A student of the Sports School "Metallurg" Magnitogorsk, he began playing hockey at the age of 5. First he trained with Valery Viktorovich Kartaev, then with Sergei Arkadyevich Demin.
Two-time world champion - once among juniors (2001), once among youth teams (2003). At the Junior World Championships he played on the same line with Ilya Kovalchuk and Igor Grigorenko.
In 2002, he was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round of the draft, 47th overall.
First among the students of the Metallurg school in terms of the number of matches played. Participant in the 2003 World Cup as part of the Russian national team (2 matches).
Since 2001 he has played for Metallurg Magnitogorsk. In the 2006/07 season, he played 6 games for the NHL Ottawa Senators, making one assist.
As of May 12, 2011, he played 161 matches in the KHL regular championships, in which he scored 90 points (21+69). In the KHL playoffs he played 38 matches and scored 17 points (6+11).
On May 12, 2011, in the quarterfinals of the World Championship in Slovakia, in a game against the Canadian team, he scored one of the most important goals in his career. 11 minutes before the end of the third period, when the Russian team was playing shorthanded, Kaigorodov picked up the puck in his zone near the throw-in point and, beating two opponents along the way, went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and evened the score (1:1). Soon, Ilya Kovalchuk scored the winning goal against the Canadians (Russia won 2:1). For Kaigorodov, this puck became the first at the “adult” world championships. Kaigorodov himself admitted after the match that “I probably haven’t scored a more beautiful goal yet.” Ilya Kovalchuk said that the entire Russian team bench was shouting at Kaigorodov to just throw the puck out of the zone, and Alexey scored a “great puck.”
Achievements
- 2001 - World Junior Champion
- 2003 - World Youth Champion
- 2004 - Silver medalist of the Russian Championship
- 2005 - Winner of the Spengler Cup
- 2006, 2008 - Tampere Cup winner
- 2007 - Champion of Russia
- Despite the fact that many world hockey stars are playing in Russia now, it was your game that became a real discovery of this season - it has acquired maturity, and you score points for performance in almost every game?
This year, probably, it’s my time to show a great game and prove my skills on the court. This is my fourth season playing for Metallurg in the Super League - the coaches and team management are expecting something more from me, they hope that I will become the team leader. I didn’t think about it before, but now that I’ve started scoring a lot of points, scoring at decisive moments, I treat myself differently, I’m becoming more demanding and purposeful.
- It’s not difficult to notice you in the game - no other player in Russia has such beautiful and easy skating, namely skating, not running. The best representatives of bandy would be jealous of your gliding. Where did you get it from?
From my dad, he himself was a hockey player, went through the Chelyabinsk Traktor school, played for Metallurg in class B for several seasons. Of course, I don’t remember, he was still little, but eyewitnesses claim that he also stood out from the rest with his excellent skating. It was under his careful supervision that I learned to ride at the calibration plant.
- Where where?
We have two large industrial enterprises in Magnitogorsk - a metallurgical plant and a calibration plant. It was in the factory team that my father ended his career. He took me with him to training and games. It was on the open hockey rink of my father’s factory that I took my first steps at the age of 5.
- When did you come to Metallurg?
In the first grade, the director of the Sports School Metallurg came to our school for a lesson and recruited children to play hockey. My friend and I signed up without hesitation. From that time until now, my fate is connected with only one club - Metallurg.
Best of the day
- What can you tell the readers of our newspaper about your hockey exploits in your childhood?
In 1992-93, when I just came to Metallurg, the rise of hockey in our city began - a group of strong players from Chelyabinsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk came to the main team, and a lot of attention began to be paid to the children's school. We had a strong team my age. First we were trained by a wonderful specialist Valery Viktorovich Kartaev, then Sergey Arkadyevich Demin. We always felt support and attention from the management of our club - several final competitions were held in Magnitogorsk: we took third and second places. It's a shame that we never became champions. Once in the final tournament in one game, I don’t remember with whom, I scored 12 goals, that’s all my exploits.
- Yes, but few people now remember and know that you are a two-time world champion - once among juniors, once among youth teams?
Or he could have been a three-time winner, like Medvedev, Polushin, Grigorenko and Trubachev. But Plyushchev (the head coach of the Russian youth team in 1999-2002) did not take me to the 2002 World Championship. Then, two weeks before the training camp, Vladimir Anatolyevich came up to me and said that he would not take me to the team, but the day before he called and said he would. But Metallurg needed me then, and the club’s management wouldn’t let me go.
- At the Junior World Championships you played together with Kovalchuk and Grigorenko. Many experts then noted the brilliant play of your line?
What’s interesting is that we played in this combination only at that first junior world championship (before that, only European championships were held - neither before nor after we played together again. Two days before the tournament, Plyushchev connected us, and from the very first game Kovalchuk began to score - oh, he scored a lot of goals on his opponents. At the World Youth Championship, I played on a line with the army team Zherdev and Anshakov. I still think that I could have played much stronger, but even so, I beat the Canadians in their homeland. few people succeed.
- Indeed, your 83rd year of birth is the strongest in the history of Russian hockey?
We had an excellent team, and, most importantly, we were very united, always confident in victory, which is why we achieved such excellent results. Many teams with strong players, for example, in 1985 with Alexander Ovechkin, failed to win anything - there is no psychology of winners. Plyushchev worked well with us and set us up for winning. I’ll emphasize once again that we were strong precisely because of the team spirit, and not because we had Kovalchuk in our lineup; By the way, we won our second youth gold without him.
- Everyone has long considered Kovalchuk a star. At the age of 18, he left to conquer North America, and we must give him his due, he’s doing it well. But you, despite the fact that you were selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round of the 2002 draft, seem to be in no hurry to leave for the NHL. Don't you really want to play in the strongest league in the world?
You won’t believe it, but after Ottawa chose me, I received only one offer from the Canadian club - in the summer a fax came to Magnitka with a schedule of summer camps. That's all. I really want to play in the NHL, but I’m not going to leave Russia without a decent offer. I believe that the leadership of Ottawa should be more active, more interested in me.
- Three years ago you became a regular player of the main team, just then, parting with Andrei Razin (Metallurg’s best striker at that time), the general director of your team Gennady Velichkin confidently said: Don’t worry, in a couple of years you will all forget who Razin is . We have a growing central striker that will have no equal in Russia. Alexey - was Velichkin talking about you?
You didn’t quote it exactly, but Gennady Ivanovich actually told journalists something similar about me. I don’t know whether Velichkin already saw a colossal talent in me or just wanted to see it. His opinion means a lot to me. From my very first steps, he closely followed my progress. But look at how Evgeniy Malkin is already playing for Magnitogorsk, he is even 18 years old. This is who has the world's future.
