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Donat’s friendship with Michkov: he became a mentor at HC Sochi and was there in difficult and joyful moments, in response, Matvey called him for a draft

– Shortly before the conversation, you mentioned that in the last days of the vacation there were many different worries at home. Habitual state before the start of the preseason?

– I always try to spend holidays with my family. After all, my brother also works as a video trainer in the Resurrection Khimik, the reigning champion of the VHL. And the father is the head of the team at Lokomotiv. Therefore, on vacation, each of us strives to spend as much time as possible with each other, with mom, with relatives. We have a big house in Yaroslavl, where we spend time together.

– How does the summer go in such a hockey family? Is it possible to abstract from hockey?

– This summer turned out to be especially eventful: with my brother, we recently exhibited the Petrov Cup for kids in Rybinsk, gave them a theoretical lesson; were at the chic wedding of my close friend – Dani Misyul and his bride Sophia. And so, of course, we touch on the topic of hockey. Don’t get away from her. In the summer there are also many hockey events. In June, my very close friend – Grigory Denisenko – played in the Stanley Cup final. The whole family woke up at night – watched that game. But in any case: when we are all together in the summer, you still get distracted and unload. Enjoy the time you spend with each other. We have a big dog, a South African Boerboel named Fred: we always take him for a walk with the whole family – to the river, to the Yaroslavl Strelka. Every summer I always play tennis with my friends. We love very much with my father and brother to go fishing, spinning.

– How cool?

– Oh, good! Pikes are cool, they went great. We didn’t check the weight, but we do it for the sake of pleasure, and not for some kind of records. But the bite is good, like nature, the weather … We often choose a day – and to the Rybinsk reservoir, a great pastime.

– But still, you had to leave this idyll for a while. Tell me, how did you end up in the NHL draft right in Michkov’s box? So we became friends for six months in Sochi?

– Well, Matvey doesn’t need a special introduction. This is a great talent, the development of which is followed all over the world; and I am no exception. We met when he came to us in Sochi. Naturally, I had an idea about Michkov before, followed his career, some life steps, attitude to hockey. And when I saw all this with my own eyes in Sochi, I once again received confirmation of why it is customary to call him Nekstvan.

– In Yaroslavl, you hardly had time to cross paths. But did your common past in this city play into the hands? Took him under the wing as a captain, as an option?

– Yes, we did not know each other in Yaroslavl times. And before that, we did not communicate as closely as it happened this year in Sochi. But we really had a lot of common themes on the basis of the Yaroslavl school, which we both went through in our lives and which we are both grateful for the contribution to the development of us as players. There was a lot to discuss. And, of course, as a captain, I realized what it was like to come as a young player to adult hockey. I myself made my debut in the KHL very early: then in “Torpedo” there were experienced guys around me who helped me. Therefore, I also wanted to help Matvey in the same way – with some word, deed. So gradually we got closer: mentoring and common topics for discussion grew into close communication, then Matvey invited me to the draft – to share this important day in his career together. I am very grateful to him for this trip, everything went perfectly.

– As far as I know, Matvey himself assembled a team for the trip, paid for everyone’s travel expenses.

– I would not say that there was a direct “team”. His relatives are mother Maria Georgievna and brother Prokhor. There was also a friend from St. Petersburg – Misha, who helped with the translation for an interview with Matvey, and, in general, with all of us on this long trip around America. Even in organizing the trip, Matvey’s agent, Max Moliver, played a big role. We would like to say a big thank you to all our friendly group, this is a time that will be remembered for a lifetime.

– When did you hear about this invitation?

– After the end of the season in Sochi. It so happened that everything developed against the backdrop of the tragic events in the Michkov family. When all this happened, I felt that Matvey needed support. We flew together to Perm, tried to be there for all these sad days and procedures. He, in turn, said: “You were with me on the most difficult day in my life – I would like you to share joyful moments with me.”

– Very characteristically reveals the personality of Matthew.

– Undoubtedly. Even if we compare Michkov, who just came to us at the end of December, with what we have now, he is a much more mature person. The guy is 18 years old, he is changing – both in habits and in behavior. It can be seen how in his actions he becomes more balanced and deliberate. There has been a lot of hype around him lately – both in the media and everywhere – but he does a good job of it.

– Today it has become fashionable for various kinds of journalists to throw negative things at Michkov’s address. Usually this is done using the same technology: I was told that someone heard from someone who once crossed paths with Matvey. At the same time, those people who are really close to Michkov are far from such odious interpretations.

– I agree that this is far-fetched. I’m here and I see everything from the inside. But how many people, so many opinions. Personally, having talked closely, already shoulder to shoulder, I can’t say anything bad about Matvey. When we were not familiar with him, various stories and rumors also reached me – someone heard something and retold it further. There is always a word of mouth effect around a loud surname. Now he is on everyone’s lips, he flickers in a lot of places: everyone wants to say something against his background, to make some kind of bold headline. I repeat, during these six months I have watched how Matvey grows and matures, how he is responsible for his words and deeds. I can characterize Michkov as a decent guy. He is very open and kind, hardworking. His whole life now revolves around hockey: if you communicate with him, then one way or another, all conversations will come down to this topic. It was also a revelation to me how much time he devotes to working off the ice. In Sochi, he spent a lot of minutes on the court, but after every game, after every difficult match, he went into the shooting zone and practiced his technique. All the guys already wanted to relax after the match, they left for home, and Matvey continued to work at that time. For me, this is a vivid illustration of diligence and attitude to work.

