07 October, 2008

Category Archives: Dmitry Chesnokov

Capitals’ Varlamov on the NHL Experience

By The OFB Team
Monday, September 29, 2008

So as we watched Thursday night’s preseason game in the press box, our friend Dmitry Chesnokov said, “I’m going to call Varlamov [who was watching the game in street clothes], find out where he’s sitting and go talk to him.” Well that chat is now published in Sovetsky Sport this morning, and we are happy to present the English translation here:

Simeon, please tell us about your first preseason game in the NHL, away at Carolina. This was not a scrimmage or the rookie game . . . this was a real game.

Yes, Viktor Kozlov told me that 70% of the Hurricanes’ players were real NHL-ers. I saw this too when I started warming up. I was supposed to have been nervous, but quite the opposite happened — I was happy and smiling. I was circling around the ice with my head up looking around the arena and trying to grasp the atmosphere inside. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. My dream [of playing in the NHL] came true only in part. [To make it complete] I have to play an official game in the NHL.

Didn’t you get nervous during the game?

Not at all. I enjoyed every second I spent on the ice, the fact that there are so many well known players here and against some of them I was playing that night. I did get nervous, but not before the game, but about three hours before. I was a little overwhelmed. But when I started warming up, went out on the ice, this nervousness went away somehow.

Did any of your relatives see that game?

No one. But everyone is well aware of how I did. I played in the first period and did not concede a goal after all 20 shots I faced.

Viktor Dovgan and Simeon Varlamov - photo courtesy of Sovetsky Sport

Viktor Dovgan and Simeon Varlamov - photo courtesy of Sovetsky Sport


This is a lot, even in the NHL. And why were you pulled?

I was scheduled to play half that game. But a small injury got in the way – I pulled my groin. I asked to be replaced myself. It was a tricky situation. If I had played another 10 minutes I would have risked to miss a lot of games.

I hope there is nothing serious!

Don’t worry. A minor strain. But there is nothing insignificant when it comes to health.

What are the differences of the North American style of play?

The speed is a lot greater than in Russia or in training camp. The passing game is also a lot quicker. And players think a lot more quickly on the ice. Everything happens in an instant: a pass and then a shot from any position. Players can shoot even from the boards, and the puck will most certainly fly toward the net. A goaltender should not get out of the crease too far. It is imperative to see all five players of the opponent. If you lose one, there will be problems.

Viktor Kozlov helped me a lot to get ready for the game against Carolina. I was so impressed with everything, even when we arrived at the airport and got out of the bus. There was the plane, no security checks, no customs. We got on board and sat in these huge seats that were like beds we could sleep in.

Right away I forgot about the equipment bags. They were delivered straight to the arena. Players don’t have to carry them around. This is the NHL system.

And did you carry your equipment around yourself in the Superleague?

Yes, until Lokomotiv started taking care of it. And here we have all our sweaters cleaned and dried and placed in our lockers. Players don’t have to think about these things. You come in the next day and everything is ready for work. Everything is perfect, no blemishes. And that’s why the NHL is called the best league in the world. Everything is organized first class. Players are elite. That’s why everyone wants to play in the NHL, and I am no different.

You are lucky to come to this team where there are so many Russians.

I agree. I arrived in Washington on September 8th. There were no Russians here for the first three or four days. I panicked a little bit. I didn’t know what to do because my English is not that good. It was tough… But when Alex Ovechkin arrived it became so much easier.

Alex and his family treated me so well. Please thank him, his mother, his father and his brother through your newspaper. I can come to the Ovechkins’ house for dinner any time and will feel very welcome. I spent a lot of time at his house and no one [made me uncomfortable]. Although, perhaps, if there are strangers in the house, it might bother a little.

Is Ovechkin like an “uncle” to you? He is three years older than you are.

Well, not an uncle… But Alex is an idol for a lot of fans. Megastar! At the same time he is still a very good person.

Did you go to the party that SovSport wrote about, where Ovechkin was impersonating a rock star singer?

Only the first team was invited to go there. Maybe I do not deserve it yet. [Smiles.]

You even use a different locker room . . .

Well, yes. There is a locker room for rookies. I hope this is a temporary situation. If I make the first team then I will move to the main locker room. By the way, Lokomotiv had the same system.