- You came to the team just after Metallurg’s last championship title under the leadership of Valery Belousov. Was it difficult to fit into adult hockey?
Yes, I spent the first two seasons under the leadership of Valery Konstantinovich. Then, if you remember, there was a 3+2 rule in the super league. 5 young players had to be entered for the match. On the one hand, this rule was aimed at ensuring that young players gain the necessary experience and develop their potential. I would like to note that this helped us a lot at the World Youth Championships. On the other hand, this should not be artificial, the best should really play, and not exaggerated ones. But the rule that existed then helped me a lot. And then, Valery Belousov treated me well, trusted me, never shouted, did not strangle me, did not scold me for mistakes. He treated me and all the guys with understanding during the difficult seasons ahead for Magnitogorsk.
- Do you think that the change on the coaching bridge from Belousov to Marek Sikora was a need to change something, to shake up the team. And what changed in the game of the Soviet team itself with the arrival of a European specialist?
It’s hard for me to say what was most important in the change of coaches. Probably, the management had its own views, its own understandings, decisions, far-reaching goals for the development of the team. With Marek's arrival, our team's play became different. He has different requirements - more defensive ones. We play more rollback than pressure.
- I wouldn’t say that Magnitogorsk’s play has become more boring under Sikora. Just look at your victory over Severstal - 13:4 (a performance record in the entire history of the Super League)!
Yes, you're right - it's not more boring. We are not going to sit and wait for mistakes from our opponents. But we still place greater emphasis on defense. In the game with Severstal it happened: everything flew into their goal - we were even tired of scoring (Laughs.) But this rarely happens.
- Are you interested in working under this Czech specialist, and how is your relationship with him?
Yes, of course, interesting. By training under his leadership, you gain certain experience; the training has become a little different - more intense. In our team, all the guys have a trusting relationship with him - you can always come up to talk, discuss this or that issue. Last year, when Sikora arrived, I didn’t do much, and besides, I broke my finger then. It’s good that he understood that he was adjusting to his working conditions - he didn’t push his horses. He let me prepare in peace. This season, Sikora has begun to trust me more with playing time - I play both in the majority and in the minority, which is probably why my performance has increased.
- And how many performance points are you going to score this season - 50, 60 or maybe 100 points?
Score 100 points in a season?! Why not. Only this season it’s unlikely to work out. And the next thing - I don’t see anything fantastic in it! Dmitry Denisov from Salavat Yulaev scored 45 goals several seasons ago (40 and 43 in the 1993/1994 and 1994/1995 seasons), but then there were fewer games in the championship.
- For example, Maxim Sushinsky from Avangard is gaining a lot of points, and he is pursuing you this season. How does he manage to maintain his high performance?
He has been playing in the same three for a long time with his partners Zatonsky and Prokopyev. They use their numerical advantage very well. The same Koreshkov brothers or Razin and Golts scored the lion's share of points by converting the majority. Teamwork says a lot in modern hockey.
- What is your scoring record for one game?
This season, in a home game against Ak Bars, I scored 5 points. This was at the beginning of October. Now, if I continued in this vein, then how many games - 20 - and I would have already scored a stolnik. (Laughs.)
- In recent months you have been playing on the same line with Kudermetov and Tertyshny. Perhaps it’s because you complement each other so well that you began to score so many points in the championship?
Yes, our partnership with Tertyshny has been in effect since last year, and this is a big plus when you play with the same partner. I don’t play with Kudermetov so often; Zhenya Gladskikh plays more in our line, but he is currently injured.
- It was with the Gladskikhs that you played at the first stage of the Karjala Kap Euro Hockey Tour for the Russian national team and played quite well with your combination...
How we played is best for the coaches to judge. It is much more difficult to play in such tournaments than for your own club - the speeds are simply prohibitive. I liked the atmosphere in the team in Finland - everything was calm, without any tension. All the guys understand perfectly why they came. And although they don’t quite trust me in the country’s first team yet - I usually play on the third line - it’s still nice to put on a sweater with the inscription Russia on it. At Karjala Cup we were in no way inferior to other teams - we lost due to stupid, offensive mistakes in defense. And I can assure domestic hockey fans that if in recent years we were inferior to our opponents in speed, now we have eliminated this shortcoming. In our domestic championship, all teams play fast hockey
- Let's return to the Russian Championship. Has he become more interesting and, let’s say, more skillful compared to last season? Are you interested in playing against players who have gone through NHL school?
Yes, while there is a lockout in the NHL, many interesting and strong world-famous players have come to us - Jagr, Sikora, Lecavalier - it is very interesting to play against them, to watch them, to take the best from them. I really like the way Alexey Kovalev plays. He looks great - he handles the puck great, and he has a different stroke than everyone else. At times, it seems that it will not be difficult for him to outwit the entire five of his opponents - but what should his partners do then. (Laughs.) But seriously, I really want to play on the same line with him.
- I noticed that you, along with Gonchar, Eliash and Sikora, stay at the end of training and do some special exercises with them. Why do you need it?
I’m interested to see how NHL star players play, what they do in training, how they prepare, because training in America is different from Russian. I try to learn something new for myself. It’s just wonderful to work with such hockey players while there is such an opportunity.
- The Russian Championship is entering the home stretch, the teams have only one round left to play, what can we expect from the end of the championship and what will Magnitka please its fans with?
I think that the first four teams have already been decided. So far Dynamo and Lada are ahead of us, Ak Bars is a little behind. We are no weaker than them in terms of composition and play. Therefore, we will try to get ahead of these teams in the championship and give them a real fight in the playoffs.
But it’s still too early to think about this. Of course, it is advisable to take a place as high as possible so that there is a home field advantage.
- Is there any inconvenient opponent for Metallurg whom you would not like to meet in knockout games?
No, all the opponents will be strong, and no one will have a losing streak. Last season, in the first round we got to Neftekhimik - the eighth team in the championship - and beat them only in the fifth, decisive game. Everyone is playing at one hundred percent of their capabilities now, in the championship, and imagine what awaits everyone in the playoffs.
- Alexey, do you have a goal to become the top scorer at the end of the season?
No - it just happened that way, and I don’t think about it specifically - whether I’m second, first or tenth. The main thing is that my team Magnitogorsk Metallurg wins every game and becomes a champion.
- What does the top scorer of the national championship do in his free time?
