia, bring them here, when you didn't even have them on the team to begin with? It's not possible. I understand that personally it is difficult-- we bring these candidates from overseas and in two days we tell somebody "nyet". But we must keep the risk to a minimum. Nobody would understand us otherwise.
- But the NHL players Radulov, Ovechkin, Semin, Fedorov-- could they be cut?
- Well, only if...Bykov thinks hard for a moment, then smiles-- No, we aren't going to cut anyone. If we invite NHL players, that means we envision them on the team and we will give them the opportunity to play. Now whether or not they will play in all the games or not-- that is another question entirely.
<<A CAPTAIN WILL BE APPOINTED>>
- Is there any guarantee that Ovechkin's insurance will be paid?
- I think so.
- But Sasha said in an interview with Soviet Sport that the insurance for him hadn't been done yet, and he is came to Quebec as a tourist...
- I myself wouldn't put him on the ice without insurance.
- But he isn't even allowed to train on the ice yet.
- This is debatable. Ovechkin could cross the street right now and slip and hurt himself on level ground. Or he could hurt himself while playing in a pick-up game which the hockey players like to do during the summer. I strongly doubt that Sasha will not train with us. And anyway, Vladislav Tretiak said that the issue of Ovechkin's insurance had been resolved.
– Is the team captain going to be voted on?
- He will be appointed.
- On the one hand, you have captain Morozov, but on the other, you have a real authority coming in Sergei Fedorov who is 38 years old..
- We have to ponder it all. This is a delicate, meticulous moment.
- Before you make your decision, are you going to have a heart-to-heart talk with Fedorov?
- Well, we're going to talk - and do some heart-to-heart.
- ...but not in the shower?
- We might talk sometimes in the shower, why not? - Bykov laughs, playing on the words. (*.N.B. the Russian word "dusha" means both "soul" as in soulful talk- and "shower"). We all shower together. There aren't any ladies around. Everything is out in the open amongst friends.
------------------------
Yesterday evening the head of public relations for the RHF, Vladimir Gerasimov, made the following comments on the insurance situation of our NHL players:
- The issue of participation of Semin and Fedorov in the World Championship has been resolved. A fax with corresponding information was sent from Washington on Monday. As for Ovechkin,the final nuances connected with the registration of his insurance are being finalized. As RHF president Vladislav Tretiak promised, by May 2 everything will be resolved.
