"Team`s game holds the meaning, not the one who has captain`s striper"

Vladimir Denisov, being a defender in Traktor and national Belorussian team, tells about who intends to be second to none DJ in CHL and avouches he doesn't lay a claim on the captain's striper this season. There's a current status quo of the Belorussian hockey provided.

Vladimir, first of all, how is your recovery after the trauma going on? You must be training not at full force.
My recovery still continues, but it is taking a bit longer. As for now, I skate avoiding body contact. To make sure everything is going well I fly to Germany on Monday. Medical staff and I make all possible efforts to help me get into shape. It's going to be 5 months in August since the operation, so we can hardly suppose whether I will play in the upcoming games.

Traktor's directory doesn't conceal it was important to keep the position after Vladimir Denisov in the team. How did you make a decision to sign new two-years contract?
There were some certain things to influence on that. Firstly, I didn't want to change my team. Secondly, when having legionary status, it's miles more complicated to obtain employment in CHL. So I didn't think twice about Traktor's proposal. I was willing to stay, as it follows, I'm happy about the outcome.

There results you made the deliberate decision towards your career continuation for the first time?
Yes, decisions I made with Torpedo and Ak Bars were on the spot, whereas now I took my time for this.

Was the last season one of the worst in your career? One and a half months without game practice in Ak Bars, then the contract termination took place...
I wouldn't say it was the worst season, but I had far better ones for sure. I did change the team, it happens.

Concerning your first season in Kazan city, it was next to perfect: getting into the Gagarin Cup final and being almost best among defenders. Didn't it make it more hurtful for you then?
It wasn't affronting... Just I had never been that close to winning over the trophy. And in that moment I realised what to do and how to act. Then the situation changed.

Was it a muddle with the legionary status in CHL to blame?
At some point it was. Who would thought it could come out this way. All we wanted was the league to clear up and as a result it formed during the season.

Is limit the evil?
I have got a distinct view on that: any kind of limit is not right. One sportsman can make a career move only surrounded by the competitive landscape. There's no use the limit in CHL is giving.

Did Dinamo from Minsk contact you ever after the season?
They say it did.

It seems as though you have no interest in Dinamo team.
Why so? I can't agree with this. As I'm Traktor's player, I didn't consider another proposal.

There will be an Olympic selection this September, it's unlikely you will play for Belorussian national team, won't you?
I wholeheartedly wanted to get ready for the selection and my operation was deliberately conducted in spring. I can't comment on this until my return from Germany. Of course I wish to play in this important tournament, help my team. And in the same time I dare not to risk and will play with doctor's permission.

Should the national Belorussian team get into the Olympics?
It has got to get into the Olympics. First of all, we didn't get into Sochi games and we are expected to be better this time. Secondly, the selection will take place in Minsk.

How would you estimate current state of Belorussian hockey?
Unfortunately, it doesn't progress that well. Youth team did play in the elite division this year, it's a drop in the ocean though. Furthermore, they couldn't hold down, having lost all games. There are next to no new bright players showing up, Grabovki alone plays in NHL, although it used to be much more of our players in there.


(Vladimir Denisov and Chelyabinsk hockey legend Nikolai Bets)

Returning to Traktor, how would you comment on the main trainer's Anvar Gatiyatulin state? Is it easy to see that it's his first pre-season game in CHL?
There always must be something to begin with. To my thinking, his work with the youth team, then achievements with White Bears deserve a chance given. It's not the first year Gatiyatulin is a trainer and I can see nothing to bewilder or hesitate him.

Traktor team's name list is much renewed. Have you got to know entries? What's your impression about Kirill Koltsov, for instance?
He's alright, as anyone else he comes to the locker room, afterwards trains. His character is an inevitable topic for discussions, but one should understand there can't be the same temper all twenty five guys posses. Every cloud has a silver lining, as the saying goes.

In my opinion you have a lot in common with Jiri Novotny, and it's not just about the appearance, but the way you act on ice, always ready to fight for your team.
I've never thought about it. Concerning our manners on ice, probably. I know Novotny always goes the whole hog, it's the approach I'm prone to as well. We faced with him not once while playing and even had a few clashes, as far as I can remember.

By the by, Novotny was the captain of Lion, in the seventh final game 2014 conceding Magnitogorsk, then it happened to play in Lokomotiv with the captain's striper. Your last season in Traktor was finished with captain's honor, is it important to save this honor after yourself?
It was unexpected for me to be announced as a captain. However there was no pressure I could feel, as it wasn't the first time. It's not crucial for me to be Traktor's captain, it is a team to decide who is going to lead them, in my turn, I will take over the responsibility. Whatsoever, team's game holds the meaning, not the one who has captain's striper on ice.

Has your family moved to Chelyabinsk?
No, my family isn't coming to Chelyabinsk, they live in the USA. Both of my daughters were born there, the eldest is into tennis, she goes to tennis academy in Florida. We feel good and comfortable in America, that's the reason we settled down.

Did you have time to have a look around Chelyabinsk last season?
Yes, I had some free time. The city is quite good, not as some say. We can constantly hear how harsh Chelyabinsk is and those rough men. And when I came there I wondered why. Perhaps I was lucky not to face with it yet.

When playing for Dinamo in Minsk you went for the Metallica, Mötley Crüe concerts with one unconditionally rough Finn Jere Karalahti. Is there anybody in Traktor who is a big fan of heavy music?
The preferences haven't coincided with anyone yet. Some of the entries may listen to rock music, but Traktor's youngsters are partial about hip-hop. It's not my kind of thing. Although, we have a very good DJ who is Lyoha Kruchinin. He can prepare a selection for any music kind. I assume he can compete for the honor of best DJ in CHL.

Do you ask him to put Maks Korzh on?
Oh no, it's not my cup of tea at all. He is Belorussian too, but I can't enter into the spirit of his art.

What have you got in your mp3 right now?
I haven't listened to mp3 for long, as I try to read more. I read some useful articles about food, trainings and everything regarding self-development. Looking into the retrospect, I regret I didn't read much in my childhood. My attempts to read ended up with falling asleep. So I'd like to catch up with it now.