Usually during away matches I read books, magazines, newspapers. Now Sergei Gonchar advised me to read Dan Brown’s book The Da Vinci Code; many players in the NHL read it last year; now its translation into Russian has been published. At home, in Magnitogorsk, I spend time in the company of my friend Tanya, we have been dating for three years, but have not yet gotten married. I love watching our old Soviet comedies. I don’t really like nightlife: discos, bars, casinos are not my thing.
- Where do you like to relax? Do you have a favorite place where you always want to return?
I am a native Uralian - and I wouldn’t trade my favorite hills, lakes, forests for the Maldives and Hawaii for the life of me. And you can’t think of a better holiday than in Abzakovo (ski resort) in winter, and in Bannoy in summer, just write it down.
Did Metallurg captain Sergei Mozyakin set all the records? No, not all. Magnitogorsk alumnus Alexei Kaigorodov is still the club’s leader in assists. And this, given the fact that he has not played professionally for more than a year.
Time goes fast. It seemed like not so long ago that number 55 made his debut for Metallurg. And as it turned out later, he spent almost his entire career as part of the Magnitogorsk team. A unique and inimitable career, if only because not all Magnitogorsk students managed to become the world champion among youth. There are only two of them - Dmitry Pestunov and Alexey Kaigorodov. Igor Bobkov doesn't count. At the 2011 World Cup he represented the North American team. And not all Magnitogorsk students will be able to end their careers on the highest note – with a victory in the Gagarin Cup for their home club. But Alexey did it. And his hockey biography in Metallurg can now easily be turned into a script for a film with a Hollywood plot.
– Alexey, at what point was the decision made to retire??
– Probably in the final season, when he left Ufa. And then the leapfrog with the clubs began. Frankly, when I left the Dynamo location, it seemed to me that that’s it, I wouldn’t go anywhere else. But it turned out that an offer came from Metallurg. It, of course, made me happy. And I was preparing for the fact that, most likely, after this season I would end my career in big hockey. It so happened that I did it on such a positive note. Then, in general, there was no doubt about ending my career at that very moment. I don’t know, somehow I just decided for myself. Perhaps all these moves influenced something else. I've lost interest in this matter. I decided to finish.
– Have you tried to resume your career?
- Not really. In principle, after the Gagarin Cup I received offers, but I immediately told the agent that I would not consider them. It was not like no one invited. There were offers, teams gave me a contract, but I didn’t even consider it. Although throughout the offseason I periodically called the agent, and he asked if I had changed my mind? And in principle, many told me that a year would pass and I would return. But this is unlikely to happen.
– At 33, end his career. What was the reason? Have you lost the desire to play hockey at such a high level?
– I ended my career not too early. After all, fifteen seasons have passed. The number, in principle, is not small and a lot of matches have been played. I played in Ufa, Kirill Koltsov and I developed a good understanding there, and it was somehow interesting to play. Here, let’s say, he returned to Magnitogorsk for slightly different roles. I played with young guys. Now hockey is a little different, the coaches demand a different game. I probably don’t really like playing this hockey, and somehow there was no such interest anymore. I didn’t get any excitement or pleasure from the game. But I don’t really want to just go out and serve my number, thinking about how the game will end as soon as possible (smiles).
– Have you been offered to return to hockey as a coach?
– Recently there was an offer from the Metallurg children’s school. I don’t know, although now I go skating with the guys born in 2001. This is his senior year, he is coached by my peer Artem Romashov. We trained since childhood, but then his hockey career didn’t work out, and he became a coach. And soon he will graduate. He invites me to come to training, saying that it is interesting for the guys. And I'm interested too. I’m suggesting something, I’m not standing on the sidelines. And I move myself, I ride, I can’t live without it. To become a full-fledged coach, I haven’t thought about it yet. Maybe I'm not ready yet. So far I have no such desire.
– Has Alexey Kaigorodov left big hockey somewhere in particular, or is he still looking for himself outside the game?
– A year has flown by, a little more already. From the outside, it has become more interesting to look at some things now with different eyes. For now I just want to live. And then, when the desire arises, you can try. Why not?
– Final “Metallurg” - SKA. What can you say about him? Is the army team really a more balanced team that has surpassed Magnitogorsk in terms of talent pool?
- Well, of course, the army team is deeper and stronger. Somewhere, perhaps, our leaders got tired, but in principle they played with dignity. There should be no complaints against Metallurg. SKA is stronger, but they still saw that otherworldly forces helped. Not without it. Therefore, ours, of course, could win. In principle, second place is also a normal result, as is the game itself performed by the Magnitogorsk team, despite the otherworldly aspects. The final was interesting, despite the score 1-4. I wouldn’t want otherworldly forces or anything else to interfere with our hockey. I wanted the sport to be a sport, and in fact the winner was the one who was more skilled, the one who was stronger.
– Now how often do you watch hockey live?
– To be honest, last season I came to the game once. On TV, yes, I watch it, but somehow I don’t know, maybe I’m tired of it. I have friends with whom we communicate every day, they are interested in hockey, they tell me who played how. Maybe this year I’ll go more often. I miss you (smiles).
– You were at the match with Traktor at the Romazan memorial. Metallurg has been criticized this off-season. Like, the team has no game yet, and no result either. What did you, as a professional, like about Metallurg’s game? From one match it was possible to understand what Ilya Vorobyov wants to build from this team?
– Three or four leading players left Metallurg, of course, it became difficult. I think Ilya Petrovich wants to create two threes with an emphasis on attack, and a third and fourth line with an emphasis on defense. I don’t know why it’s not working now, maybe there aren’t enough performers. Well, of course, “five on four” was one thing when it was played by Lee, Antpin and Zaripov, who knew in advance who would be positioned where, and that’s how it worked out in the end. We are all accustomed to their beautiful, good, gambling game. But these people are gone, and replacing them is not easy. There are few masters like them, practically none. And the new arrivals will not be able to master that skill in a month or a month and a half. I think mutual understanding will slowly come. In principle, there are already some points. In the first three, Ellison came out, from the defenders Schaus. Let's say they played four forwards. In the championship, the majority will get better in any case. Of course, it won't be the same as before. It won't be easy, it will be more difficult. There are more young guys in Metallurg. Those of them who haven’t really played at the highest level need to get involved. I think everything will get better little by little.
– How much time would you give to be patient? Three months, four?
– I understand all this perfectly from the inside. It’s hard to say, but I think half the championship will be difficult. Of course, it’s difficult to convince the fans; they all want a bright game and victories. Against the backdrop of those seasons and the effective play, this will not happen now, and it will be difficult for the guys, they understand that people expect one thing from them, and for objective reasons they will not be able to show such a game. At least at the start of the championship.
