The owners of the Gagarin Cup Mikhail Anisin and Andrey Pervyshin, with whom Metallurg Novokuznetsk broke contracts the day before, contacted the site's editorial office.
COUNTED WITH SUCH CYNISM FOR THE FIRST TIME - ZINOVIEV'S DECISIONS ARE SABOTATED
The first to take the floor was the best sniper of the playoffs-2013 and the winner of the Gagarin Cup Mikhail Anisin:
It is simply impossible to read and listen to those fables that have been spread about me and the now former defender of “Metallurg” Andrei Pervyshin in recent days. About my appearance at a training session allegedly drunk - despite the fact that I, I will be absolutely frank, there is no medication opportunity to drink, about our lateness, and so on. In fact, we were simply not allowed to play, they deliberately brought us into conflict. This is the first time I've encountered such cynicism!
Andrey Pervyshin, defender, two-time Gagarin Cup winner:
I fully agree with Mikhail. At first, we did not understand what was happening in the club. Anisin plowed in the gym and on the ice more and more - and he got less and less time. I had both goals and assists - but for some reason they did not please the coaches either. And only now it became clear who started this whole game.
Anisin: - Start over. Both me and Andrey were invited to the club by the new general director of Metallurg Sergei Zinoviev, a renowned hockey player, multiple world champion and winner of the Gagarin Cup. To be honest, after the first training session and communication with the guys, I realized that it would be very difficult for Sergei Olegovich - he would have to put things in order everywhere and in a short time. Suffice it to say that during the preparation for the season, the players, in fact, wasted time - the foundation was laid mainly through runs around the stadium. If at one time in the championship “Dynamo” or “Vityaz” we would have been trained in this way, we would not have made it even until the middle of the season.
Zinoviev, almost a week or two later, did what suggested itself - fired Nikolai Soloviev. I never discuss the coaches, especially the age ones, but everything was obvious here that with this specialist it was soon confirmed in “Neftekhimik”.
Pervyshin: - Zinoviev is a super professional, he knows everything in hockey, from morning till night he lives with the problems of his native team. He tried to change a lot in Metallurg - and training process, and club relationships. But gradually we began to notice that some things were openly sabotaged by a number of employees.
- By whom exactly?
Anisin: - For example, head coach Sergei Berdnikov. Sergei Olegovich recommended one thing, Berdnikov saluted, and then he tried to do everything in his own way. It is clear that he did not succeed. After all, Zinoviev is the pinnacle in our hockey, and Berdnikov is an ordinary traveler, a temporary worker, who in Novokuznetsk managed only one thing - to sit down Soloviev.
Pervyshin: - Many of the coach's attitudes caused laughter not only among us, experienced players, but even among young people. They themselves agreed on some points after the installations - and they worked, contrary to Berdnikov's instructions.
But the coach had to somehow assert himself. This is best done at the expense of someone else. The coach chose Anisin as such a victim. Eye to eye he was afraid of Misha like fire, but he came to press conferences - and began to sand him. This is not hockey-style, and, most importantly, not masculine!
- Who keeps this specialist in the club?
It seems to us that if everything depended on Zinoviev, then Novokuznetsk would have had a normal coach for a long time, and the team would not have trailed in last place - with six wins in 37 matches.
Anisin: - This result is terrifying, but in Novokuznetsk, in fact, a promising and not weak team. Zemchenko, Yazkov, Soloviev, Mikheev, Lyamkin, a few more young guys are very talented, Zinoviev immediately singled them out and realized that with the help of several experienced players the team would be successful and would definitely not be the last. But you need good coach... The current one, at the suggestion of some leaders, has solved and is solving its own problems. One of them is to remove us and thereby substitute Zinoviev.
Pervyshin: - I agree!
EVERYONE WAIT FOR MONACO AND CHAMPAGNE, AND WE ARE IN THE FORGE - AND WE ARE GIVING PATRIOTIC SONGS
- Why is there no good coach?
We have already said that the CEO's hands are tied. And then, not long ago, a strange sports director came from the main sponsor, who does not even know what hockey is and does not even know how to skate. His task is to cut the minimum wages for everyone. So to speak, a crisis manager from the factory.
Anisin: - And in addition to such a director, there were "moles" in the team - I think, at the suggestion of Berdnikov. They pour everything that is beneficial to the trainer on the Internet, shield him. They also substitute Zinoviev, giving information about some internal affairs, debts. It is clear where the ears grow from.
In such an environment, young players certainly cannot form. And it is no coincidence that many are already looking to the side. So insulting for the Novokuznetsk hockey!
- Do you have any complaints about yourself? And do you understand that not everyone will believe you?
Both: - And still, we considered it necessary to perform - so that Zinoviev was allowed to work normally, and the club would not be secretly transferred to the lower league.
Well, the main complaint against myself is that they did not meet Zinoviev's hopes. Yes, we were not given the opportunity to justify them, but this is still rather an excuse - it was necessary to go to the press earlier, not to be silent.
Yesterday, a video on which you, along with another player of the club, Andrei Taratukhin, sing songs, caused a great resonance on the Internet. Some bloggers have already called the video the most interesting in the entire current KHL season ...
Anisin: - We understand why the people got excited. Our fans are accustomed to the fact that athletes usually rest somewhere in expensive clubs Monaco, they order hundreds of bottles of champagne there and, excuse the expression, bulge. And here in the kitchen in Novokuznetsk, absolutely sober hockey players sing patriotic songs about the history of their country. The accusers must be shocked (laughs).
