Varlamov: When siren sounded I wept with happiness

 By Dinara Kafiskina, Sports Daily, Dec. 19, 2008:Former Yaroslavl Locomotive goalie Simeon Varlamov had an triumphant debute in the NHL. In his first game against Montreal he became the first star of the game. We interviewed him two days after his debut.

"I am pleased to tell you the story, I don't know how I just didn't get a gray hair, these have been the two most crazy days in my career!", said Varly (this is how he is now called in the States). "We were returning back from Texas the morning after the game for the AHL farm club, and all of a sudden Sasha Ovechkin called me and told me that Theodore got injured, and he said, "Be prepared..." Sometime 30 minutes later the bus was stopped, and I was moved to another car that took me to the airport. It was about 7:00 pm in Washington. I even did not know back then that I would be a backup. I started to put on my underwear in the car (laughs). And when I came out to the arena, I was stunned to see the second goalie... it was a video operator for the Caps web site. I replaced him on the bench."


What was your reaction when you found that you would debute in the next game against Montreal?
The Caps goalie's coach came to me in the morning when I had breakfast and said that I would play. I got so nervous, I never was that nervous before! The team that day did not train, but I went out on the ice. Kozlov and Fedorov joined me. They decided to help me. After lunch I could not even sleep. I was shaking! I wasn't able to calm down. There were so many thoughts in my head!

It was a total recall: how I started to play hockey, when I put on the skates for the first time, how I ended up here. Before the game I just couldn't calm down in the locker room, even couldn't wind the tape around the stick.

Did the guys try to cheer you up?
Yes. Fedorov came to me at lunch and said a few words: "Play just like you usually do. Don't worry, everything will turn out well. It's not the gods who roast the pots.". And he also advised me how to play outside the net at certain situations. In fact I am so proud that I play in a team with Fedorov. I shake his hand every day. And I shake hands with Ovechkin and Semin and Kozlov too. I enjoy these moments. These guys are the hockey animals all in one place! (Laughing)

Once I got out on the ice, I calmed down. I said to myself, "Okey, Varlaam, that's enough, stop now!" I was standing there, listening to the anthem, and my eyes were full of the tears. But for some reason right then I just felt that I will have a great game.

What was going on during the game?
The atmosphere was crazy. The arena was sold out. Noise, buzz, noise ... Ovechkin warned that Montreal would have the best excitement, the best atmosphere... He, the handsomest, of course tried to stir me up before the game. It would be better he would calm me instead (laughs).

But all my worries were gone after a pair of shots. Montreal is certainly a strong team. The game was tough, I was very tired afterwards. I stopped 32 shots... Of course, hockey in Russia and in the NHL... a big difference. I have never had so many emotions. And when the siren sounded I even wept with happiness.

The coach certainly was satisfied with your performance, and so were your teammates. I read Ovechkin, Nylander comments. They believe that that night the team won in large part because of you...
I can say one thing, a lot depends on goalkeeper's play in the NHL. They shoot at you 30, 40 times. And who shoots! The guys like Alex Kovalev! By the way, he tripped me. Can you imagine that? And Andrei Markov was shouting all the time: "Varlaam! What's up with you? Stop catching, man!"

Of course, it was very pleasant to receive congratulations from the coach. Then Ovechkin with Semin put a shaving foam on a piece of paper and put it on my face. In the NHL it is expected.


The NHL has increased attention to rookies. Do you feel it?
Yes. There are a lot of journalists in the locker room. And I can say that my English is getting better. I was studying English for over two months with the teacher. But when people speak very quickly, I still have hard time to understand. A doctor at the Farm club is having fun with me, I am the only Russian there. He calls all the journalists to talk to me, they start asking questions, and I'd talk back: "No, no. I am not ready yet to talk. Let's do it later." And the doctor stands there and has his fun.

If you'll have to return to the farm club, will you be very upset?
The job is the job. If I have to, I'll return. But I will make every effort to play again for the Caps.

Update:
Capitlas Insider, Dec, 18, 2008:

Simeon Varlamov was solid in his second NHL start and the Capitals were able to overcome a few lackadaisical stretches to overpower the Blues 4-2, for Washington's fifth straight victory. With the win the Caps tied their season best winning streak and improved to 13-1-1 at Verizon Center, which is the best home record in the Eastern Conference.

*The victory marked the first time since 1992-93 that the Capitals have recorded their 20th win before Jan. 1.

*Of Varlamov's 29 saves, perhaps the most noticeable came when he made a kick save to stop Keith Tkachuk on a breakaway with 5:43 remaining and keep the game at 4-2. Slava Malamud of Sport Express was kind enough to translate for Varlamov.

"I knew (Tkachuk) was going to deke," Varlamov said. "He's an older player and I knew when he made the first move I shouldn't go down so fast."

*Varlamov, whose father Alexander was in attendance last night, has stopped 61 of 64 shots through his first two games for a .953 save percentage, but is still seeking improvement.

"I need to be able to help my defense and play better," Varlamov said. "The other thing I need to work on is I need to get a hold of my emotions a little bit more. Right now, it's a bit difficult dealing with my nerves, but it's probably something that will pass with age."


[Slava Malamud translates] Varlamov's interview.

Varlamov: I am a happy person, you can tell it right away.

Can you tell a bit about the ovations you got before the game and was your Dad at the game?
It is harder to play at home, in front of the fans, because it was my first home game and I wanted to win. That was not helping. But fans support was helping a lot. With every shot at me the fans were cheering me up. The fact that my father was here... I tried not to think about it. However his dream of me playing in the NHL became a reality, that I played in the NHL, in Washington, it was also my dream. Now he is the happiest person just like I am.

You don't look like 20 year old goalkeeper, you play very calm. It seems that you don't have too many mistakes. What you still have to work on, in your opinion?
I must learn how to better play with the stick to help our players. I need more confidence to go out and play behind the net. And I need to learn how to better control my emotions, to be less nervous before the game. But this, I hope, will pass with age.