– Do you have more free time due to your new lifestyle?
– It appeared, but I got used to the regime. Now I spend more of the summer months relaxing and spending with my family. And so I try to work out and train almost every day except Saturday and Sunday. I swim and go on ice. Somehow I want to keep in shape and participate in veteran tournaments.
– Have you discovered any new hobbies? Maybe I started listening to more music and watching movies?
- No, there are no such new hobbies. I listen to music in the car. There are definitely no new hobbies.
– How many times a week do you train?
– This week it turned out that Monday was a day off. Tuesday Wednesday Thursday. I’ll rest on Friday, and then we’ll have the Ax Cup. There are two games on Saturday and one game on Sunday. That turns out to be seven workouts per week.
– Strongly! By the way, how do you assess the level of amateur hockey in Magnitogorsk?
– The level is pretty good. I haven’t really been to other cities, I don’t know. But I know that we have quite a lot of teams and even several leagues. It makes me happy that people go out and play sports and hockey. Sometimes it’s a problem to find free ice, it’s busy everywhere, everything is scheduled. I want to say that amateur hockey is at a good level.
– The level of respect, dirt, violations in amateur hockey. What is he like?
– To be honest, I did not participate in the amateur championship. I go with the guys, train, take part in some tournaments. I went to the games, watched, it seemed okay, I didn’t see that they were playing dirty. Adequately.
– Have you tried playing with Zaryad sticks?
– Didn't even hold it in your hands?
– When I was playing last season, Danis suggested that I try “Charge”, but it was gripped, and I don’t play like that. He wanted me to try, but it didn't work out. I ordered new Bauer clubs, they should arrive soon.
– Do you need a lot of clubs for the season? How much do you charge?
– No, I don’t throw with a swing, I try not to use a click. So it lasts me a long time. I try to be careful. The only thing is that sometimes you can break your stick on face-offs, but now I don’t push myself as hard on face-offs as I used to (laughs).
– What can you say about the situation with Zaripov?
– It was a total surprise for me. I don’t know how much of it is true or not, but it’s a shame for Danis. The man wanted to end it calmly in Kazan, at home. He believes that Kazan is his home, despite the fact that he was born in Chelyabinsk. It's a shame that this happened.
– How often have you had to take a doping test?
– Often – not often, but I think about fifteen times for sure.
– What is the process of taking a doping test?
– You come to a special room after the match and take tests. You sign the paper and give it to the doctor. If everything is fine, nothing comes.
– It turns out, on average, once a season.
– Not a fact, mainly activity in the playoffs. That year, when we played a series with Novosibirsk, I was caught twice in the series. That is, in five games he hit twice. There they draw out player numbers like cards. Whose number is drawn is the one who hands it over.
– Over the years that you spent in professional hockey, how has the approach of coaches to pre-season training changed?
– It has changed, but not for everyone. There are still coaches who work according to the old system. It’s not entirely clear why this is needed when people are running cross-country and their heart rate is under two hundred. I don't know what the goal is here. It happened in front of me, before my eyes. I saw how people reached the finish line and crawled on their knees, they were poured with cold water. Pre-season training is carried out in order to accumulate reserves, but it turns out that when you run at a heart rate of 180, on the contrary, you waste everything. I don't understand what the point is in this? People travel with old luggage and don’t want to learn modern techniques. That is, they remained in that time. Hard to tell. But for some it’s normal: adequate loads, approach. Some have changed their approach to pre-season training camps, some have moved forward, and some have remained in place.
– They say that hockey itself has become completely different: shots and icings. Well, nothing more. True? As a TV professional, are you interested in watching the game now?
– To be honest, not very much. Of course, the game of leaders has always been of interest, but now even it is not always of interest. It was interesting to watch the game of the leading five of Magnitka. CSKA's top five, in which Radulov played. A couple of fives in SKA. Well, the game of hockey has become more straightforward, or something. There are fewer combination plays. More: they threw it over the gate, ran, and trampled on it. There is such a thing, it can be traced.
– Is there a center forward in the KHL whose game you like?
– Jan Kovar plays well. So, to be honest, there is no such thing as following someone. In SKA - Vadim Shipachev. Played combinations can be traced with it, especially when playing the majority. Five on four played well.
– Your signature style is “snail”. This is actually a very complex technical element. Thanks to her, it was possible to hold the puck in the opponent’s zone, find a free partner, and pass him the ball. Where did the ability to make the signature “snail” come from? Who supplied you with this element?
- Dad taught me. He played hockey for me, and played a little for Metallurg, then for Calibration. And he used it himself, he skated well and still skates. Since childhood, he suggested it to me, I did it, and it brought results. Therefore, they tried to save something better to use in the game.
– But you didn’t immediately learn how to make a “snail”?
- Well, of course, everything comes with time. When you do it a thousand times, it’s put off on a subconscious level and practiced automatically.
– Which coach put the most work and nerves into you?
“The coaches made their contribution, but in any case, for the first seven or eight seasons, after every game that was shown on TV, my father and I analyzed my actions on the court. My mother recorded the games on video cassettes, I came home and my father and I watched them again and sorted them out: what I did right and what I did wrong.
– In addition to training at the children's school, did you do it yourself?
“In the summer, in the village, I worked on a special iron sheet with a puck and shot at the goal. Nobody was following me. I came to my grandparents in the village of Svetloye, fulfilled my duties in maintaining the house, helping them. And in the evening he played a puck on iron sheets. This is good now; plastic ice has been made for children in the Metallurg Arena. It's a pleasure to work on it.
– Have you worked on it?
– I tried it a little. The puck actually glides as if on artificial ice. And then add some iron and sand, and you get rubber and metal. Friction occurs. This training came from my father, he is from there, he trained like this back in the day. Then I: throw up - not throw, pass - not pass, shoot at goal. A special iron frame was welded to size, which was called a gate.
– How was your birthday? What did you give?
– A year ago, when I celebrated my 33rd birthday, my friends gave me a portrait that they painted themselves. We were all here at the awards ceremony together, they took a photo of me with a medal in a suit with a bouquet. And then they drew my portrait. So, it turned out pretty well. An unexpected gift. But this year I didn’t do much. The two families got together and had dinner. For many years it was not possible to celebrate my birthday normally. Usually at this time I was at training camp. So that year they told me: “Okay, let’s celebrate your birthday, otherwise you haven’t been able to do this for many years.”
– Who from the current Metallurg squad do you communicate with?
– We see each other and communicate with Evgeniy Biryukov and Sergei Mozyakin. And so I am on normal terms with everyone.