He gained a foothold in the KHL after three seasons in the Major League: in HC Sochi he conquered the face-off game, the basics of which he learned from Artem Anisimov, and he already played for Lada in the VHL – he considers that season for Belov one of the breakthrough ones

– This summer you moved to the new “Lada”. Are the prospects to be at the origins of the revived team intriguing?

– This is certainly very nice. And a good challenge. Because Lada is a big club with big traditions. It’s a great honor to play like this. I learned about the interest after the market opened, in early May. I was already familiar with the organization, spent one season in the VHL in Tolyatti; and now “Lada” was very interested in my return. A year ago, when I moved to the KHL, to Sochi, they didn’t really want to let me go – and this is also valuable in its own way. That segment in the Lada was useful for me, special thanks to Valery Gennadievich Belov, with whom we worked in Togliatti. A great specialist, who gave me a tangible impetus in development, trusted me a lot, assigned an important role. I would love to work with him again in my life.

– In the VHL you had a rich career. Spent a couple of seasons there, tried many interesting clubs; I’m sure everyone had their own stories. Can you now, being a KHL player, evaluate this stage as a school of life? Probably not always the most pleasant and luxurious, but still useful for becoming a professional.

– Certainly. In each of the teams I got a lot of experience, everywhere I grew as a person. So little by little, one might say, and put together a puzzle. I learned something new, acquired certain character traits that are important in an adult career. These years in the VHL helped me develop as a player, not only on the ice, but also in everyday life. Communicating with different people, coaches, leaders with whom you meet in VHL teams, you gain important details. And usually you meet a lot of interesting players on your way – both age-old eminent veterans and many young talented guys who will make themselves known in the future. All this helps me a lot now in the KHL – to continue to become even more experienced and stronger.

– How to behave in the VHL, so as not to stay there forever?

– There must be a target. I always had a horizon – to go further and play in the KHL. I went to this and worked hard, no matter what team I found myself in. I am very grateful to my family, parents, brother, who always supported me in difficult periods of my career. Anyway, any move is a test. From city to city, change of team, team. It’s difficult at the moment, and don’t underestimate the support from loved ones here, it is very significant during such stages of a career. Situations have been and are different, but when there are people who will help you not to give up, you have new strength to develop further and continue to move forward.

– A year in HC Sochi: a tough season with a tough losing streak. But, nevertheless, it was your first full season in the KHL – it will definitely be remembered for a long time.

– Remember, of course! It was very helpful. Even in difficult moments, I learned a lot for myself this year. A full-fledged season in the country’s major league is always a lot of room for development. I tried to learn a lot from the big players, skilled ones – here you meet them all the time. Working in a team that does not have a result – only tempered and gave a lot of strength; experience for the future, in order to prevent this from happening again in my life, the ability to correctly show leadership qualities in the locker room at the right time. We can say that the season for our team was a failure. But I’m sure he tempered many guys who were in this team.

– For many in the KHL, your ability to play face-offs was a revelation. This was evident in the VHL, but at a new level, you finished the season in the top ten in the entire league. Is this your forte, which you still continue to improve?

– Every day! I work on throw-ins all the time. During the season I always ask the guys from the team to stay with me after training. In the summer, I also improve my skills. Before the games, I specially prepare for each opponent: in order to know who will play against you on the spot – left-handed or right-handed, how he prefers to win, where to throw. You prepare for each central, then you try to sort it out with the guys so that they understand how to act at the moment of the face-off. I remember when I just started in the youth team at Lokomotiv, Artem Anisimov came to us. He is a native of Yaroslavl and that summer he was preparing for the season on our skating rinks. I was lucky then to work with him: to go on the ice together and train with each other. For me, it was a revelation in those years: Artem gave many important lessons on face-offs, told and showed how it is done in the NHL. With age, I began to analyze and improve all this. Because for a central striker, this is real bread. I want to be the best in this business. You correctly noted: in the course of the season I even managed to be the best of the Russians in face-offs – I was in the top five in the company of foreign centers. This is my job. Even in the minority, they often release me so that I win a point and the team can kill time.

– After all, not everyone thinks about it. How painstaking work it is, how corrosive you need to be in it. Judging by your story, in your practice there is a lot more mental and analytical work than technical work.

– Yes, probably, now there is more analysis left in my work on face-offs. But for those who want to improve the skill – this is a great scope for study, a whole science. Not just dropped the puck and went to play – no. It is important to understand and evaluate who will stand on the point how, who will settle down how. Partners play a big role: neutral puck rebounds, for example. It is important that the whole five play, and a good center should be able to coordinate everything in advance. Even offhand: right now I remembered as many as three goals that we scored thanks to the actions on the face-off. I remember that there were five seconds left before the end of the period, and the coaching staff specifically released me for a throw-in in the attacking zone. We worked well and managed to score a goal. Any such face-off is valuable, because each puck can subsequently become decisive.