WE WILL BE BACK!
- Nevertheless, Novokuznetsk is already a passed stage for you. What's next?
Anisin: - After all those tubs of mud that a couple of characters poured on us here, there is only one thing left - to wash and train even more. And we also want to say a big thank you to Zinoviev and the Novokuznetsk team for their support. Yes, we know a few weaklings who "knocked" and who, we suspect, will also be asked to throw stones at us. But they are a pitiful exception, because the people in Siberia are honest and reliable.
Pervyshin: - I also understand perfectly well that we should not be offended, but work. I’m not leaving the hall from tomorrow. We will be back!
"Forge" goes to the bottom. There were hopes, but they were dashed
The events that have taken place recently in the camp of the Novokuznetsk Metallurg cannot be ignored. True Novokuznetsk fans who are going to kHL matches less and less, in the near future they may even be left without hockey.The club's management takes one wrong step after another, while considerable funds are invested in these incomprehensible decisions, which could probably be used more competently. At the same time, it is known that the new management of the club is trying by all means to get rid of those employees who have been working in the club for a long time, forcing them to write statements "of their own free will" ...
There were hopes, but they were dashed
This season, Metallurg Novokuznetsk has firmly settled on the bottom of the Kontinental Hockey League standings. He, frankly, did not shine in the past either, but it was a team of fighters that gave eminent rivals a lot of trouble. Suffice it to recall at least the three Cossacks-Stoa-Whims, which exactly a year ago during the championship was by this time the most productive link in the KHL. A whole galaxy of talented hockey players received practice under the guidance of an experienced mentor Solovyov. Many matches were lost only in overtime or in shootouts. The fans were ready to endure a little more in order to get a full-fledged team capable of fighting for high places... In a word, there was a game, passions blazed on the ice and in the stands.
Much has changed since then. And it seems that the owners of the club are doing one illogical action after another. Over the past few months, it was first decided to change the general director, then one of the most experienced KHL coaches, Nikolai Soloviev, lost his post, and after that the general manager Valery Zelepukin was also dismissed. Rumor has it that in the near future HC "Metallurg" may officially declare itself bankrupt, and, accordingly, those employees who even had an agreement with the club may well not receive the money owed.
Not the most optimistic rumors concern the financial future of individual hockey players, “Metallurg”. There is evidence that the club's management summons the players and insists on changing the numbers in the already signed unilateral contract. Naturally, downward. I would like to draw the attention of the KHL hockey players' union to these unconfirmed data in order to clarify whether we are really falling into complete lawlessness and lawlessness.
The forest is chopped - the chips are flying
The current CEO Sergei Zinoviev is a protégé of the club owners from EVRAZ. Pupil of Novokuznetsk hockey school Sergei Olegovich Zinoviev headed the club during the preparation of the team for the season. It was he who initiated the invitation to “Metallurg” of several players, including Mikhail Anisin and Andrey Pervyshin, who managed to play in many kHL teams... The indicators of Mikhail who left the club were according to the "goal + pass" system - in 20 games he scored only 2 (!) Points with a usefulness indicator of "-10".
The "successes" of management are not limited to this. At the last home games to support “Metallurg” came only about one and a half thousand fans. The residents of Novokuznechansk vote with a ruble not only against the interim result, to which it would be time to get used to under EVRAZ, but also against the behind-the-scenes incomprehensible games that have been going on since the beginning of the season. By the way, Zinoviev at one time played under the leadership of Nikolai Soloviev, but their relationship as a leader and coach did not work out. As a result, one of the most experienced specialists was the first to be fired, several rounds after the start of the championship. Really the owners of the club and the general director were smart enough to blame the venerable Nikolai Dmitrievich Solovyov for the team's failures?
Apparently, the dismissal of Soloviev may well be due to the fact that this specialist was invited by Zinoviev's predecessor, Vladimir Rokkel. Whoever said what, but it was he who initiated the summer charity auction in support of Novokuznetsk ice hockey with the participation of stars. The former leader has excellent friendly relations with two pupils of Novokuznetsk hockey, Dmitry Orlov and Sergei Bobrovsky, who are successfully performing in the NHL, who held a master class for the Novokuznetsk hockey school in their hometown in the summer. But most importantly: after finishing last season, Metallurg Novokuznetsk went out without debt for the first time in many years. As evidenced by the public statements of the leadership of the hockey union and reports in the KHL. Probably, "in gratitude" for this, Rokkel was removed from his post.
Unfulfilled hopes
When Zinoviev took the helm of Metallurg, everyone was confident that he would be able to find additional funding for the club. Like, say, his former partner in Ak Bars and the Russian national team Alexei Morozov, who managed to find a sponsor for his native club Krylya Sovetov ... Zinoviev failed to do this - the club was stuck in debt, and not only in relation to companies -contractors. Problems began to arise among the employees of HC "Metallurg". Someone, having a valid contract in hand, has already missed the due salary, and for several months.