– Could you work as a hockey expert, just like Badyukov and Guskov?
- No, at least this kind of work is not attractive.
– What helped you gain a foothold in the Metallurg main team at the age of 18?
– I wanted to play hockey, I had a great desire. Back then, it seems to me, it was generally more complicated than it is now. I just really wanted to play hockey in such a team of masters as Metallurg.
– You had three or four seasons when you scored fifty points per season, but Metallurg did not become a champion. Why didn't you play productively in other years?
- Hard to tell. Maybe this was the period when the squad became a top five. Somehow it turned out like this. There were many nuances, I won’t talk about them, that were incomprehensible to me. Why did the coaches at that time, I still don’t understand it, did they behave like that, why did they do that?
– Have you tried asking coaches questions on this topic?
– I myself am not a conflict person. I didn’t want to enter into a conflict or find out anything, especially since the head coach always knows better. It’s just that at that moment you understand that this is not fair, and you give up a little. Let's say, the mood is wrong, the mood is wrong. It happens that this is the case. And when you realize that this is not the point, you start thinking somewhere... All people are different. Some people may take this easier. I’m a bit of a picky person, I can start asking questions to myself. Against this background, there is a decline.
– How did you manage to win the Youth World Cup final in Halifax? What was the secret of success?
– The ’83 team was generally good. Each of us was a leader in our clubs. Then it’s just a really good team, a good goalkeeper - Medvedev. There's no secret. There were people - whoever you take, everything is fine. And then, at that time, it was not clear to me: they took into the team those people who could not have been taken, because instead of them, stronger guys remained on the side of the team. And then it would be even more interesting. We had two stronger links and two weaker ones.
– Why couldn't Metallurg win the fifth match of the final in 2004?
– After all, we lost in shootouts?
– Yes sir.
– We had a good team, the final was interesting. We took a 2-0 lead in the series. And then we lost three games in a row. Valery Konstantinovich was in Omsk. And here in the fifth game there were no shootouts. I remember they wanted Evgeniy Gladskikh to make his attempt, but his wrist hurt. Means no luck.
– But you didn’t take the shootout in that fateful series.
- For some reason they didn’t install...
– But I scored against Slovan. When you went to those two shootouts in the match with Slovan, what were you thinking about, because it was all so serious?
– There was no need to think anymore. You just had to go out. It turns out that I was the third to beat after Kudrna and Marek?
– That's right.
“I passed out at that moment.” I roughly knew what I would throw there. It all worked out smoothly. Then I went again, it turns out?
– Yes.
– Why was Canada hit so hard in 2005? At the group stage, your shootout against Canada was victorious. Do you remember him?
– I don’t remember that match very well. But I remember how King shouted at us just after the first game with the Canadians; he was very dissatisfied. It looks like we won, albeit in shootouts. In short, King came at us then, and then we slammed Canada 8:3 (smiles).
– What kind of game was this in the final?
- On the rise, inspired. That game was easy for us, and the Canadians were discouraged.
– I was at the Spengler Cup twice with Magnitka and twice with Ufa. On the one hand it’s cool, on the other hand it’s a little hard. It turns out, often games. You come to the highlands and it’s not easy to play every day. Everything seems to be fine, but it’s a bit difficult. A good option is to go to the Spengler Cup with five A's in the squad, so that each game you can give someone a rest. But there are injuries, so this option may not work.
– Do you regret not going to the NHL a second time?
- No. I went once and saw what was there. Enough.
– In general, did the Ottawa bosses persuade you to stay?
– No, the situation there was a little different. They started attacking me heavily in the summer of 2006. They called almost every day: “Come, come!” I started the preseason here, and didn’t really plan on going to the NHL. But they promised me that I would play there in the second line, they said that they needed a center for Alfredsson. I thought and thought, but then I finally decided. Thank God that they let me go here in an amicable way. I remember we talked for a very long time: me, Kupriyanov, Velichkin, Aleko... They somehow didn’t want to let go, but still they parted amicably. We agreed that if something doesn’t work out there, then I’ll return to Magnitogorsk. I came to Ottawa, naturally, no one put me in the second line, but they put me in the fourth. However, he played six games. There were some good games, when our line won a micro-match, the team won. But with each match the playing time became less and less. It got to the point that I made my first shift in the 11th minute. Before going to the NHL, I asked questions about my sending to a farm club. And we wrote a clause in the contract that if they send me to a farm club, then I will go back. And so it happened. The general manager called me and started talking nonsense. My agent translated all this over the phone. I asked to buy tickets for me home, and I flew to Magnitogorsk.
– What serious injuries did the player receive?
– My lower back hurt, it was an intervertebral hernia. Of course, I was very sick, but it wasn’t like I was out for a long time. I suffered for two years, but when I went out to train, the pain subsided. It was hard to get up in the morning. Completed a course of manual therapy and massage. I also broke ribs and fingers. By the way, my ribs were broken in that final series with Omsk in 2004. He played three matches in the finals with broken ribs.
– Khavanov said that on average a hockey player loses 6-8 teeth during his career.
“I haven’t lost a single one.”
– Did you use a mouth guard?
- Throughout my career. And even now, at veteran tournaments.
– I'm surprised that some of our famous hockey players play without mouthguards...
- Yes, you need to get used to it. Some people get used to it, some don't.
– You are a very disciplined player, but you had to fight. Do you remember your ice skating fights?
- Yes, whatever. I was with Alexander Radulov in Ufa. He slammed something on me, Vlad Bulyin threw it at him. And I had nothing to do with anything, but for some reason Radulov attacked me. It’s probably hard to call it combat. So, we poked around a little. I remember here in the Romazan Palace they played with Nizhnekamsk. I don’t remember who I quarreled with, but we both got sent off for the rest of the game. But there was no special fist fight there either.
– If Metallurg had not won the Gagarin Cup in 2016, would you have retired?
– I think I would have completed it. Even then I made this decision, probably seventy percent.
The interview was conducted by Arthur IVANNIKOV.
Photo: www.solistic.ru, www.metallurg.ru, personal archive of Alexey Kaigorodov.
Alexey Kaigorodov was born on July 29, 1983 in Magnitogorsk. He holds the record among students of the Metallurg school for the number of matches played.
He first started playing for the Magnitogorsk team in 2001. In his debut season, Kaygorodov played forty-six regular season matches and nine playoff matches, during which time he managed to score nineteen points. In the same year, Alexey took part in the match of the Russian junior team, then he won a gold medal. In 2002, Kaigorodov was selected 47th overall in the NHL draft, but was called up overseas only in 2006. However, Alexey failed to play in the NHL. He played only six matches for the Ottawa Senators, after which he was transferred to the AHL club Binghampton Senators. But Kaigorodov was not satisfied with this prospect and he returned back to Metallurg.