Captaincy and friendship: became a leader in every dressing room, appreciates team work and enjoys helping everyone around him

– I think you yourself know very well that over the years in the VHL, Lada was remembered from the negative side. There were many ambitions and high-sounding words, but from season to season this was not backed up by deeds. Only once did they manage to get through the first round, in one year they managed not to reach the playoffs at all. How to avoid a similar fate in the KHL? How to position yourself in the new league?

– It is difficult to speak for those teams of “Lada” in which I did not play. That team of Valery Belov, in which I was the year before last, just passed the first round. It was a great team, Valery Gennadievich revealed a large number of guys, many of the guys stepped into the KHL. Nazarov and Belozerov, for example, are now stable base players in Neftekhimik. Ilya Proskuryakov managed to return to Traktor after that season and even went to the KHL All-Star Game. The team was excellent. In the second round we hit Rubin, who became the champion. Three of the four games were lost in overtime.
As for the layouts for next year … I think a lot will depend on the right atmosphere in the team, you need to catch your wave. We all understand perfectly well that the team is new, the ideal team is not built from scratch in a day or month. First of all, the right attitude will be important. For my part, I want to tell the fans that we will do our best to always please them, to keep the stands full. And the stands in Tolyatti were filled even in the year when I played in the VHL with Lada – it was very pleasant to be in such an atmosphere. The city lives for hockey and loves it, we will try to give all our strength for the sake of victories. We will work hard to have as many of them as possible.

– An interesting remark about the team from your side. Indeed, in almost all of your teams – starting with the youngest – you were the captain. In a couple of rare cases – as an assistant, but the patch always remained with you. This is clearly a character trait, you feel organically in working with the team.

– You can say that, yes. Always liked it. Since childhood, he looked up to big players who could charge people around him. At the Lokomotiv school, we played with Kolya Kovalenko, we talked a lot in our childhood in Yaroslavl – his father, Andrey Nikolayevich, is also a good example. Somehow it happened: in the youth team of Lokomotiv he was the captain, in the youth team of Yaroslavl. In the championship team that took the Kharlamov Cup, he was also the captain when he was in the application. But, probably, due to some internal moments, the medal never reached me. In the same summer, he already moved to the Torpedo system, where he made his debut in both the KHL and the VHL. There were adult teams in the Major League, a lot of older guys, but the patch remained with me there too. Thanks to all the coaches, all the guys for the trust.

– It is obvious that all this is not without reason. It turns out that you know how to charge people around you. Surely you feel pleasure from the fact that you make them better, draw some kind of energy, inspiration from this?

– Probably yes. Still, it is difficult to talk about yourself in this context – it is correct to assess this from the outside. But since it turns out in my career that the guys always choose, it means that I bring benefits to the team, I can become an example in everyday life or on the ice for them. Give all of yourself, your energy for the good of the team. In principle, I really try to do this; it means that it succeeds, it turns out if they choose.

– In “Lada” you will obviously apply for the captaincy. Any ideas on how to properly build the atmosphere in a team that has just gathered? Or are you already doing everything so organically that you don’t even think about it?

– Now yes, it’s automatic, I just remain myself. From the point of view of psychology, perhaps it turns out to feel the team inside oneself, there is an understanding when something needs to be said. Because there are very difficult conversations with the team behind closed doors. Even in the last season in Sochi, it was a very difficult year for the team, but still it was necessary to continue to fight and play. I remember when I was appointed captain, somehow I managed to shake up the team. We started up, started to win. There were even statistics on the Internet that we won more matches in this segment than in the entire season before. It was important to find the right words for the team in that period of time. If you do not feel your team, it is difficult to build a healthy good atmosphere. Everyone has their own everyday problems, and your task as a captain is to make sure that the hockey locker room lives with each other, is charged for work, and the guys can temporarily disconnect from the troubles that remain outside of it. At the same time, you need to be an example on the ice: it is important not only to score a goal on time, but also to block the shot at your own goal, to carry out a power hold somewhere. You need to show your leadership, somewhere to stand up for a partner even at the cost of a fight. A captain must have many traits, and I try to keep a balance among them.

– In fact, even with the naked eye you can see that people are drawn to you. You yourself mentioned an old friendship with Denisenko, a very bright story with Michkov. Surely captaincy multiplies the number of your friends at times, because in your case it is inextricably linked with friendship. You are only 23, and during your career you have already managed to become a true friend to a large number of people. When hockey friendship is so integrated into life, it is very valuable.

– Of course. Hockey friendship is not empty words, it occupies a big place in the life of each of us. If hockey life is chaotic, then friendship in it is a constant thing. With the same Grisha Denisenko, we have been friends from a very young age, we have known each other for half a lifetime: we are always in touch, always on the phone, in difficult moments by our side, even despite the time difference.