It's time to move on to the final part of our epic: today the fate of Novokuznetsk hockey is not even in the hands of Zinoviev, who suddenly returned to the city, where he became a hockey player, to a completely new and unusual position for himself. All power, it turns out, is absolutely not in the hands hockey man from the EVRAZ company. His name is Andrei Denyakin, a member of the board of trustees. He has no official status, indicating that he has not even a direct, but an indirect relationship to Novokuznetsk hockey, except for the mentioned social burden. Nevertheless, it is Denyakin, as the plenipotentiary representative of the general sponsor, who today decides whom to execute and whom to pardon. What kind of person? It is enough to "google", study the local media to get at least a superficial idea about it.
Andrey Denyakin- anti-crisis manager
The biography of an official of a transnational company is quite curious: he was once the trade union leader of the Kuznetsk Metallurgical Plant, which was part of the MIKOM group (by the way, those were the golden years for Novokuznetsk Metallurg). But new trends burst out, and the Novokuznetsk industrial potential seemed like a tasty morsel for EVRAZ. Denyakin for a long time Together with the disgraced oligarchs of MIKOM, he resisted the ongoing redistribution of property, but ultimately surrendered. And he did not just give up - the career of the former trade union leader began to play sharply with new colors - he became either a director or a deputy director of a department or any of the structural divisions of EVRAZ.
But the most memorable, perhaps, were the last appointments. With his coming to the head of the Evrazrud division, a policy of closing unprofitable mines began to be actively pursued. What would happen to the people compactly living in the villages of Khakassia, in particular, the former trade union boss did not care much. The head of the neighboring region, Yevgeny Zimin, offered the Novokuznetsk functionary a deal - to transfer the mines to Khakassia, and not to close them. Denyakin's words, which were then voiced on this occasion at the conference call, were circulated for a long time in the media of the two regions: "I would rather flood the mines than give them to Khakassia." After that, Denyakin had to explain himself - he was misunderstood.
It is clear that the KHL will not allow the team to withdraw from the current tournament, as it regularly happens with clubs in major league... But further ...
If Metallurg starts their home series of games in the championship this week, Kuznetskie Medvedi, on the contrary, went to the away matches of the Youth Hockey League. One of the mentors of this team is the honored coach of Russia - Oleg Suzdalenko. The pupils of which are players born in 1996 (as well as two hockey players born in 1997, Ivan Yemets and Kirill Zinoviev) are now playing both in the MHL and in the KHL. And another hockey player - Sergei Boykov, plays in North America and it is possible that in the near future he will debut in the NHL. At one time, Oleg Sergeevich worked at the Novokuznetsk hockey school with such a future master as Sergei Zinoviev. Sergei Olegovich is a pupil of just Oleg Suzdalenko, an interview with whom we bring to your attention in today's edition of Hockey Novokuznetsk.
- Oleg Sergeevich, how satisfied were you with the starting home matches of Kuznetsk Bears?
- The first games with the Tolyatti Rook were played on a certain rise. Simply put, the guys missed the official matches, showed active hockey. Moreover, we played at home, with our fans. Something worked out, some didn't, but we took 6 points and we are happy about it. Irbis - difficult opponent... Kazan has a young team. We did not expect such an aggressive game on their part. Our team is, if I may say so, "age" and, it is possible, the guys thought that they would play with Irbis on skill. And, unfortunately, there is still no great skill. As a result, in the first match, the guys were not able to break themselves, to make a result. We set ourselves up for the second, realized that we could not beat Kazan on one skate, but the beginning did not work out - 0: 2. Then there was a good splash, scored 3 goals, but after that there was some confusion in the game and could not bring the match to its logical conclusion, we lost, although in this fight, I think, some points should have been scored.
- If we compare the potential of the team of this and last seasons, which side will have the advantage?
- I think that the team of the 2015/16 season is more skilled. Those guys were more equipped with skill than those hockey players younger age, which are part of today's composition.
- And what does it mean in practice?
- In the technique of rolling and passing the puck, game thinking. IN previous season in general, I think that the "Bears" should have played in the Kharlamov Cup final. But they stumbled on the first opponent in the playoffs, Magnitogorsk Steel Foxes.
- It turns out that in the 2016/17 season it will be more difficult for our team to achieve a positive result?
- The thing is that now we have not many guys in our squad who could reach the same majority and decide the numerical advantage. Last season, we had hockey players who could score in a 5v4 game and did it.
- Who was the leader in this regard?
- Dmitry Starchenko gave a lot of assists when playing in the majority. Konstantin Parkhomenko, who is now in our team, but started the season at Metallurg. Defender Nikita Lyamkin, who played decently on the blue line.
- What do you think, Parkhomenko Jr. will now be more in demand in the youth team?
- Of course I want him to play for Metallurg. Kostya has potential. This is a bright-headed hockey striker. A little physically you need to pull yourself up, but over time, if desired, everything is worked out. But the "head" is nowhere to be taken. Muscles will grow - and Parkhomenko can grow in good master... The main thing is to continue to work and allow health. Konstantin has a great potential. Well, where he will be now - in Metallurg or Kuznetsk Medved, depends on the decision of the head coach of the first team.
- To our great regret, in the summer of 2016, due to health reasons, at the age of 19, the captain of Kuznetsk Bears Dmitry Starchenko was forced to end his professional playing career. Can you tell us what happened?
- Dimka is like my own son to me. This person, one might say, helped me in the formation of the team of Metallurg born in 1996. He made a tremendous contribution to the development of the team, was its captain. Starchenko always did serious work not only on the ice, but also outside the site - this concerned both everyday life and sports activities guys. Dmitry is a real leader. I think later, over time, when he would have matured even more, Starchenko could become a captain main team of our city. But it turned out that Dima's heart pumped. And the doctors forbade him to play.