In Magnitogorsk, Alexey Kaigorodov is one of the public's favorites. It's rare to find players who only play for one team in their country. Kaigorodov is not only a useful player on the court, but also an excellent team leader! In the 2010/2011 season, largely thanks to the efforts of Kaigorodov, Metallurg managed to reach the conference finals in the Gagarin Cup.
Kaigorodov appeared in the adult Russian national team after the successful youth world championship, when the Russian youth team managed to win gold medals. In the same year, he played at the World Championships for the main Russian team, although he played only two matches, and the Russian team then took fifth place. After that, Alexey Kaygorodov was not called up for major competitions, and only in 2011 at the World Championships in Slovakia did Kaygorodov return to the national team.
Awards
2007 - Champion of Russia2006, 2008 - Tampere Cap holder
2005 - Winner of the Spengler Cup
2004 - Silver medalist of the Russian Championship
2003 - World Youth Champion
2001 - World Junior Champion
Did Metallurg captain Sergei Mozyakin set all the records? No, not all. Magnitogorsk alumnus Alexei Kaigorodov is still the club’s leader in assists. And this, given the fact that he has not played professionally for more than a year.
Time goes fast. It seemed like not so long ago that number 55 made his debut for Metallurg. And as it turned out later, he spent almost his entire career as part of the Magnitogorsk team. A unique and inimitable career, if only because not all Magnitogorsk students managed to become the world champion among youth. There are only two of them - Dmitry Pestunov and Alexey Kaigorodov. Igor Bobkov doesn't count. At the 2011 World Cup he represented the North American team. And not all Magnitogorsk students will be able to end their careers on the highest note – with a victory in the Gagarin Cup for their home club. But Alexey did it. And his hockey biography in Metallurg can now easily be turned into a script for a film with a Hollywood plot.
– Alexey, at what point did you decide to end your career?
– Probably in the final season, when he left Ufa. And then the leapfrog with the clubs began. Frankly, when I left the Dynamo location, it seemed to me that that’s it, I wouldn’t go anywhere else. But it turned out that an offer came from Metallurg. It, of course, made me happy. And I was preparing for the fact that, most likely, after this season I would end my career in big hockey. It so happened that I did it on such a positive note. Then, in general, there was no doubt about ending my career at that very moment. I don’t know, somehow I just decided for myself. Perhaps all these moves influenced something else. I've lost interest in this matter. I decided to finish.
– Have you tried to resume your career?
- Not really. In principle, after the Gagarin Cup I received offers, but I immediately told the agent that I would not consider them. It was not like no one invited. There were offers, teams gave me a contract, but I didn’t even consider it. Although throughout the offseason I periodically called the agent, and he asked if I had changed my mind? And in principle, many told me that a year would pass and I would return. But this is unlikely to happen.
– At 33, end my career. What was the reason? Have you lost the desire to play hockey at such a high level?
– I ended my career not too early. After all, fifteen seasons have passed. The number, in principle, is not small and a lot of matches have been played. I played in Ufa, Kirill Koltsov and I developed a good understanding there, and it was somehow interesting to play. Here, let’s say, he returned to Magnitogorsk for slightly different roles. I played with young guys. Now hockey is a little different, the coaches demand a different game. I probably don’t really like playing this hockey, and somehow there was no such interest anymore. I didn’t get any excitement or pleasure from the game. But I don’t really want to just go out and serve my number, thinking about how the game will end as soon as possible (smiles).
– Have you been offered to return to hockey as a coach?
– Recently there was an offer from the Metallurg children’s school. I don’t know, although now I go skating with the guys born in 2001. This is his senior year, he is coached by my peer Artem Romashov. We trained since childhood, but then his hockey career didn’t work out, and he became a coach. And soon he will graduate. He invites me to come to training, saying that it is interesting for the guys. And I'm interested too. I’m suggesting something, I’m not standing on the sidelines. And I move myself, I ride, I can’t live without it. To become a full-fledged coach, I haven’t thought about it yet. Maybe I'm not ready yet. So far I have no such desire.
– Has Alexey Kaigorodov left big hockey somewhere in particular, or is he still looking for himself outside the game?
– A year has flown by, a little more already. From the outside, it has become more interesting to look at some things now with different eyes. For now I just want to live. And then, when the desire arises, you can try. Why not?
– Final “Metallurg” - SKA. What can you say about him? Is the army team really a more balanced team that has surpassed Magnitogorsk in terms of talent pool?
- Well, of course, the army team is deeper and stronger. Somewhere, perhaps, our leaders got tired, but in principle they played with dignity. There should be no complaints against Metallurg. SKA is stronger, but they still saw that otherworldly forces helped. Not without it. Therefore, ours, of course, could win. In principle, second place is also a normal result, as is the game itself performed by the Magnitogorsk team, despite the otherworldly aspects. The final was interesting, despite the score 1-4. I wouldn’t want otherworldly forces or anything else to interfere with our hockey. I wanted the sport to be a sport, and in fact the winner was the one who was more skilled, the one who was stronger.
– How often do you watch hockey live now?
– To be honest, last season I came to the game once. On TV, yes, I watch it, but somehow I don’t know, maybe I’m tired of it. I have friends with whom we communicate every day, they are interested in hockey, they tell me who played how. Maybe this year I’ll go more often. I miss you (smiles).
– You were at the match with Traktor at the Romazan memorial. Metallurg has been criticized this off-season. Like, the team has no game yet, and no result either. What did you, as a professional, like about Metallurg’s game? From one match it was possible to understand what Ilya Vorobyov wants to build from this team?
– Three or four leading players left Metallurg, of course, it became difficult. I think Ilya Petrovich wants to create two threes with an emphasis on attack, and a third and fourth line with an emphasis on defense. I don’t know why it’s not working now, maybe there aren’t enough performers. Well, of course, “five on four” was one thing when it was played by Lee, Antpin and Zaripov, who knew in advance who would be positioned where, and that’s how it worked out in the end. We are all accustomed to their beautiful, good, gambling game. But these people are gone, and replacing them is not easy. There are few masters like them, practically none. And the new arrivals will not be able to master that skill in a month or a month and a half. I think mutual understanding will slowly come. In principle, there are already some points. In the first three, Ellison came out, from the defenders Schaus. Let's say they played four forwards. In the championship, the majority will get better in any case. Of course, it won't be the same as before. It won't be easy, it will be more difficult. There are more young guys in Metallurg. Those of them who haven’t really played at the highest level need to get involved. I think everything will get better little by little.