What do you think of your chances of remaining in Washington [with the first team]?

The competition is high within the team. And no one guaranteed me a spot. But my chances are 50/50. The coaching staff will make that decision. I think I will remain with the Capitals at least for a few days. And possibly I will play in a couple of preseason games. Maybe…

A lot will depend on how my groin will react. I will soon be back to full strength. But I don’t know if the coach will give me another chance.

My goal is to play in the NHL. I fight for that spot at every practice. I fight like I never have in my life. But if I am sent down to the farm club it won’t be the end of the world. I will keep working. And live my NHL dream.

Let’s take this as a milestone: the preseason game Washington will play against Philadelphia. It might be a great game.

Deal. I would really want to play in that game.

Where are you staying now?

At a hotel for now. How it happens here is: If you are set to stay with the first team, then someone from the coaching staff comes up and says: “Go get yourself an apartment in the city.” But no one has approached me yet . . .

Filed in Alexander Ovechkin, Dmitry Chesnokov, Simeon Varlamov, Sovetsky Sport, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (7)

More Red Lamp-Lighting from Russia

By pucksandbooks
Thursday, September 11, 2008
photo courtesy of the Washington Capitals

photo courtesy of the Washington Capitals

Back in June, we had a chance to ask Capitals’ General Manager George McPhee about progress and success the organization has enjoyed with the Entry Draft. He agreed then with our assessment that recent Capitals’ drafts had been markedly better than those in his first years on the job in D.C. Because the Capitals did not own a lottery pick in this past June’s entry draft in Ottawa, there was considerably less local media interest in the 2008 draft — the Washington Post didn’t send a reporter to cover it, for instance.

OFB is characteristically curious about Capitals’ prospects from the time they are drafted because, well, a couple of us have an inner draftgeek, but also because so little old media coverage is accorded prospects’ development — how often do either of Washington’s big newspapers cover developments with Caps’ prospects in Major Juniors or Hershey? From the time they’re 18-year-old draft picks to the time they arrive in the  big-leagues, there’s a remarkable development journey for hockey players, and it is novel among professional sports. We think it’s worth covering.

We’re particularly curious about Capitals’ 2008 second-round selection Dmitri Kugryshev, whom with SovetskySport’s Dmitry Chesnokov’s assistance we interviewed earlier in the summer. In light of the success the Caps have had with a handful of Russian prospects since 2004, how could you not be curious about him?

Back in July, Kugryshev told us of his elation at being selected by the Caps, and of his enthusiasm for making a go of it in North America beginning this season. Kugryshev is in training camp now with the Quebec Remparts, and as a freshman in Canadian Major Juniors, and a complete outsider both to North American culture and its brand of hockey, you’d expect him to struggle a bit — at least early on. Well, here’s the tally on that level of struggle from his first two exhibition games in a Quebec sweater:

3 goals, 4 assists

His name appears rather high in the Q’s scoring leader’s list for the preseason.

So conspicuous a start we thought merited some feedback on it from the young man, so we tasked our intrepid Russian hockey journalist chum, Chesnokov, with throwing a few questions from us his way. Chesnokov actually remains in regular contact with Kugryshev, talking with him on a weekly basis. We just wanted a sense of Kugryshev’s initial impressions of hockey life in North America.

“Overall, I like everything,” Kugryshev told Chesnokov. “During games, [Patrick] Roy talks a lot in the locker room, draws plays on the board, but I don’t understand anything in French!”

How then does he understand the gameplan, if he doesn’t understand his head coach’s native tongue?

“Roy pulls me and [teammate] Mikhail Stefanovich aside before the game and gives us instructions in English. [Roy] likes to joke and laugh (off the ice), but on the ice he is very strict and firm,” Kugryshev added.

The Caps’ newest Russian talent is staying with a host family in Quebec this season. He sure seems to be enjoying — and succeeding in — his new environment.