Oleg Suzdalenko and Dmitry Starchenko | Season 16/17
- The reaction was probably shock.
- Dima just didn’t leave the house for 3 days. I did not communicate with anyone. Didn't answer phone calls. Then I still got through to him. Cried with him. But it happened as it happened. Life goes on. Now Starchenko has already moved away from this. Realized that he would not play big hockey. We are attracting Dmitry to coaching activities... And Starchenko has a desire to work in a new direction. At the moment, Dima is taking part in the training process at Kuznetskiye Medvedy - like me, helping the head coach of the team, Aleksandr Sergeevich Kitov. Since it was not possible to raise a hockey player from Dmitry Starchenko to play at a serious adult level, I will do my best and do everything I can to make him a good coach. And for this, Dima has everything, including the necessary thinking. I would very much like that those dreams that he himself did not realize in hockey would now help those children with whom he would be engaged in realizing.
- In life, there is always a place for a miracle. Maybe we'll see Dmitry in the Metallurg uniform, for which he made his debut in the KHL last season?
- The data of the medical examination was sent to Germany. The general director of Metallurg Sergei Olegovich Zinoviev made an agreement in Moscow, a consultation of doctors was gathered, Dima was examined in the capital again, but, unfortunately, the diagnosis that he was initially given in Kemerovo was confirmed.
- It turns out that Starchenko, like you, his mentor, completed his playing career at the very beginning.
- Yes, Dima even finished before me. After being drafted into the army, I played hockey a little more. Was drafted to the Novosibirsk SKA, came to the training camp. Alas, I didn't make it to the team. After that, he played out for the city championship in the army club of Novosibirsk. Upon returning from the army, he was invited to "Metallurg", went to the training camp. But then a galaxy of hockey players from Prokopyevsk Shakhtar, headed by coach Viktor Laukhin, came to the first team of Novokuznetsk. After that, there was no place for me and some other Novokuznetsk guys in the composition of Metallurg. They offered to move to Shakhtar from Prokopyevsk, but decided to end his career there.
- Why were you so categorical in this decision?
- I wanted to play in my own team. Metallurg played in the 1st league at that time, while Shakhtar were in a lower league. Apparently he felt then that it was better to finish. Yes, by and large I didn’t play, but I really wanted to. But, unfortunately, those 2 years that I spent in the army apparently affected - I fell behind somewhere physically. And he said to himself that it would be difficult to catch up with the level that he had lost. As a result, he ended his career at the age of 21.
- In those Soviet years of perestroika, what was the Novosibirsk hockey championship like?
- The matches were held in open areas, it was very cold. Sometimes they played for 5 periods, poured the box themselves and prepared the ice. By the way, there were a lot of guys from Novokuznetsk, including those with whom we studied at the Metallurg school, in this tournament. But in terms of hockey, the city's championship, of course, turned out to be not very high in terms of its level in general.
- But not only amateurs played there?
- There were also hockey players who graduated from the Siberia school. There were also veterans, whose game was interesting to watch. And so for the most part people just went out and played for their own pleasure. For our part, unlike our opponent, sometimes we acted harder, we could knock. I probably just wanted to prove once again to the coach of Novosibirsk SKA, who attended our matches, that we deserve to be included in this team.
Oleg Suzdalenko in Omsk at the Russian Championship as part of the youth Metallurg | Season 86/87
- Who else from Novokuznechans played with you in that tournament?
- Among our pupils are Alexander Zhdanov, Alexander Malakhov, Oleg Churakov, Roman Romanov. Together we studied at the Metallurg school and then played for a year and a half in Novosibirsk. Of these guys, in the future, Malakhov's career was better than the rest. Sasha was taken to the Novosibirsk SKA. And then he even went to see Viktor Vasilyevich Tikhonov himself. Then they collected 30 hockey players for a month and they wanted to select 3 players for the future. But, unfortunately, Malakhov did not manage to gain a foothold there. Of course, he left a lot of health at these training camps. Then he played hockey in Tyumen, at Metallurg, and then moved on to coaching.
- Alas, Alexander Anatolyevich has been gone for a year now ...
- Absolutely suddenly passed away. Everyone was shocked. Especially our generation, guys born in 1968-70, who have known each other for a long time.
- As a professional hockey player, did you play as a center forward?
- Yes. I had a very good coach - Valery Vladimirovich Chernov. As I recall, from the first lessons he put me in the center. Where he played all youthful hockey. In the center, they usually put those guys who can give the transfer. As the central player plays, the five will play. We had a great link. It included Evgeny Khlebalin, who could play at a serious level, but, unfortunately, passed away in early age, and Andrey Bondarev. He also did not have a career as a hockey player. And so we scored a lot of goals with our troika since childhood. Thanks to Valery Vladimirovich for bringing us together in one link. At that time I only got pleasure from playing with such partners.
- In modern hockey, some young players begin to change teams already at the children's level, and this has become a common occurrence, just like in adult sports. Has any other club tried to lure your top three at one time?
- No, it never happened before. If only isolated cases, and even then in the team of masters. And in children's hockey I don't even remember being called somewhere. We didn’t often get to the final, because Ust-Kamenogorsk was head and shoulders above all. So no one saw Novokuznetsk in the central regions of the country.