- How much time would you give to be patient? Three months, four?
– I understand all this perfectly from the inside. It’s hard to say, but I think half the championship will be difficult. Of course, it’s difficult to convince the fans; they all want a bright game and victories. Against the backdrop of those seasons and the effective play, this will not happen now, and it will be difficult for the guys, they understand that people expect one thing from them, and for objective reasons they will not be able to show such a game. At least at the start of the championship.
– Do you have more free time due to your new lifestyle?
– It appeared, but I got used to the regime. Now I spend more of the summer months relaxing and spending with my family. And so I try to work out and train almost every day except Saturday and Sunday. I swim and go on ice. Somehow I want to keep in shape and participate in veteran tournaments.
– Have you got any new hobbies? Maybe I started listening to more music and watching movies?
- No, there are no such new hobbies. I listen to music in the car. There are definitely no new hobbies.
– How many times a week do you train?
– This week it turned out that Monday was a day off. Tuesday Wednesday Thursday. I’ll rest on Friday, and then we’ll have the Ax Cup. There are two games on Saturday and one game on Sunday. That turns out to be seven workouts per week.
- Strongly! By the way, how do you assess the level of amateur hockey in Magnitogorsk?
– The level is pretty good. I haven’t really been to other cities, I don’t know. But I know that we have quite a lot of teams and even several leagues. It makes me happy that people go out and play sports and hockey. Sometimes it’s a problem to find free ice, it’s busy everywhere, everything is scheduled. I want to say that amateur hockey is at a good level.
– The level of respect, dirt, violations in amateur hockey. What is he like?
– To be honest, I did not participate in the amateur championship. I go with the guys, train, take part in some tournaments. I went to the games, watched, it seemed okay, I didn’t see that they were playing dirty. Adequately.
– Have you tried playing with Zaryad sticks?
– You didn’t even hold it in your hands?
– When I was playing last season, Danis suggested that I try “Charge”, but it was gripped, and I don’t play like that. He wanted me to try, but it didn't work out. I ordered new Bauer clubs, they should arrive soon.
– Do you need a lot of clubs for the season? How much do you charge?
– No, I don’t throw with a swing, I try not to use a click. So it lasts me a long time. I try to be careful. The only thing is that sometimes you can break your stick on face-offs, but now I don’t push myself as hard on face-offs as I used to (laughs).
– What can you say about the situation with Zaripov?
– It was a total surprise for me. I don’t know how much of it is true or not, but it’s a shame for Danis. The man wanted to end it calmly in Kazan, at home. He believes that Kazan is his home, despite the fact that he was born in Chelyabinsk. It's a shame that this happened.
– How often did you have to take a doping test?
– Often – not often, but I think about fifteen times for sure.
– What is the process of passing a doping test?
– You come to a special room after the match and take tests. You sign the paper and give it to the doctor. If everything is fine, nothing comes.
– It turns out, on average, once a season.
– Not a fact, mainly activity in the playoffs. That year, when we played a series with Novosibirsk, I was caught twice in the series. That is, in five games he hit twice. There they draw out player numbers like cards. Whose number is drawn is the one who hands it over.
– Over the years that you spent in professional hockey, how has the approach of coaches to pre-season training changed?
– It has changed, but not for everyone. There are still coaches who work according to the old system. It’s not entirely clear why this is needed when people are running cross-country and their heart rate is under two hundred. I don't know what the goal is here. It happened in front of me, before my eyes. I saw how people reached the finish line and crawled on their knees, they were poured with cold water. Pre-season training is carried out in order to accumulate reserves, but it turns out that when you run at a heart rate of 180, on the contrary, you waste everything. I don't understand what the point is in this? People travel with old luggage and don’t want to learn modern techniques. That is, they remained in that time. Hard to tell. But for some it’s normal: adequate loads, approach. Some have changed their approach to pre-season training camps, some have moved forward, and some have remained in place.
– They say that hockey itself has become completely different: shots and icings. Well, nothing more. True? As a TV professional, are you interested in watching the game now?
– To be honest, not very much. Of course, the game of leaders has always been of interest, but now even it is not always of interest. It was interesting to watch the game of the leading five of Magnitka. CSKA's top five, in which Radulov played. A couple of fives in SKA. Well, the game of hockey has become more straightforward, or something. There are fewer combination plays. More: they threw it over the gate, ran, and trampled on it. There is such a thing, it can be traced.
– Is there a center forward in the KHL whose play you like?
– Jan Kovar plays well. So, to be honest, there is no such thing as following someone. In SKA - Vadim Shipachev. Played combinations can be traced with it, especially when playing the majority. Five on four played well.
– Your signature style is “snail”. This is actually a very complex technical element. Thanks to her, it was possible to hold the puck in the opponent’s zone, find a free partner, and pass him the ball. Where did the ability to make the signature “snail” come from? Who supplied you with this element?
- Dad taught me. He played hockey for me, and played a little for Metallurg, then for Calibration. And he used it himself, he skated well and still skates. Since childhood, he suggested it to me, I did it, and it brought results. Therefore, they tried to save something better to use in the game.
– But you didn’t immediately learn how to make a “snail”?
- Well, of course, everything comes with time. When you do it a thousand times, it’s put off on a subconscious level and practiced automatically.
– Which coach put the most work and nerves into you?
“The coaches made their contribution, but in any case, for the first seven or eight seasons, after every game that was shown on TV, my father and I analyzed my actions on the court. My mother recorded the games on video cassettes, I came home and my father and I watched them again and sorted them out: what I did right and what I did wrong.
– In addition to training at the children’s school, did you do it yourself?
“In the summer, in the village, I worked on a special iron sheet with a puck and shot at the goal. Nobody was following me. I came to my grandparents in the village of Svetloye, fulfilled my duties in maintaining the house, helping them. And in the evening he played a puck on iron sheets. This is good now; plastic ice has been made for children in the Metallurg Arena. It's a pleasure to work on it.
– Have you practiced on it?
– I tried it a little. The puck actually glides as if on artificial ice. And then add some iron and sand, and you get rubber and metal. Friction occurs. This training came from my father, he is from there, he trained like this back in the day. Then I: throw up - not throw, pass - not pass, shoot at goal. A special iron frame was welded to size, which was called a gate.
– How was your birthday? What did you give?
