Andrey Kostitsyn: When on ice, I have to be angry

Andrey Kostitsyn is the power of Traktor. His hits demolish opponents, and his shots all but tear through the net. Kostitsyn has had a successful NHL career where he earned the title of the best Belarusian forward in league's history as well as KHL silver medals. Now, Kostitsyn is one of team's scoring leaders.

Your nickname AK-46 reminds everyone of the famous assault rifle. Do you yourself like weapons?
In fact,no.I tried shooting, but I don't like it.

Another your nickname is Saucepan. How did you get it?
This nickname had been given to my father.When I began playing for Polimir Novopolotsk, some guys still remembered my father, so this nickname was kind of passed on to me. It stuck to Sergey later too.

After signing with Traktor, you have transported your Mercedes Gelandewagen from Belarus to Chelyabinsk. You still haven't changed your car, have you?
No,I have not.It was more convenient for me than buying a new car. Besides, why would I buy another car if I like this one? My contract with Traktor will expire sooner or later, and then I would have to think about what I should do with this new car.

You once said that you love speed. Can you call yourself an extreme sports lover? Parachute jumping, maybe?
I have friends who have tried it, but I don't think I will ever get enough courage to do this.

Are you afraid of heights?
No. It's not about heights; when I see the door open and realize I have to step out, it makes me feel rather uncomfortable. I know I won't jump. Even if I watch someone do this, I won't do it myself.

What is the most fearsome Traktor player afraid of? Snakes, darkness, spiders, end of the world?
I am not afraid of animals or insects. Maybe one day something happens, and I will feel uncomfortable, but not scared. As far as the end of the world goes, some time ago we discussed, and this was when I felt a bit anxious.

What would you do if you were to find out that hour X was nearing?
What could I possibly do? I obviously would not able to change anything, so I would just be back home to spend the last days with my family.

Speaking of which - your brother Sergey is currently signed with Avangard. When Traktor played in Omsk, I saw him give you a package of sorts. What was inside this package?
It was black caviar. I asked him to buy me some in Khabarovsk.

Has Sergey ever thanked you for 'crushing' his dream of becoming a goaltender?
We don't remember this story all that well, our father told it to us. Back when he was a child, Sergey wanted to become a goalie, but Dad always tried to persuade him otherwise. One day we took to the ice, and Dad offered Sergey to stand in the nets and told me to take a shot. So I fired one hell of a shot, and the puck crushed my brother's nose. He was four years old back then, but was obstinate enough to try to pursue goalie's career for several years, but then gave up on the idea.

As far as I know, you went to the NHL without any knowledge of English. Was it difficult to communicate?
I only remembered several simple words that I had learnt in school. I was constantly playing and had no time to study. So I went over the pond with a handful of words in my head. I had to listen to what my teammates were saying and catch familiar words. Then I tried to speak.

Did you in turn try to get your teammates to speak Russian?
No, simply because I didn't even know how to explain the meaning of a word in English. Others, though, did try to play a teacher; some even educated others on how to use obscene words.

Being a man of few words, you have always been capable of actions do the talking. For example, let's recall your fight with Blackhawks' Ryan Johnson. He threw a heavy check on Sergey, and you avenged your brother. It must have sunk in for good in his mind that you do not touch Kostitsyn brothers...
I remember the adrenaline rush that I felt during this moment. Johnson hit Sergey against the boards; my brother could not get up, so I spurted towards Johnson.

Did it ever happen that the younger brother had to stand up for the elder one?
We always stood up for each other. Sergey often returned the favor if I had gotten hit without a penalty. When we were kids, we often fought against each other. We were both very stubborn and did not want to give each other a break.

Back in NHL, you once said that you had to be angry while on the ice. Has Andrey Kostitsyn become more kind-hearted as time passed?
No, I don't think so. You can't play hockey without emotions, without aggression and adrenaline. But this is only when I'm on the ice. I am not that angry outside hockey.

Do you miss the time when you played in the NHL together with Sergey?
Of course. These were some fun times. We were always together, we often went out. Now, when we are in different teams, we still try to find time to talk.

In one of post-NHL interviews you said that the league has absolutely crazy fans...
They would gather around the arena after a match or a training session. You can't make a step without being noticed. 'Hey, look, that is the guy from the team'.

Is life in Chelyabinsk easier in this respect?
Yes. I can easily get around the town without getting noticed.

You have got a young daughter. Is it difficult for you to be a father, being so far away from home?
Of course. Lera will soon be seven years old, but I don't get to spend much time with her. She only sees me when she watches Traktor games. I try to call home as often as I can; she is a busy girl too though, an athlete. She plays tennis and is a figure skater. I can't be a strict father for her. I also could not fly home during the New Year because the team had a really busy schedule. However, I bought her a beautiful dress when I was in Riga. I will definitely fly back home during the Olympic break.

Photo by Gleb Zverev