- But then all of Russia saw what Metallurg born in 1996 was capable of under your leadership.
- There was even such a case. When Leonid Vaysfeld worked as general manager at Metallurg, representatives of the St. Petersburg SKA, as they say, offered a very decent amount for those times for our five hockey players born in 1996. But the decision of the club was not to sell the guys, to keep them here. And this was the right step. We had a real team and all the guys were united. And if it crashed, if someone started to leave, then the other hockey players who remained in Metallurg-96, they would not be able to catch up to a certain level. And the players who were leaders in the team, they pulled the team along.
- And there are many in the team born in 1996. were there such leaders?
- I think we had three excellent fives, each of which played the role of a leader. And she did the result. Of these 15 people, anyone could shoot. 9 players were involved in the Russian national team by their age.
- I talked a lot with the guys. We talked constantly. He was not only a coach for them, but in some moments and a father. We had one big family, which consisted of children, parents and everyone perfectly understood each other. At the end of each season, we summed up its results, got together, sometimes went out into nature, prepared some gifts, held hockey matcheswhere parents played against their children - in a word, it turned out to be an unforgettable holiday.
- But, as a rule, someone is still dissatisfied with something?
- Of course there were some moments, but I want to say a big thank you to the parents of the guys born in 1996, who heard me and did not give in to the invitations that came from different clubs. Thanks to the guys themselves for staying at Metallurg. Believe me, they had enough invitations. Any of the 15 field players could be invited, plus the goalkeeper. But all the guys wanted to play with each other, they wanted to keep the momentum of their team, which has already become a real family. As a result, all those hockey players whom we wanted to continue to see in Novokuznetsk remained in the Metallurg system.
- It turns out, not to say that you are a tough coach? Once we have created such a “family” rather than “army” atmosphere in the team.
- I cannot say that I am a “good coach”. I have always been and remain for justice. When the time came for the guys to graduate from the Sports School and the Metallurg-96 team ceased to exist, they themselves said that everything was always fair. Of course, sometimes the guys got it. In particular, he strongly scolded them for deuces at school, for their behavior. Or when in everyday life something went wrong. Everyone got for the cause. But not for nothing. If a guy is guilty, then he must bear some kind of punishment. So there was a stick and a carrot in the training process. I have always respected all the guys and still respect them. I have excellent relations with everyone. We continue to communicate whether they are in the first team “Metallurg” or in North America, like Sergei Boykov. And even those guys who have already finished hockey find an opportunity to call when they are drafted into the army, asking for advice. I try to help all the guys and don't forget anyone. For those who have not played in Novokuznetsk, I try to help them continue their careers in other cities. So, excellent relations remain even now - both with parents and with the guys from the Metallurg-96 team.
- Which of your pupils in 1996 had the most difficult character?
- At Dimka Starchenko's. In the area he grew up in a serious, in Abashevo. You yourself know which area it is. At the age of 13 he already had the character of a real man. The guy spent a lot of time on the street, saw life, so at the age of 13 he was thinking much more mature than his peers. And so, everyone's character was not easy. But the more difficult it is, the more interesting it is to work. You just need to find an approach. I will not say that the same Kostya Parkhomenko, Nikita Lyamkin, Nikita Yazkov have such an easy character. I can name any hockey player - and each has its own character. Otherwise, we would not have had such a versatile team born in 1996. This character helped the guys to unite. I am grateful to fate that at this age we have gathered these guys who went to the goal, giving a lot of energy. After all, we did additional workouts at 6 in the morning. And there were 2-3 such classes per week. The guys didn't get enough sleep, but they all came with pleasure. Because they wanted to work. As a result, a large number of players are now applying for serious roles in hockey. Whoever succeeds - I told them since childhood that everyone has their own path and everyone will follow it alone. And where your path leads - there you will come.
- And in what area of \u200b\u200bNovokuznetsk did you grow up?
- In Zavodskoy. Which, too, cannot be called calm. And what kind of calm was there in the 90s? This applies not only to Novokuznetsk, but to the entire country. But they all lived through it, survived, which means they only got stronger.
- In your youth, did you have to defend righteousness with the help of fists?
- Boys are boys and I am no exception. There were many cases in the 90s. Many guys from my yard are gone. But I had a training process, which I was constantly present. So I rarely went out into the yard just like that. Hockey saved me from something worse. I didn’t participate in big “yard affairs”. Day and night, one might say, was in the Sports Palace.
- At what age did you start playing hockey and who initiated the choice of this particular sport?
- I was 6 years old, and the initiator was such a person as Evgeny Sladkov. This name is unlikely to say anything to anyone in the hockey world. This guy was born in 1966, he studied with Anatoly Bulatovich Churabaev. And so Zhenya, who grew up in the same yard, pulled us to hockey. In our yard, Oleg Gordov also grew up - an excellent goalkeeper born in 1970, played in the Russian national team in his year, now he works as a coach in the Novoilinsky district. We were from the same house and spent all our childhood playing hockey. Eugene never gave us peace and constantly organized tournaments, bought some kind of premium vases. There were 8-10 people in our company, and we selected the best during these tournaments all Saturday and Sunday. And then, one day, Evgeny Sladkov invited us to the Sports Palace with him. Parents did not know, but we went to the coach Churabaev with him. Anatoly Bulatovich wrote us down, and even gave out some form - it was then such a joyful moment in life! And after that we - 5 people from the same yard, started playing hockey. They got involved. And then I could not live without him.
