On Frozen Blog

More from OFB’s friends at Sovetsky Sport:

These days Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Gonchar and other Russian NHL players are sweating at their training camp in St Petersburg. Sovetsky Sport decided to pay the guys a visit.

It is quite rare to see a dozen [Russian] NHL players live and train together. Such a training camp was conducted in Chicago last year by Vladislav Tretyak. He thought that an informal setting and “togetherness” would help the players better prepare for the World Championships in Moscow. But now there is no need to go so far to the Windy City. St. Petersburg is closer. And there is plenty of wind.

Nashville forward Alexander Radulov is the first to arrive… Alexei Semenov is next, followed by Sergei Gonchar and Evgeni Malkin (who stays with Gonchar even in St Petersburg).

Dmitry [the trainer], how many [Russian] NHL players are attending your training camp this year?

Let’s see. Ovechkin, Gonchar, Malkin, Semenov, Radulov… Viktor Kozlov is coming over tomorrow, and Sasha [Alexander] Semin is coming on Sunday. Andrei Taratukhin is also here. Andrei Nikolishin also came over but had to go back to Moscow.

What is so new about your training routine?

There was nothing new invented in the last 100 years. I used to work with figure skaters before — Olympic champions Tatyana Navka and Roman Kostomarov. Then I switched to hockey players.

What kind of shape is Nikolishin in? Would he still be able to cut it in the NHL?

He is in the best physical shape [compared to others]. His major flaw is that he doesn’t know when to stop… [He follows] the Dynamo Moscow school. But one needs to rest as well to let the muscles repair.

Do you have Ovechkin do a lot of weight lifting?

No, he is working with a quarter of his [maximum] load. It is enough. This is because a hockey player doesn’t need to be beefed up like an elephant, but needs to be flexible and have great endurance.

Is he staying with you?

Yes, it is more convenient. And more useful. For example, I taught him how to wash dishes . . .

[At this, Ovechkin yells: "I knew how to wash the dishes!" Ovechkin is on the treadmill, then working with weights. In between he asks about the news.]

I read in Sovetsky Sport that Dynamo Moscow want to get Jeff O’Neal [to play in Russia]. Is it so?

Not exactly. Dynamo President said that they are talking with a Canadian player who was a first round pick. Eric Lindros and Jeff Friesen also fit that description.

No, those two won’t come. I heard that Lindros was going to retire. And I talked with Friesen when he played in Washington. I suggested he try to play in the Superleague. But he thinks that wild bears roam the streets in Russia. He said that he would find a team in the NHL.

How do you have fun here?

We go to the movies. Not long ago Malkin, Radulov and I went to see Transformers.

Alright, I have to go train some more.

You don’t spare yourself, Alex.

Enough rest! The new season is almost here!

Translation courtesy of Dmitry Chesnokov. Full article (untranslated) is available online at Sovietsky Sport. For the translated Ovechkin interview posted earlier, click here.