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| On A Crease With Boris Mayorov |
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Boris Mayorov (Photo: allrusnews.info)
ON A CREASE WITH BORIS MAYOROV
Source: Sovetsky Sport (September 9th, 2008)
Translated by Alexei Belousenko of Russian Hockey Digest
It’s been a week since the first season in KHL’s (Continental Hockey League) history started. Are there principal differences between KHL and its “ancestor” – Super League?
B. Mayorov: Frankly speaking, our league didn’t become better because of title change. The quality of hockey in Russia sharply rose up in last two years. And evolution goes on! Look at foreigners in the league; there were never so many NHLers in Russia. Many teams have strengthened and this fact made hockey more attractive and interesting to watch. Starting this season, games take place every day, everyone will have to get used to it. The idea was simply copied from NHL. Will see what is going to happen closer to an end of the season. I foresee that many players, coaches, specialists and even fans will get tired. Unfortunately, there are days like Monday this week, only one match and opponents are not leaders – Sibir and Dynamo from Riga… It would make more sense to schedule more presentable teams for such days; for instance, Salavat Yulaev versus Metallurg from Magnitogorsk or Lokomotiv versus Spartak…
Salavat Yulaev started the season like champions. Three games – three wins! Is the team from Ufa able to repeat Lokomotiv’s success six years ago and win golden medals two consecutive years?
B. Mayorov: Very possible. Although, all three wins were gained at home, but against serious opponents – Lokomotiv, SKA and Severstal. This is not unusual for a team, that won a title for the first time, starts crushing others in new season with old temper. Other teams have to wait for Salavat Yulaev’s crisis. Crisis will happen for sure with such compact schedule.
Perhaps, Salavat Yulaev has the best roster in KHL; therefore, the team from Ufa is one of favorites of the season. Besides, Ak Bars has three wins in three games as well. This team was not as active as other teams during offseason to get stronger, but hats off for head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov – team work is top level.
All teams played three-four matches so far, but top scorers are same as previous seasons – Alexei Morozov and Danis Zaripov from Ak Bars. Is Morozov going to become the best scorer again for forth consecutive year?
B. Mayorov: No surprise, these are Players starting with uppercase. I were surprised if Morozov and Zaripov wouldn’t gain scoring points. They are leaders not only in Ak Bars, but the national team, too. I hope there will be other goal scorers “fighting” with Morozov and Zaripov. Possibly, Sergei Mozyakin will not let Morozov to get bored like last season.
Famous forward Jaromir Jagr, who moved from New York to Omsk during offseason, is still “quiet”. No goals in three games and only one win for Avangard. Did Jagr come to Russia to end his career for very decent compensation? Will he be able to become a real leader of the team?
B. Mayorov: Jagr’s scoring effectiveness fell over last few years in NHL. In 2006 he scored 54 goals, 2007 – 30, 2008 – 25… Jagr is a great player, but let’s not forget that he is 36 years old now. He cannot carry on a team by himself. Besides, I foresee that it will take time for Avangard’s head coach Sergei Gersonsky to find good-match partners for Jagr. Last match, Jaromir played with 22-year-old Viktor Alexandrov… The team coaches have a better view of the situation, but I think Jagr needs other partners.
Last Saturday at the IIHF congress, “Radulov case” was discussed again. Forward, having a valid contract with Nashville, signed a contract with Salavat Yulaev, where he was offered better terms. Obviously, NHL is disappointed. But IIHF’s position is not clear, Radulov is temporary disqualified following NHL request. Shouldn’t the IIHF take KHL side in such arguments? The Champions League will start on October. Not allowing Radulov, KHL star, to play in such prestigious IIHF tournament is at least silly…
B. Mayorov: I feel bad for IIHF president Rene Fasel, these days. He got used to take NHL side in all arguments. Our players used to get disqualifications for deals that had nothing to do with IIHF. In other words, Russian players were getting disqualified by another league, not IIHF member. Absurd! Does IIHF report directly to NHL? The only sensitive issue is NHLers participation in Olympic Games. NHL has to take a break in their regular season. But even if NHL would boycott Olympics, it is questionable who would lose worse out of it. Annual World Championships is not a problem. NHLers go to these tournaments after they get eliminated from the Stanley Cup. So, why should Fasel please NHL’s bosses? Many years they were pulling our players regardless of their contracts in Russia. And as soon as Salavat Yulaev did exact same thing to them, all of a sudden, they turned into offended boys from an elementary school. Indeed, something like “we will not talk to you again until you give a favorite toy back to Nashville”. After all, IIHF should stop playing around with disqualifications. I am almost positive that Radulov will play at the Champions League, otherwise Fasel wouldn’t be understood in European hockey federations.
Alexei Morozov (Photo: khl.ru)
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| 2009-02-26 | | Barys - Vityaz 6:4 | | Atlant - Spartak 3:2 | | Severstal - Metallurg Mg 1:2 | | Lokomotiv - Traktor 3:1 | | SKA - Salavat Yulaev 5:4 | | CSKA - HC MVD 3:2 | | Dynamo Minsk - Metallurg Nk 2:4 | | Dynamo Riga - Amur 0:1 |
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| Mozyakin Sergey 76 (34+42) | | Marek Yan 72 (35+37) | | Morozov Alexei 71 (32+39) | | Zaripov Danis 65 (34+31) | | Tereschenko Alexei 58 (29+29) |
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| Marek Yan 35 | | Brendl Pavel 35 | | Mozyakin Sergey 34 | | Zaripov Danis 34 | | Morozov Alexei 32 |
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| Mozyakin Sergey 42 | | Morozov Alexei 39 | | Marek Yan 37 | | Mortensson Toni 35 | | Pestunov Dmitry 34 |
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| Ogureshnikov Sergey 1.44 | | Yachanov Dmitry 1.47 | | Norrena Fredrik 1.52 | | Kolesnik Vitaly 1.61 | | Gayduchenko Sergey 1.62 |
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