- What was the reaction of your parents that you, like that, without saying anything to anyone, signed up for the hockey section?
- For the first six months, my mother did not know at all that I was playing hockey. Parents used to be constantly at work and came home, by and large, to spend the night. My grandmother guessed, but she thought that I went to play hockey on Zapsib on a box. She did not even know that we were going to the city, to the Metallurg. Well, then it so happened that my parents found out and approved my decision.
- How then did it happen that you became a coach?
- My career did not work out, but hockey is my life. I could no longer live without him. When I finished playing, I was very worried. Couldn't find a place to go? And here Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Yakubenko, the director of the hockey school, invited me to try myself as a coach. He invited me to work at the Metallurg school. At the same time, Sergei Grigorievich Perfiliev, who led the group born in 1979, moved to the first team. Well, since I had just arrived, I was the youngest, the guys of this age were entrusted to me. It was a great team. I took it when the hockey players were 11-12 years old. The team was good. Then the guys from Prokopyev arrived - Sergei Zinoviev, Mikhail Chernov, they strengthened the team. Of those pupils who later played at a high level, there was also goalkeeper Maxim Batkov, who in the mid-2000s moved from Metallurg to Dynamo Moscow. There was also another promising goalkeeper - Andrei Ashcheulov, who was always a member of the Russian national team of his year of birth, won, but in the 90s he did not save himself from an addiction.
- Maxim Batkov, they say, is now working as a coach. Somewhere far away.
- Yes, he works as a hockey coach in the North. Recently we saw him and talked to him. I am glad that he also decided to go into such a difficult profession. But I think a person loves hockey, since he went to the ends of the earth to work as a coach.
- Do you remember the first acquaintance with the young Sergei Olegovich Zinoviev?
- This is what stuck in my memory: in the very first training session, he showed an uncompromising character. I had a team born in 1979, and Sergei Olegovich - on the 80th. But there were also several hockey players born in 1978 in the group. Even then, I saw young Sergei Zinoviev's desire, sporting anger. On the ice, he fought like a beast, and when we talked after training, he was a simple ordinary boy. Sergei Olegovich was immediately distinguished by his diligence, he came before everyone else to training, left later than the others. He lived then in a hostel, where the guys live with us now, and he was not interested in anything except hockey. In this hostel, Sergei Zinoviev lived with our other in the future famous hockey player - Mikhail Chernov, who played in Metallurg, SKA, Salavat Yulaev and other clubs. It happens that when the guys come to live in another city, they may have some other interests not related to sports, but both Sergei and Mikhail have always respected the regime, corresponding to it. In their free time, both read a lot, preferring books to the street.
Oleg Suzdalenko and Sergey Zinoviev. Russia is the world champion | Season 07/08
- Did Sergey Zinoviev stand out for his high potential already in childhood?
- I remember we came with the team to the final of Russia in St. Petersburg. Our team - born in 1979 and according to the regulations it was possible to strengthen 5 players born in 1978. Sergey Olegovich - born in 1980 But Zinoviev then showed such hockey in the first match that he was immediately interviewed. He was strongly remembered by everyone. The well-known referee Mikhail Galinovskiy, who was refereeing our match, came in after the game and asked: "Since what year has this guy been playing for you?" Sergey Zinoviev was remembered by many for his attitude to business, zeal, diligence, and most importantly, that everything worked out, while some rivals were 2 years older. Although he was the hardest of all.
- In Metallurg Sergei Zinoviev made his debut in the transition tournament in 1998. When the team was coached by Sergei Nikolaev.
- Yes. I also had such a hockey player as Evgeny Afonin, born in 1979. This striker was the first to be connected to the base of Metallurg. He played for the team, even scored a goal, but something didn't work out for him. Seich saw in him that he did not burn with hockey. Although Afonin also loved hockey to the point of fanaticism. But maybe Evgeny was relaxed by the fact that he got into the first team - that's all. And now Sergey Alekseevich Nikolaev comes to my training session. The class was at 7 am. By the way, after such classes he would call me to him for a conversation, discuss the training process, exercises. What is most interesting, I personally have never seen Seich on the podium of the Palace of Sports when I was conducting a lesson. But as he himself later admitted, he watched the trainings from the very top row of the stands. And this speaks volumes as a specialist, when a person comes at 7 o'clock in the morning to watch the training of young guys, the reserve of the first team. At one of these trainings, Sergei Alekseevich Nikolaev noted Sergei Zinoviev. Asked my opinion about him, to which I said only positive words. And the very next day Sergei Olegovich trained with the base of Metallurg.
- Now, including under your leadership, another hockey player named Zinoviev is playing.
- Yes, this is Kirill Zinoviev, forward born in 1997. He has this stage in his career there was the same situation as that of his uncle, Sergei Olegovich Zinoviev. Kirill played in a team where most of the guys are older. Moreover, Zinoviev Jr. was even born in 1998. Kirill's birthday is in November. From the very beginning, when I headed Metallurg-96, his grandfather, Sergei Olegovich's father, called and said that he wanted to bring his grandson to play hockey. To which I replied, so that of course they would bring him. Let's continue this hockey dynasty of education. Now Kirill is playing for Kuznetsk Bears.