Filed in CHL, Dmitry Chesnokov, Dmitry Kugryshev, DraftGeek, Entry Draft, Prospects, Sovetsky Sport, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (8)

Wearing the Nation’s Colors Next February 22

By pucksandbooks
Thursday, July 31, 2008

On Sunday, February 22, 2009, the Capitals matinee-host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Verizon Center. That day will commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the greatest day in the history of hockey and the greatest day in the history of sports. Summertime question for you: what do you think of the idea of the Caps doing something radically different with their sweaters that day — like, say, wearing re-issues of the Lake Placid heroes’ sweaters? Before you dismiss the idea out of hand, let’s first have a little chat among patriots about the matter.

First, let’s acknowledge the Caps’ unique qualifications for potentially pursuing such a scheme. In representing the nation’s capital, Washington’s hockey team is different from 29 others in the NHL. They aren’t a generic animal of prey (Panther, Bruin) or an abstract circumstance of nature (Lightning, Hurricane, Avalanche, Star); they are named as a signifier, of something nationally unifying and laudatory. Millions of Americans each year flock to Washington to experience what our city represents. In return I say a sports team named for the entirety of that experience can well represent one of this nation’s finest moments. If ever there were a pro hockey team compelled to don the ‘80 Miracle look for a commemorative occasion, it ought to be Washington’s Red, White and Blue Capitals.

Over the past three decades, the NHL has been curiously uninvolved in acknowledging Lake Placid’s Miracle. Why? Thirteen of the 20 rostered miraculous Americans went on to NHL careers — and five of them earned more than 500 games in the league. On the Miracle’s anniversary, is there any possible downside to the league associating itself with the feat? Understand that I’m not calling for some extended exploitation of the team and event, just a single day’s acknowledgment, which arrives at the heart of each hockey season.

Perhaps, it could be argued, each NHL team should wear a commemorative patch for that week’s play. I’m fine with that. But the game of hockey changed forever that night in upstate New York. Boys dreamed. Men wept. Traveling strangers pulled over their cars on interstate highways and hugged. A downtrodden culture rejuvenated itself. To this day some very learned minds suggest that geopolitical affairs were irrevocably altered by those 60 minutes of hockey. (Imagine.) And so from the NHL I’m looking for something larger as display and remembrance. Why not have a team wear the actual sweater, for one day? And who better to do that than our boys?

OFB readers this week will have noticed our humble efforts at offering up a third jersey design for the Capitals to consider down the road. Its color scheme — wholly unintended — bears a striking similarity to the sweater worn on February 24, 1980, when the Americans earned gold at Lake Placid against Finland. I find that interesting.

The next obstacle to address would be a purported “forced nationalism” on a contemporary NHL club necessarily comprised of nationals from a half dozen or more foreign nations. Specifically, wouldn’t there be awkward irony in an Alexander Ovechkin and his Russian teammates wearing “USA” across their chests the third Sunday of next February?

It’s irrefutable that the achievement of 2/22/80 was distinctly sovereign, distinctly — I would argue — American. But as it’s aged, hasn’t it acquired an EveryNation sheen of admirable heroism, a universally acknowledged sense of David slaying Goliath, and thereby broadened the general appeal of our now very global game? Isn’t there something in the Miracle for every hockey player from every nation to delight in, and celebrate? Isn’t it part of the Miracle’s lore that even the shocked and stunned Russians, standing forlorn on their own blueline, looked down the Lake Placid ice at their collegian vanquishers and admired? And if not, if that’s overstatement, couldn’t we next rationalize the commemoration merely on these grounds: at the highest level of hockey, for just one day, let’s simply and distinctly acknowledge the greatest hockey game ever played.

It would be close to a franchise-best moment to have the Capitals debut a new, very patriotic-looking third sweater next February 22, but the NHL requires that teams identify in advance all sweaters to be worn during the season. The Capitals aren’t adopting a third sweater this season. What I’m advocating is a league-issued waiver from the uniform regulations for a very special Sunday that just happens to showcase the two greatest hockey players on the planet.

This is a very, very, secondary consideration, but talk about a marketable television event! The game between Ovechkin’s Capitals and Crosby’s Penguins is already slated for national television (I say this not because I’ve confirmed it with NBC but from a sense of how could it not be?). What aura in the Phone Booth then if this unprecedented uniforming were to take place. What might tickets sell for out on the District’s streets that morning? What if one or four members of the Miracle team were in the house?

