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| Morozov is Number One! |
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Alexei Morozov (Photo by Pavel Lysenkov – Sovetsky Sport)
Interview by Kirill Belyakov (Sovetsky Sport – December 23, 2008)
Translated by Alexei Belousenko of Russian Hockey Digest
On December 21, KHL All Star Game 2009 starting lineups voting ended. Every hockey fan could leave their votes on the official KHL website for their favorite KHL players. Ak Bars forward Alexei Morozov had collected the largest number of votes (44,549). The All Star Game is scheduled to be played on the world famous Red Square on January 10, 2009. After the fact, the Sovetsky Sport correspondent talked to the winner.
Alexei, congratulations on your win in fans voting!
A. Morozov: Thank you.
Do you like the format of the All Star Game: Russians versus Foreigners?
A. Morozov: This format is OK with me. Most likely, my former and present teammates Esche, Giroux, Mortensson will join the “Jagr-team”. Besides, I will be glad to talk to Jaromir again; we had played in Pittsburgh together. However, above everything else, the most exciting is the fact that the All Star Game will take place in the Red Square. This is a one time life event!
Some players are not so excited about the event: one day-off less…
A. Morozov: I’m ready to reduce my time-off for the opportunity to play on the Red Square. Everyone will receive so much positive energy out there. I hope everything to be organized well and weather is important, too.
Meteorologists predict +4 degrees Celsius and rain for January 10th…
A. Morozov: Let’s hope they are mistaken.
Do you know whom hockey fans selected for your line partners?
A. Morozov: No. Whom?
Zaripov and Sushinsky.
A. Morozov: Great choice!
The center is missing in this combination.
A. Morozov: It’s OK, we will toss the coin who will play center.
For you personally, this is going to be your third All Star Game
A. Morozov: Yes, and both times I played in Mytischi. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to play such a game in the NHL; only watched it on TV.
What was most remarkable from your experience in these games?
A. Morozov: How they measured shot strength in skills competition. In Russia, players should send the puck along the board, and whose puck would stop furthest that player’s shot is strongest. I don’t think this is accurate. In NHL, they use special device to measure flying puck speed.
What is the most exciting competition that you participated in?
A. Morozov: Shots on target. This is the real sniper competition; the best checkup for forwards.
What skill competition would you like to participate on the Red Square? “Speed” or, maybe, “shootouts”?
A. Morozov: Not “speed”, for sure! I am not strong in this, and, actually, I’m not big of a runner anyway. The match itself excites me the most.
What does need to be done in order to make the All Star show successful?
A. Morozov: The most important is to limit pauses in skill competitions and in the game, so that hockey fans do not get cold awaiting another action.
When did you play hockey outside last time?
A. Morozov: Four years ago, Ak Bars played bandy. We played a friendly game versus a bandy team Rocket from Kazan on their home stadium. We wore full ice-hockey gear, but played with bandy-sticks.
Who won?
A. Morozov: Of course, they did. Ice-hockey and bandy are two different sports, even though, the concept is same. We had little chances to begin with… Back in my childhood, I spent much time playing outside while growing in Krylya Sovetov (Soviet Wings) hockey school. During holiday seasons, our rink was used for other events and youth hockey teams were practicing on outside rinks. It was absolutely OK with us because we were having so much fun.
Wouldn’t you like to play an official KHL game in open rink, similar to the NHL Classics events?
A. Morozov: No. I understand, hockey fans receive extra fun in such events, but it is tough for sportsmen. Weather is another factor. I have watched Buffalo versus Pittsburgh played in a football stadium. It was too windy, snowy and cold – it was not a quality hockey match. I am not a big fan of such experiments.
There are only few days left before New Year. How and where are you planning to celebrate the holiday?
A. Morozov: At home in Moscow with my family, parents and relatives.
What will you ask Ded Moroz (Russian version of Santa Claus) about for the new year?
A. Morozov: Peace in the world and global economical crisis to end sooner. But, most important, health and happiness for my close people.
Starting Lineups
“Yashin-team”
Goaltender:
Alexander Eremenko (Salavat Yulaev) – 18,738 votes
Defensemen:
Ilya Nikulin (Ak Bars) – 24,854
Vitaly Proshkin (Salavat Yulaev) – 23,026
Forwards:
Alexei Morozov (Ak Bars) – 44,549
Danis Zaripov (Ak Bars) – 37,279
Maxim Sushinsky (SKA) – 25,839
“Jagr-team”
Goaltender:
Robert Esche (SKA) – 32,712
Defensemen:
Ray Giroux (SKA) – 28,548
Kevin Dallman (Barys) – 26,869
Forwards:
Pavel Brendl (Torpedo) – 41,570
Tony Martensson (Ak Bars) – 35,266
Jan Marek (Metallurg Mg) – 34,032
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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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