- Is Kirill Zinoviev somewhat similar to Sergei Zinoviev in his style of play?
- These are hockey players of a different plan. And now, in general, all the guys are becoming somewhat different than, for example, the players of the older generation. The thing is that everyday life has changed a lot. He has become completely different. It seems to me that the attitude towards hockey has changed among the boys. Although there are a few who, in the good sense of the word, continue to be fanatics of the game. But computers and gadgets in the life of young people began to occupy so much great placethat the guys are becoming "hothouse". Here Sergei Olegovich, whatever the temptations on the street, he was not interested in anything except hockey. He had one hockey and a goal to which he was going. Now even more different entertainments have become available to the guys. And Cyril, like many young players, is distracted from hockey because of this. But he is still young. Although he understands everything. Moreover, an additional incentive has appeared for him. As soon as Sergei Olegovich Zinoviev became the head of the Novokuznetsk ice hockey club, we immediately talked to Kirill, and I warned him that now you will not have any concessions at all. Cyril has something to strive for and he should not let his uncle, grandfather, who took him to training sessions and matches at least during the day or at night. You need to strive for hockey. And it is clear that Kirill Zinoviev has strengthened his attitude to hockey this season, first of all he has increased his demands on himself. Time will tell what kind of master he grows into.
No longer works in Novokuznetsk Metallurg. In a team that was expelled from the KHL and entered the VHL at the end of last season, in once more power has changed. As a result, the former 37-year-old CEO as well as ex- main coach Vadim Shakhraychuk left their posts. As it turned out, not only they lost their positions.
A new coup in the "Forge". Why Zinoviev and the coaching staff were fired
There is already a candidate for the head coach of Metallurg.
Help "Championship"
Sergey Olegovich Zinoviev
Amplua - center forward
Two-time world champion in the Russian national team
Champion of Russia with Ak Bars (season 2005/06), winner of the Gagarin Cup with Salavat Yulaev (2011).
"The moment has come when I gave the application into the hands of sponsors."
- Who and when told you that you are leaving the post of General Director of Metallurg Novokuznetsk?
- In fact, no one reported, no one said anything. I wrote the statement a long time ago, it just lay aside. And now the moment has come when I gave it into the hands of sponsors.
- So it was your personal decision?
- Once at will, then personal. Because what is now beginning to happen ... Today I was told that the coaches of the MHL Kuznetskiye Medvedi club were also removed there, a total of six specialists left the club system. Including the coach who bore the title of honored - Oleg Sergeevich Suzdalenko. I myself was among his pupils, many famous players grew up with him - for example, Lyamkin, Emets, Karavaev. Nevertheless, even this person was removed. So the statement was written by me a long time ago.
- Suzdalenko is very proud that you are his most famous pupil.
- I'm proud of him too. Such people could not be fired.
I wrote the statement a long time ago, it just lay aside. And now the moment has come when I handed it over to the sponsors.
"I am not ashamed to leave the club, I do it with my head held high."
- How long have you started to understand what will happen?
- Of course.
- Is it because new owners, new sponsors have come?
- It's hard to comment on. I don't know what happened, but this is the situation. I am not ashamed to leave the club, I do it with my head held high. The tasks that were in front of me at the beginning of last season have been completed. The club was cleared of financial encumbrances and obligations. From the pre-bankruptcy state, they brought it to zero, leaving even reserves that could be used this year. Last season, they could have finished the championship ahead of schedule, because the lights were turned off, and there was nothing to fly, and the accounts were arrested - we could not make a single posting. But we held on, finished the season.
- Did the sale of the rights to the seven hockey players of the team in Ak Bars also help to get out of the financial hole?
- Including. The financial situation was such that we had no other options. It was necessary to take concrete steps.
- Why was the application written in advance?
- Because they asked me to engage in selection, to bring the case, not to leave the team. I think the team has been recruited, it is promising.
Today I was told that the coaches of the MHL Kuznetskiye Medvedi club were also removed there; in total, six specialists left the club system.
"Shakhraychuk did not write a statement, he was fired"
- Is the departure of goalkeeper Ivan Kasutin connected with you?
- Not. I talked to him, he seems to remain in the team. There is a lot of conflicting information. So far, he is at the disposal of the team, there will be a separate decision on him.
- And Bruno Mraza?
- They don't want to stay. Physical training coach Rustem Nefyodov also left the club.
- Did Vadim Shakhraychuk write the statement himself?
- No, he did not write. He was fired.
- With what motivation? Under him, not a single meeting in the VHL was played.
- Desire of sponsors. When I came, there was also a desire for sponsors. I didn’t sit on anyone, I didn’t knock on any doors. They even printed my resume for me. The sponsors wanted to do everything in a new way.
"The exclusion of" Forge "from the KHL did not become a sensation for anyone"
Have you read an interview with the mayor of Novokuznetsk, Sergei Kuznetsov, where he said that he did not need such leaders as Zinoviev?
- It was in May, when we were expelled from the KHL. Everyone knew about this decision. If you hang it on the CEO - well, you can probably do that. I repeat, everyone knew about this, including those you are talking about. This did not become a sensation for anyone.
- Do you still consider yourself right in the sensational "Semyonov case"?
- Now let others count. I did what I had to do - I defended the interests of my club.
Against the pseudo Robin Hoods. KHL made the right decision on the "Semyonov case"
Forge forward Kirill Semyonov has been recognized as an unrestricted free agent. Why is the neutral decision of the KHL the only correct one?