I have another compelling and deeply personal reason for pursuing this idea. During their home games the Capitals like to seat me next to SovetskySport’s Dmitry Chesnokov. Dmitry, newly sworn in as an American citizen, is younger than I am and by virtue of his age forgiveably unaware of the immediate impact of the Miracle. After next February 22nd’s game I’d like my friend to accompany me down to the Capitals’ locker room and interview his countryman Ovechkin, who’d be wearing a sweater whose style will never go out of fashion, and one which changed the world.

Filed in Alexander Ovechkin, American Hockey, Dmitry Chesnokov, Hockey, Hockey Heroes, Miracle on Ice, Morning cup-a-joe, National Hockey League, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sovetsky Sport, USA Hockey, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (26)

Simeon Varlamov: Stranger in a Strange Land

By pucksandbooks
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Varlamov contemplates his future

Varlamov contemplates his future

Simeon Varlamov is an exceptionally driven competitor, and like all of his prospect peers, passionate about his sport. But today he is very much a stranger in a strange land. We hope that our video of his first formal press conference in Washington yesterday illustrated how isolated he is here. According to Varlamov, his father will be coming over at some point to offer support, but today he speaks zero English, and he told us yesterday that he can receive precious little instruction and guidance from anyone affiliated with the Caps, on or off the ice. That’s a remarkable realm of isolation, and frankly, I find it deeply lamentable.

As a native Washingtonian, I abhor the thought of any young man or woman seeking some manner of the American dream, however that’s defined, so isolated. This existence highlights the global origins of elite hockey talent, but also, from my vantage, the dire need for some manner of warm welcoming to be institutionalized not just by the Capitals but by all NHL clubs.

During yesterday’s presser, I imagined ahead to Varlamov being on the Hershey Bears’ long bus rides this coming season. I thought it harrowing for him to be riding those linguistically isolated from his teammates. It’s a real challenge I think for the Capitals’ organization. But I don’t think that hockey clubs should be singled out for more or less “hoping” that a foreign player’s presence here and immersion in our culture will eventually render them, at some point, comfortable; I think it’s a part of a long-standing American creed – a “tough love” expectation, a rough “rite of passage” into America for our newcomers. But I also believe it’s one that we ought to rigorously revisit.

Simeon expressed his intent to enroll in English classes yesterday, and hopefully he will arrive in Hershey this autumn with at least a rudimentary command of English basics. But like every other member of the Capitals’ organization, he ought to feel every bit as welcomed in the room as the right wing from Connecticut. How can one, though, when the most basic communication with teammates is impossible?

Our friend Dmitry Chesnokov was 14 when he moved from Moscow to the UK to study. “The first few weeks away from home were the toughest in terms of the language barrier, even though I had, what I thought at the time, was a very good grip on English. It wasn’t,” he told me.  Chesnokov found that adjusting to the culture took much longer.

“It was still somewhat easier for me, than what Varlamov will have to go through,” he added. “I came from a large city with a lot of Western influence — you know that Moscow is anything but a small Russian town.  Varlamov is from a much smaller Russian city. Thus, it will be harder for him.

“Language barrier is the most important factor,” Chesnokov noted. “Without [command of English] one cannot go grocery shopping, rent an apartment, buy a car, learn the rules of life in America. And most importantly, one cannot communicate with others here. Communication is vital to learning the way of life in America, to making friends — which is important! – and to get the job done well in net because one would not be able to understand coaches’ instructions.

“In Russia each team holds camp for a couple of months. They live together, train together, travel together, etc. A lot of times before games Russian teams do not live at home with their families, but at a hotel adjacent to or incorporated into their practice facility. It might be changing now, but it is still very different from the NHL. Varlamov will have to learn to train on his own, get ready for the season alone: rent a rink, hire a personal trainer, etc.

And last but certainly not least, Chesnokov pointed out, there is the issue of homesickness.

“Living in a different city in the same country could be lonely, let alone half across the world where food is different, people have different habits — like smiling to others, as weird as that sounds.

“After the official presser when I asked him whether he was staying in the U.S. to look for a house, buy a car, etc., he told me there was no way, because he would “die” of boredom with no one to talk to.”

