ZHITNIK READY TO RETURN TO KHL

Defenceman Alexey Zhitnik could continue his career in KHL.


Former captain of Dynamo Moscow returned to the North America this summer, however he could move back to the Russian championship.

"North American clubs are not interested in age players", the 37-year-old player’s agent Mark Gandler said to sport press.

"That is why we wait for offers from KHL, but not from NHL. I think there are Russian clubs, which need to strengthen their defence".

DEMITRA SCORED HIS FIRST GOAL IN KHL

Lokomotiv star centre Pavol Demitra opened his scorers’ list in KHL in the match with SKA.


"First of all I used to think about making an assist to my partners, but not about scoring", Demitra said. "I used to play this way during the whole my career, and it’s impossible to change anything when I am 35".

"It’s always great to fire in a goal behind the league’s best goalkeeper. Evgeniy Nabokov played very well this time and saved SKA several times".

"SKA is one of the strongest teams in KHL and they have so many high-class players in the squad. But we showed real strength of Lokomotiv and that we can beat any other club of the league. Our team fully controlled the game, especially in the first and third periods".

"I get pleasure from playing in Lokomotiv. Atmosphere in the team is wonderful and everything is perfectly organized".

KOVALCHUK:There is nothing bad in SKA’s poor start of the season.

New Jersey forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who was hero of almost two-months summer saga concerning his contract with the NHL club, gave an interview to sport press.


"I tried not to think about summer problems with my contract", Kovalchuk said. "I was in Moscow at that time and I was concentrated on trainings and pre-season preparations. But in general I agree that this situation was unpleasant".

"I would like to say that assistance of New Jersey owner Jeff Vanderbeek and general manager Lou Lamoriello helped me a lot. They called me almost every day saying that everything would be all right and the league would approve my contract. I appreciate their help very much".

"I think that if you begin something, it’s necessary to finish this business. That is why I didn’t want to make harsh decisions and signed a contract with SKA".

"SKA was one of the most probable variants of continuing my career, if I failed to stay in New Jersey. I kept contact with Saint Petersburg club until the last moment and SKA management was interested in our cooperation".

"I am thankful to the president of the club and KHL Alexandr Medvedev who supported me in this tough situation".

"There is nothing bad in SKA’s poor start of the season, because they played only several matches. They forfeited their squad with new players, who need time to get used to each other".

"I feel that they are top-class players and the team has strong character. So I am sure that SKA will catch up with the other teams soon and restore their leading positions despite pressure from the side of journalists and fans".

"For example Ufa and Metallurg Magnitogorsk spend big sums of money for new players, however they are not so pressed by mass media. I want to wish good luck to SKA management and players"

KOSHECHKIN: I LIKE PLAYING HOCKEY

Severstal famous debutant Vasiliy Koshechkin comments on his team’s start of the KHL season.


Koshechkin made 28 saves and conceded only two goals from Torpedo in Severstal’s first home clash, but it didn’t help his team win as they suffered 1:2 defeat. He made four appearances in five matches that means that he replaced Slovakia’s Rastislav Stana as the first choice goalkeeper.

"I can’t judge who is our number one goalie, but I am happy that I have practice, just because I like playing hockey", Koshechkin told sport press. "I got fantastic feelings from Severstal matches!"

"We conceded five goals from Avangard, but I try not to focus on the failure and try to move forward. Avangard looked more powerful and that’s why they won".

"I don’t think that our fans won’t come to our home games because of our defeat in the first home clash, it seemed to me that our fans felt that we showed entertaining hockey and they supported us".

BYKOV BEATEN BY THE CZECHS AGAIN

Head coach of Salavat Yulaev Vyacheslav Bykov answered sport press questions after the lost match against Avangard.


Vyacheslav Bykov’s team suffered the first defeat in official games since the World Cup final in Cologne and again by the Czechs Jaromir Jagr and Roman Cervenka, as Salavat Yulaev lost to Avangard in a shootout series 4:5.

"Before the match we analyzed Avangard hockey and made several decisions", Bykov said. "As for Jaromir Jagr, he has been playing in Russia for several years, and our players perfectly know him".

"In general I understand journalist’ attention to the Czech players. After the World Championship they are in the center of people’s attention. By the way Salavat also has two Czechs – Jakub Klepis and Miroslav Blatak".

SUSHINSKY: JUST BE CALM

SKA captain Maxim Sushinsky tries to explain his team’s unsuccessful start of the season.


"One of the reasons of our unsuccessful start of the season is mass media, because there is too much negative around SKA", Sushinsky said to sport press. I" have a feeling that we are former CSKA, which got the best players for free and won twelve consecutive championships. Our team hasn’t won anything yet".

"People always pay more attention on big prosperous clubs and expect success from them, but I don’t see the same attitude to Omsk or Ufa for example. I try not to read reviews in Internet, but my partners discuss it and say that each our game causes a lot of comments. On the other hand, nobody can win Gagarin Cup on 21 September".

"We are a little bit concerned because we lost four matches out of six. We have very good team, and all players understand our problem and work hard".

"Absence of injured Petr Cajanek is a big loss for us, because we have been playing together for the second season and understand each other without any words. It’s clear that everybody is waiting for his comeback, but besides that leaders need to be calmer".

"I don’t understand what is the reason of journalists’ hate to SKA. We have never won anything, and suddenly became target for critics. Nobody kept us in mind when we were in background. Now when we are able to reach success, people criticize us severely".

"To my mind we just need to be calm".

BYKOV: OUR FANS LIKE OUR OFFENSIVE STYLE

Salavat Yulaev head coach Vyacheslav Bykov comments on his team’s bright start of the season.


Ufa club scored thirteen goals in two first matches of the season. "I think it’s record result in my career", Bykov said to sport press. "And of course so high efficiency makes me happy, but don’t forget that we conceded seven goals, that is too much".

"First of all I would like to praise our players, who perfectly prepared for the season. We introduced some changes to the team’s preparations and our tactical schemes, and from this point of view the final result satisfies us".

"I respect my colleagues, who achieve results thanks to defensive hockey, but on the other hand I understand our fans who pay money and come to the stadium not to see boring goalless draw. That is why we pay more attention to offensive hockey. It’s also important for us that our fans like it".

"As for my work in the national team, Igor Zakharkin and I are satisfied with our contract with the Russian Hockey Federation. Coaching job is very specific, as you need to prove your worth every year. We are ready for it and we agreed on the federation’s conditions".

"The gold is always the main option for us. Whatever we do we always keep in mind the coming Sochi Olympic Games".