Metallurg is ready for the start of the VHL season "
- Are Metallurg in its current form ready for the start of the season in the VHL?
- Of course. And in terms of composition and finance. We reinsured ourselves with some of the guys, signed bilateral contracts. So if someone is released now, it will be without significant losses for the club. Everything has been done to achieve some results. Probably, now everything will be in a new way.
- New head coach Anatoly Khomenko - a candidate for the new leadership?
- Yes, definitely. Khomenko, Karpenko, Koledaev and Korshkov came.
Everyone knew about the exclusion of "Forge" from the VHL. If you hang it on the CEO - well, you can probably do that.
- What are your immediate plans?
- Do you know what they say? If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans. Now I plan to devote more time to my family.
Why was Sergei Zinoviev fired from the “Forge” and why did the entire coaching staff “leave” with him a week before the start of the VHL championship?
Let's start with the simplest: who can, and even the entire coaching staff, follow him? The answer lies on the surface: the one who appointed it. It is known for certain that they appointed Zinovievain "Forge" in "Evraz" - a company that for many years has been the main and sometimes the only sponsor of the entire Novokuznetsk ice hockey.
In the same way, it is known that this appointment took place contrary to the opinion of the city leadership, which continues to consider itself also the leadership of the "Forge", although it has long been doing absolutely nothing for this. When there was no money in the club even for the next trip and the general manager, in order to simply finish the season, had to sell the players, neither the city, nor the regional authorities showed themselves in any way. But as soon as Evraz appointed the director of the club without the consent of the local leaders, this director, in fact, became for them "persona non grata." They immediately tried to hang all the dogs on him for the exclusion of the club from the KHL. "... we will deal with the management of Metallurg, which allowed this situation and began to solve it, when everything was practically a foregone conclusion ... I do not need a director like Zinoviev," said the head of Novokuznetsk at the end of May Sergey Kuznetsov.
The Novokuznetsk mayor could say that as much as he wanted - the decision is not made by him. But the conflict arose anyway, and the conflict is open, and, as they say, out of the blue. Almost immediately Zinoviev received another tangible blow - this time from the KHL. By the time the league decided to expel Forge, it had already signed contracts with a number of hockey players, the sale of which, even at very dumping prices, would allow the team to spend a season in the VHL without any sponsorship. But all these contracts were recognized by the Continental League as filkin certificates, and the players received their freedom in the form of recognizing them as unrestricted free agents.
Could Zinoviev solve the question differently? Could you have done something else to save the Forge and keep your place in the elite league? Both of these questions should be answered in the negative. AND main reason lies in personal qualities former hockey player, well known first to the entire Super League, and then to the KHL.
“Zinoviev has a very difficult character,” - this is the mildest characteristic given to him by almost everyone with whom he played and under whose leadership he did it. Even his friends spoke about this, including those who suffered from this character. Let's say the former general director of Kuzni Vladimir Rokkel considered Zinoviev his friend, but he actually "ate" him. By coming not to the vacant place, but by moving your friend from the place he occupied. The same qualities that helped him to become a great player prevented him from becoming a decent functionary. Because the director's position requires completely different qualities. Which Zinoviev did not have, and it is unlikely that they would appear, because it is too late to remake an adult.
So, Zinoviev found himself in conflict with the local mayor, but also with the leadership Continental League he had, if not a conflict, then at least a complete mutual misunderstanding. About which the same Kuznetsov spoke like this: "... he has some kind of interpersonal relationship with Chernyshenko, thanks to which he could not get into his office, was standing under the door ... "This happened after Metallurg began to spread information on the sidelines that the second person in the management of the KHL, vice president of the hockey league operations Georgy Kobylyansky allegedly demanded from the management of "Forge" money for maintaining a residence permit in the KHL. In such a scenario, Dmitry Chernyshenko's position looks quite natural.
A similar situation of several simultaneous conflicts, quite normal for Zinoviev, could not be normal for the director hockey club... Who risked becoming an outcast not only in the old environment, in the KHL, but also in the new one - in the VHL. That is, in fact, in the FHR, because now all the officials of the VHL work directly in the Ice Hockey Federation. It is not known whether Zinoviev managed to enter into a conflict with anyone there, but it is obvious that it was only a matter of time.
If we sum up all that has been said, then Zinoviev's preservation of his position as director could be explained by only one thing: a high patron in Evraz. All that remained was to look at the lists of the board of directors and the board of the company, trying to guess who took such a risky step, gave Zinoviev carte blanche. And most importantly, why did he do it? This was clearly not at the very top, because along with the arrival of Zinoviev in the “Forge”, the additional money needed for a minimum normal existence in the KHL did not come.
It turns out that the dismissal of Zinoviev was a completely logical and logical end of his career in a new field. Where completely different business qualities are needed. It remains only to figure out with what wording the coaching staff was fired a week before the start of the season, and whether it was a demarche Vadim Shakhraychuk, which followed immediately after the dismissal of the director who invited him.
In the meantime, "Forge" is preparing to start in the VHL championship with a third budget. Second only to two Kazakhstani clubs with a budget of strong middle peasants in the KHL. But even for the third place you will have to sweat a lot. In the VHL, especially in the playoffs, budgets no longer matter. They play "calloused", "worker-peasant" hockey, and they do not like intrigues.