Filed in Development Camp, Dmitry Chesnokov, Hockey, Kettler Capitals Iceplex, Prospects, Simeon Varlamov, Sovetsky Sport, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (30)

KHL Head: “Most likely, today [Fedorov] will sign a new contract with Washington”

By The OFB Team
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Sergei Fedorov at the World Championships - photo by Pavel Lysenkov

Sergei Fedorov at the World Championships - photo by Pavel Lysenkov

Our thanks to Sovetsky Sport’s Dmitry Chesnokov for tracking down and translating the following piece of intriguing news:

At a press conference today in Moscow, Alexander Medvedev, the head of the newly formed Continental Hockey League, or KHL (which repaced the Russian Super League after the 2007-08 season), told Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport:

“It is sad that we will not see Sergei Fedorov in the KHL. Most likely, today he will sign a new contract with Washington.”

Of course, around this time last week, things looked pretty good for re-signing Cristobal Huet.

Dmitry also relays that according to Lysenkov, Medvedev is on the board of the SKA St. Petersburg hockey club, which was involved in negotiations with Fedorov. Medvedev was attending a press conference at the Gazprom offices today regarding the KHL and its new logo. This was when Medvedev was asked about Fedorov.

A little before 11:00 this morning, the Capitals told us that, “We’re still negotiating with Sergei and remain hopeful that he will return to the Capitals.”

Acquired from Columbus at the NHL trade deadline last February, Fedorov tallied 13 points in 18 regular season games with the Caps and added 5 points in seven playoff games in the first round against the Flyers.

Filed in Dmitry Chesnokov, Pavel Lysenkov, Sergei Fedorov, Sovetsky Sport, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (12)

Ovechkin: “I am voting with both of my hands and legs in favor of Sergei [Fedorov] staying!”

By The OFB Team
Monday, June 30, 2008

SovetskySport’s Pavel Lysenkov spoke with Alexander Ovechkin on Monday about free agency and other hot hockey topics, including Sergei Fedorov’s status. SovetskySport’s Dmitry Chesnokov passed along the info to us just moments ago.

Lysenkov: People wonder if you ever thought that you may have miscalculated signing a thirteen year $124 million contract . . .

Ovechkin: “Why would I think that?”

Lysenkov: Because the cap in the NHL is rising and in a few years your $9.5 million per year on average contract might look “average” comparing to other offers. Jagr is not too excited about getting $6 million nowadays.

Ovechkin: “I only look positive at the fact that Jagr is getting offered a lot of money. Jaromir deserves a big contract. And let me have my fixed salary. You know the saying that you cannot make all the money in the world? I like it. It is so much easier to know that I will not have a headache about money until I am 35. It is better than to test the free agency every two or three years and negotiate contracts.”

Lysenkov: If in a few years your $9.5 million look “average” will you ask Ted Leonsis for bigger bonuses?

Ovechkin: “I wouldn’t do that. The contract I was offered in Washington is good enough. I haven’t received any money from it yet, though, because it doesn’t kick in until next season.”

Lysenkov: Do you know if Sergei Fedorov is going to stay in Washington?

Ovechkin: “I am voting with both of my hands and legs in favor of Sergei staying! Of course, the decision doesn’t rest with players, but with the Caps management. I know that Sergei has a great desire to play for our club. He really liked it in Washington.”

Lysenkov: The last time you spoke was in May after the World Championship?

Ovechkin: “No, we keep in touch all the time. For example, we spoke on the phone just a couple of days ago. And Fedorov confirmed that he would prefer to stay in Washington.”

Lysenkov: Could Jagr really come to play in Russia?

Ovechkin: “I think that Jaromir himself will decide where he will play. He is one of the best hockey players in the world. And I am sure that he will earn every penny of the contract he will sign. And if it so happens that he actually ends up in the KHL, it will be a major plus to our hockey. Players like him are not only the face of a team, but the face of the league.”

Lysenkov: Do you think Washington should be active on the market this summer? Does the team need to strengthen?

Ovechkin: “The first thing we need to do is to keep the players whose contracts have ended. Mike Green, for example, who is set to become a RFA. But of course other players can also help. That’s because we are setting our sights on the Stanley Cup. Actually, George [McPhee] knows what to do. So I don’t want to say anything to disturb him.”