– A year ago, when I celebrated my 33rd birthday, my friends gave me a portrait that they painted themselves. We were all here at the awards ceremony together, they took a photo of me with a medal in a suit with a bouquet. And then they drew my portrait. So, it turned out pretty well. An unexpected gift. But this year I didn’t do much. The two families got together and had dinner. For many years it was not possible to celebrate my birthday normally. Usually at this time I was at training camp. So that year they told me: “Okay, let’s celebrate your birthday, otherwise you haven’t been able to do this for many years.”
– Who do you communicate with from the current Metallurg squad?
– We see each other and communicate with Evgeniy Biryukov and Sergei Mozyakin. And so I am on normal terms with everyone.
– Could you work as a hockey expert, just like Badyukov and Guskov?
- No, at least this kind of work is not attractive.
– What helped you gain a foothold in the main team of Metallurg at the age of 18?
– I wanted to play hockey, I had a great desire. Back then, it seems to me, it was generally more complicated than it is now. I just really wanted to play hockey in such a team of masters as Metallurg.
– You had three or four seasons when you scored fifty points per season, but Metallurg did not become a champion. Why didn't you play productively in other years?
- Hard to tell. Maybe this was the period when the squad became a top five. Somehow it turned out like this. There were many nuances, I won’t talk about them, that were incomprehensible to me. Why did the coaches at that time, I still don’t understand it, did they behave like that, why did they do that?
– Have you tried to ask the coaches questions on this topic?
– I myself am not a conflict person. I didn’t want to enter into a conflict or find out anything, especially since the head coach always knows better. It’s just that at that moment you understand that this is not fair, and you give up a little. Let's say, the mood is wrong, the mood is wrong. It happens that this is the case. And when you realize that this is not the point, you start thinking somewhere... All people are different. Some people may take this easier. I’m a bit of a picky person, I can start asking questions to myself. Against this background, there is a decline.
– How did you manage to win the final of the Youth World Cup in Halifax? What was the secret of success?
– The ’83 team was generally good. Each of us was a leader in our clubs. Then it’s just a really good team, a good goalkeeper - Medvedev. There's no secret. There were people - whoever you take, everything is fine. And then, at that time, it was not clear to me: they took into the team those people who could not have been taken, because instead of them, stronger guys remained on the side of the team. And then it would be even more interesting. We had two stronger links and two weaker ones.
– Why couldn’t Metallurg win the fifth match of the final in 2004?
– After all, we lost in shootouts?
- Yes sir.
– We had a good team, the final was interesting. We took a 2-0 lead in the series. And then we lost three games in a row. Valery Konstantinovich was in Omsk. And here in the fifth game there were no shootouts. I remember they wanted Evgeniy Gladskikh to make his attempt, but his wrist hurt. Means no luck.
– But you didn’t take the shootout in that fateful series.
- For some reason they didn’t install...
– But I scored against Slovan. When you went to those two shootouts in the match with Slovan, what were you thinking about, because it was all so serious?
– There was no need to think anymore. You just had to go out. It turns out that I was the third to beat after Kudrna and Marek?
- That's right.
“I passed out at that moment.” I roughly knew what I would throw there. It all worked out smoothly. Then I went again, it turns out?
– Why was Canada hit so hard in 2005? At the group stage, your shootout against Canada was victorious. Do you remember him?
– I don’t remember that match very well. But I remember how King shouted at us just after the first game with the Canadians; he was very dissatisfied. It looks like we won, albeit in shootouts. In short, King came at us then, and then we slammed Canada 8:3 (smiles).
– What kind of game was that in the final?
- On the rise, inspired. That game was easy for us, and the Canadians were discouraged.
– I was at the Spengler Cup twice with Magnitka and twice with Ufa. On the one hand it’s cool, on the other hand it’s a little hard. It turns out, often games. You come to the highlands and it’s not easy to play every day. Everything seems to be fine, but it’s a bit difficult. A good option is to go to the Spengler Cup with five A's in the squad, so that each game you can give someone a rest. But there are injuries, so this option may not work.
– Do you regret not going to the NHL a second time?
- No. I went once and saw what was there. Enough.
– In general, did the Ottawa bosses persuade you to stay?
– No, the situation there was a little different. They started attacking me heavily in the summer of 2006. They called almost every day: “Come, come!” I started the preseason here, and didn’t really plan on going to the NHL. But they promised me that I would play there in the second line, they said that they needed a center for Alfredsson. I thought and thought, but then I finally decided. Thank God that they let me go here in an amicable way. I remember we talked for a very long time: me, Kupriyanov, Velichkin, Aleko... They somehow didn’t want to let go, but still they parted amicably. We agreed that if something doesn’t work out there, then I’ll return to Magnitogorsk. I came to Ottawa, naturally, no one put me in the second line, but they put me in the fourth. However, he played six games. There were some good games, when our line won a micro-match, the team won. But with each match the playing time became less and less. It got to the point that I made my first shift in the 11th minute. Before going to the NHL, I asked questions about my sending to a farm club. And we wrote a clause in the contract that if they send me to a farm club, then I will go back. And so it happened. The general manager called me and started talking nonsense. My agent translated all this over the phone. I asked to buy tickets for me home, and I flew to Magnitogorsk.
– What serious injuries did you receive as a player?
– My lower back hurt, it was an intervertebral hernia. Of course, I was very sick, but it wasn’t like I was out for a long time. I suffered for two years, but when I went out to train, the pain subsided. It was hard to get up in the morning. Completed a course of manual therapy and massage. I also broke ribs and fingers. By the way, my ribs were broken in that final series with Omsk in 2004. He played three matches in the finals with broken ribs.
– Khavanov said that on average a hockey player loses 6-8 teeth during his career.
“I haven’t lost a single one.”
– Did you use a mouth guard?
- Throughout my career. And even now, at veteran tournaments.
– I’m surprised that some of our famous hockey players play without mouthguards...
- Yes, you need to get used to it. Some people get used to it, some don't.
– You are a very disciplined player, but you had to fight. Do you remember your ice skating fights?
- Yes, whatever. I was with Alexander Radulov in Ufa. He slammed something on me, Vlad Bulyin threw it at him. And I had nothing to do with anything, but for some reason Radulov attacked me. It’s probably hard to call it combat. So, we poked around a little. I remember here in the Romazan Palace they played with Nizhnekamsk. I don’t remember who I quarreled with, but we both got sent off for the rest of the game. But there was no special fist fight there either.
– If Metallurg had not won the Gagarin Cup in 2016, would you have retired?
– I think I would have completed it. Even then I made this decision, probably seventy percent.
The interview was conducted by Arthur IVANNIKOV.
Photo: www.solistic.ru, www.metallurg.ru, personal archive of Alexey Kaigorodov.