Valery Nichushkin: I want to be of as much use for Traktor as possible
How did you know that you were getting called up to the main roster?
Maksim Shalunov and I have just returned from the States where we played in
the Subway Super Series. I was home and quite frankly was a suffering from
jetlag and not feeling quite well. Later on I got a call from Chelmet’s CEO
Aleksey Petrov who told me that I was getting called up to the main roster and
I had to be at evening’s training session. My minor sickness went away once I
heard this (smiles). I was really hoping I would get called up one day, and
finally this day had come. I appeared on the training session, and the very next
we played against Barys.
Team’s dressing room is a place that sometimes is hard on newcomers. Did
you have any worries when you first stepped into it?
I was a bit worried. I mean, I was with the team during pre-season, but
mostly I flocked with the younger guys. This time I had a warm welcome though.
Did your locker already have your personal number?
Na-ah, you have to deserve it first. I took Shalunov’s locker first, and
then, when Maksim was also called up, my locker moved beside Karpov’s and
Quint’s.
You were the 13th forward for the game against Barys, and it
seemed as if you were not going to appear on the ice…
Still, I motivated myself and was ready to give it my best if need be.
In that match you had to replace Traktor’s captain Vladimir Antipov who suffered
an injury.
Of course, I would have preferred to appear on the ice under more favorable
circumstances. But c’est la vie, I had to be in the game.
Were you worried?
No; on the contrary, I was pretty calm and collected.
You got hit by Nikolay Antropov in your very first KHL shift…
Really? (pause). Ah, yes, I did. Maybe the reason for this is when you sit on the bench
a lot, it negatively affects your skating. Anyway, I got myself together pretty
quickly after that hit. In general, during the game’s first shift I prefer to
take a hit intentionally and take the puck and keep it for a while in order to
feel the rhythm of the game because if you don’t do anything during your first
shift, you may not catch the game rhythm at all.
Did you have to adjust your personal playing style to that of Traktor’s?
You know, many teams play similar hockey, even though there might be some
nuances and peculiarities of strategy. I talked with coaches, with my
teammates, they all explained me what to do in certain situations. I don’t think
I made some serious mistakes, not jinxing it! Of course Valery Belousov came up
to me several times during the matches and pointed out some flaws in my game.
You have already played five games for Traktor. Do you feel yourself a
part of the team already?
In fact yes, I do; I may be a minor part, but still a part, of the team.
However, I don’t think about it that often, I just try to be of as much use as
possible.
What’s difference between the atmosphere in an MHL team and a KHL team?
Sometimes it seems that there isn’t any; everyone’s kind and good-minded.
Maybe the fact that there are a lot of seasoned players makes it a little bit
different. They always help me out with tiny details. For example, today Maksim
Shalunov and I went to the gym where we were doing a very familiar exercise, or
at least it seemed familiar to us. It turned out we had not been doing it properly;
I even got a bit frustrated when I learned it. Generally, Traktor is a lot more
disciplined that the teams in MHL; for instance, in the match against Vityaz I
should have taken a hit but did not do it, and alternate captain Dmitry
Ryabykin gave me a well-deserved verbal whipping after that.
Speaking of hits – you redeemed yourself in the match against Yugra when
you rolled your opponent over the board.
(smiles) I was not expecting this kind of outcome, and still, that hit was
intentionally aimed at opponent’s torso. We even had a little laugh over this
moment in the locker room.
Is it typical for ‘big’ teams to prank the younger guys? Have you been a victim
of a prank?
I thought things would be much fiercer; I heard a lot of stories about boots
nailed down to the floor and so on. However, I did not get such treatment when
I got here; on the contrary, it was a very kind-hearted and warm welcome.
But you probably collect the pucks after your elder partners at the end
of training session?
Sure I do! (smiles).
During this season you have played for four teams – Belye Medvedi, Chelmet,
U-20 national team of Russia and Traktor. That’s pretty impressive given the
fact that you did not have a complete pre-season preparation as you were
recovering from an injury.
Yeah, I have played like 30-35 games. The most intense period of time was
when I played 20 games a month for Belye Medvedi and Chelmet, and frequently
they were away games. When Chelmet was not in action, I played for Medvedi, and
vice versa.
Did it make you tired?
There was a time when I was not feeling myself too well, but not anymore.
Now I want to play and be useful.
You are a part of U-20 national team Russia that in a month will once
again try to capture the U-20 World Cup gold at Ufa. When you get back, it
might be difficult to earn back your spot on the roster since some players from
the injured list may have recovered by that time. Does it bother you?
No, it does not. First of all,
training sessions of the national team take place during the break in the
championship; second of all, I want to go to Ufa and help my national team win
the gold. Plus, I have a feeling that if I have a great showing in the national
team, it will be much easier for me to get on the main roster on a regular
basis. Take the team’s roster for the forthcoming World Cup; most of the players are already playing for the KHL clubs; if
my memory serves me right, only five of them are from Major Hockey League and
two from Youth Hockey League. If young players like me get the chance to play in
the big leagues, it does wonders for their budding careers. That is, unless they
become star-struck. There were many cases in the past when the young up-and-comers
shone brightly but for a short period of time. I don’t want to follow in their footsteps.
Besides, I should say I love playing in Traktor Arena in front of the fans in
attendance. These people love you, and you absolutely can’t let them down.
In one of your recent interviews you said you were dreaming about playing
for Traktor before the age of 18. This dream has come true. What’s next?
First – to score my first my KHL goal as soon as possible (smiles). Then – get to
U-20 team Russia. In the long run – to be in Traktor’s first three lines. And
the goal for any given day – to be as useful as possible for my team, giving it
my all and more.
Photos – Vitaly Gubin (Traktor’s Press Office), Petr Ilyin (slo-vo.ru)