Lysenkov: How are you spending your summer?

Ovechkin: “Having a lot of fun! Because I will have to start working out soon. A few days ago I got back from Turkey. I am going to visit St Petersburg soon.”

Lysenkov: Are you going to have your summer workouts there?

Ovechkin: “Dmitry Kapitonov, my personal trainer, hasn’t picked a place yet. But most likely we will do it in Moscow.”

The original SovetskySport article can be found here.

Filed in Alexander Ovechkin, Dmitry Chesnokov, Media, Print, Sergei Fedorov, Sovetsky Sport, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (4)

Russia Came, Russia Conquered, and Russia Was Very Well Covered

By The OFB Team
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Congratulations not only to Team Russia for its performance at the Worlds but for the excellent coverage of the tournament by Sovetsky Sport, Russia’s largest newspaper.

The Russian Hockey Federation was thrilled with SovetskySport’s coverage of the team at Worlds, so much so that they were the only print media allowed in the dressing room after Sunday’s gold medal win. They were also the only print media invited to fly back with the team on their charter back to Moscow. According to our good friend Dmitry Chesnokov, a lot of stories from that champions’ flight will forever remain unpublished.

Incidentally, these Russian hockey players — they’re a rather photogenic bunch, aren’t they?

The Alexes Biting Gold - photo by Pavel Lysenkov
Filed in Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Dmitry Chesnokov, IIHF, Morning cup-a-joe, Russia, Sovetsky Sport, Washington Capitals, World Championships| Permalink| Comments (18)

Q & A with AO

By The OFB Team
Tuesday, May 6, 2008

[OFB Admin Note: Thanks to Dmitry Chesnokov for translating the following Q&A that Pavel Lysenkov conducted with Alexander Ovechkin.]

Sovetsky Sport continues the tradition of “on the road” Q&A sessions with players at major hockey tournaments. Sunday night, right after the game against the Czech Republic, NHL’s highest scorer and simply a great guy Alex Ovechkin answered questions left for him by our readers at our website www.sovsport.ru.

Alexander Ovechkin - photo by Pavel LysenkovThe meeting was scheduled to take place at the Concord Hotel in Quebec where the Russian National team is housed. Pavel Lysenkov and Vitaly Slavin of SovSport brought a few magazines with them with Ovechkin on the covers.

“Wow!” - Ovechkin said. “What am I doing on the cover?”

Strange person, no? Mr. Shy. As if it wasn’t him, but we were lighting fire during the regular season in the NHL, filmed commercials, and became idols for women.

Do you remember who you gave these interviews to?

“No. I am trying to figure it out using the photos. Let’s see..” — Ovechkin is flipping pages. “Oh, this one was taken during the first season with the Capitals. I even have the front tooth in place. Alright, I will read it in my spare time.”

Well then let’s get to fans’ questions. User Hedgehog is asking: this was the first year you played in the NHL playoffs. Are these really such special incomparable to anything else games?

“Actually, yes. During the Stanley Cup playoffs every game is treated as if it’s the final battle. How can I explain it? Do you remember the Olympics in 2006 in Turin when we had a great game against Team Canada in the quarterfinals [2:0 - Ovechkin scored the game winner]? So with Washington I played seven such games against Philadelphia! When we needed either to win, or to die.”

Is it true that an NHL player is only paid during the regular season?

“Yes, we do not get paid for the playoffs. Not even bonuses.”

So why would you “die?”

“Everyone want to win the Stanley Cup. Believe me, these are not just empty words.” Continue reading ›

Filed in Alexander Ovechkin, Dmitry Chesnokov, IIHF, Russia, Sovetsky Sport, World Championships| Permalink| Comments (6)

A Final Day of Calm To Enjoy Before the Postseason Storm

By pucksandbooks
Thursday, April 10, 2008

Maybe I’m in the minority, but I’ve savored these past five hockey-less days in D.C., immersing myself in a million metric tons of media, much of it local, pegged on themes like “the hottest team in hockey,” “a team of destiny,” “George McPhee, master architect,” the sum total of which is: Washington Capitals, media hogs in the nation’s capital. The Pope arrives here in town next week, and his Holiness can only hope to enjoy a media contingent comparable in size to that of the Caps these days.

Perhaps he will celebrate mass at Nats’ Stadium in red vestments. The Pontiff, Rockin the Red!

Last night I arrived home in time to catch the top-of-the-hour broadcast of Capitals’ TV, er, Comcast’s ‘Sportsnight,’ and immediately saw the mug of SovetskySports‘ Dmitry Chesnokov, out at Kettler interviewing AO. Jill Sorenson’s 5-minute feature highlighted “the Russian invasion” of the Capitals. Earlier in the week I read a Corey Masisak feature on the Capitals’ fourth line. Both big papers’ beat reporters traveled to Philadelphia early this week to capture the flavor of the Flyers for Washington readers.

Pope Benedict XVIEven riding a full route on a Metro car — single-tracked — isn’t time enough to canvass all the print coverage of the Caps this week. Who needs TSN or the National Post when the Washington press corps is Redded-Out? I haven’t had time to survey what might be downloadable on iTunes.

In the here and now I’m savoring this week of Washington as a very hockey hockey town. We’ll get to the battle of I-95 soon enough; for now I’m grateful that the culmination of a historic performance by the Capitals this spring — Saturday night’s division-title-securing victory and the appropriate perspective it invites — didn’t have to get shouldered aside 48 or 72 hours later by a postseason game 1. For their perseverance and passion Washington’s hockey fans deserved their week in the media spotlight.

Standing in the bowels of Verizon Center Saturday night awaiting the locker room arrival of a sweater-off-their-backs-busy Caps’ team, I heard and felt the Sea of Red’s sonic shakings fully 20 minutes after the game’s conclusion. Which occasioned this thought: irrespective of the Capitals’ postseason performance, the team this offseason should strongly consider producing a DVD documentary of the dramatic (to put it mildly) alteration in performance by and outlook for the team. Pro sports teams accomplishing comparatively little do so annually, but the metamorphosis of hockey here, I believe, ought to be chronicled as both a keepsake for fans and a powerful marketing tool for the as-yet-not-converted.

This product should be chock full of clips of AO’s historic season; the feel-good story of the acsent from the American League by Gabby; the deadline day dealings by GMGM that today are lauded all across the hockey commentariat; and of course the breath-stealing run of victory after victory over the season’s final few weeks.

This would-be DVD ought to amalgamate some of the many, many fresh and informative broadcast segments that have formed a glorious glut of puck on local TV this spring. This would help chronicle the arrival of Washington as a hockey town. That of course is a relative term, but it’s unassailable that the massive increase in local television viewership for the Caps, the love affair local media is having with our sport, the mere hours it took to sell out games 1 and 2 of the playoffs here this weekend, and the Sea of Rockin Red are emblematic of an unprecedented prominence for hockey here. This ought to be celebrated.

I’ll enjoy tomorrow night’s puck-drop and that altogether new atmosphere in our rink as much as anyone. But there’s a dream-like, 4th of July night on the Mall quality to the coverage of hockey in my hometown right now, and until about 5:00 tomorrow night I want to remain fixed within its glow.

Filed in Comcast SportsNet, Corey Masisak, Dmitry Chesnokov, Hockey Reading, Jill Sorenson, Media, Philadelphia Flyers, Print, Sovetsky Sport, Stanley Cup Playoffs, TSN, Washington Capitals, Washington Post, Washington Times| Permalink| Comments (6)

Postcards from a Championship Night

By Gustafsson
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Filed in 2 Points, Alexander Ovechkin, Bruce Boudreau, Cristobal Huet, Dmitry Chesnokov, National Hockey League, Nicklas Backstrom, Sergei Fedorov, Southeast Division, Tom Poti, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (9)

A Russian Invasion of the Washington Post Live Set

By The OFB Team
Friday, April 4, 2008

For those of you who missed yesterday’s Washington Post Live (or the late night replay), which aired from the Verizon Center concourse and was heavy on hockey talk, here is the segment with Dmitry Chesnokov of Sovetsky Sport, making his television debut — in fine fashion!
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Filed in Comcast SportsNet, Dmitry Chesnokov, Sovetsky Sport, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (8)