Varlamov's interview

Varly is gone, but still has some fans who follow him. Our reader Aimee asked me if I could translate the interview from KP.RU by Artem Lisovsky. And it is an interesting read, besides it has a story about Alex Ovechkin.

Here it is:

What is common between Samara and the NHL? Any fan will answer, it is one of the most promising goalkeepers of the world Semyon Varlamov who is playing in America. At home the athlete is called the "second Tretiak" and he is the main hope of the Russian team at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Semyon Varlamov was born in Samara. Each year the athlete comes to his hometown to take a break from the the long and intense season, to stay with his parents and socialize with friends. But this summer a 23-year-old goalie was training hard. Just imagine this, it is August and Semyon Varlamov makes a sprint after spring straight down the corridor of an old, dilapidated CSK VVS sports arena. It doesn't happen every day when you meet the NHL star, and in such situation!

In July Varlamov signed a contract with the Colorado Avalanche for three years. In order to make a good debut in the new club, Semyon is building his the physical foundation in Samara.

"Are you saying relax and rest? No, no, I did not play much last season. Had enough leisure time!" laughs the athlete. "Plus I was sunbathing in Turkey with my friends for a couple of weeks after the season. And now I want to prepare for the season in a best possible way. My goal is to become the number 1 in Colorado. If you don't train in the summer, it can be tiring in mid-season. And then say farewell to the starting lineup!"


Instead of the capital - the village

Varlamov lives in America for three years already. The athlete moved overseas when he was only 20 years old! The foreign country, an unfamiliar culture, a different world. Surprisingly nothing frightened still very young boy.

"To play in the NHL, for me it was a dream since my childhood," explains Semyon. "Psychologically I was ready to move. I went to this goal step by step throughout my career. I understood that after I move to America I'd lose touch with my friends. It is important for me to have the circle of friends, support. But in order to play top hockey I was ready to accept any challenges. You need to sign a contact within three years, otherwise the path to America will be closed. I didn't postpone it indefinitely. And my parents supported me, said that this was my chance, so I decided to make a move."

Moving to America turned out not so smooth. Varlamov spent only few weeks in Washington. And then Capitals management moved young goalkeeper to Hershey Bears. And instead of the capital the young goalkeeper found himself in a provincial town.

"When I arrived in Hershey, I was shocked," confessed the goalkeeper. "After Samara city it was a real village. Small population, farms around, almost no entertainment. I didn't know English, was not able to communicate with anyone. And my mood plummeted. Well, a month later my father came. It was a little better."


Let 10 goals in two games

Semyon Varlamov plunged into hockey, he especially started to learn the specifics of American hockey. Training, games, there was no time to be bored. Gradually the athlete got used to American life.

"Hershey Arena in one of the best in the league, it is for 12,000 spectators," said Semyon. "The games atmosphere was great. The arena was always packed, was always sold out! And the fans supporting our team were great. For the people in town it is the only entertainment, so people love hockey. And the arena is very cozy. It has it all, gym, spacious locker rooms."

Semyon didn't win the hearts of the fans immediately. After the Russian league athlete was a little snotty about the AHL. And then he got what he deserved. In the first two games he let 10 goals!

"After bad games I had to rethink." shakes his head Varlamov. "I realized that I underestimated the level of the AHL. I was fooled by the talk that the level of hockey was not very good. In fact, it is not true. Not every hockey player can survive in this league, to prove himself there."

In general Varlamov learned the lesson. The goalkeeper attitude became much more serious and soon he became the fan's favorite. The athlete was receiving more positive feedback. And talk started about him, even in the NHL, as a rising star.

"Now I understand that it was right to send me to farm-club," said Varlamov. "I was young, inexperienced, didn't know the language, the specifics of American hockey. When I arrived, the team had two very good goalkeepers, and to break into starting lineup of the Capitals was nearly impossible. Once I got used to life in a lower league, learned a language, I came back to the NHL as a different person."


The debut at the heart of the world's hockey

Semyon Varlamov probably will never forget his first game in the NHL. It happened in the heart of the world's hockey, in Montreal, against the Montreal Canadiens!

"The story of my debut in the NHL is like the whole adventure!" smiles Varlamov. "I played a game for Hershey, after the game we went to the bus. And then a call from the Capitals, come to Washington, Theodore got injured! I immediately stopped the bus and caught a taxi, drove to the airport. Arrived for the game to the very beginning, remained in reserve. The next day I played in the starting lineup. Before the game I was terribly nervous! But reflected two, three shots and relaxed. Realized that I can play in the NHL. Our team won 2-1 and I was recognized as one of three stars. The main thing is to abstract from the entourage, when the whole stadium is against you. I tried to concentrate on the game, and it turned out well. After the game I was given the puck in memory of my debut, it is still in a prominent place in my home museum."

"The behavior of Americans is very different from ours," says Varlamov. "There you won't see the aggression. Everybody around you is smiling. And the mood is getting better. The streets are clean, pleasant, for your eyes pleasure. And our roads, the feeling is, they are getting worse. Sometimes constant smiling is too straining for me, but in general I like America. True, at first, without knowing the language, it was very hard. For example, to order food in the restaurants I had to use the picture or gesture. Once they brought some dish, it was so spicy that it was impossible to eat! Now my English is much better and there is no discomfort."


Fans brought a cake

In the first year goalkeeper played a total of 26 games, in the second, 28.

"I blame constant injuries for that," complains Semyon. "I'd play 7 or 8 games, get injured and give way to another goalkeeper. Then again earn a place a starter, and get re-injured. Because of that I did not realize my true potential.
My teammates supported me and said that I should work hard. And I didn't let myself to get depressed. But if you get into reserve in the NHL, you can wait for another chance for years."

But despite that Semyon Varlamov was one of the most popular hockey players. The fans called Samara's goalie "Varly". When an athlete was playing they were shouting in unison his abbreviated name. And once they staged a total surprise. "When I had a birthday, the fans have brought a cake, a plate of fruit and balloons straight to my house!" laughs Varlamov. "I don't know how they got the address of my apartment. I was blown away when I saw it all at home. Fans bombarded me with autograph requests, and even asked the phone number. But it's nothing compared to Ovechkin!"


"I want to be number 1"

At the end of last season the athlete got an offer to stay in Washington. But the athlete decided to change the situation and signed a contract with the Colorado Avalanche.

"At some point I realized that something needs to be changed in my career. Constant injuries, which accompanied me while I played for the Capitals, really got me," says the athlete. "I decided to leave the club. Colorado was the favorite team of my childhood. Most of all I liked their goalie Patrick Roy. By the way, I spoke with him on the phone and he told me that I made the right choice. I hope that I will not let them down and become the number 1 goalie."


How Ovi tricked Varly


Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin is the famous prankster. On April Fools' day he got almost the whole team!

"On April Fools' Day Ovechkin came up to me and said, "It's urgent, call general manager George McPhee. He seems very unhappy and angry." I got scared, thought it was something really serious, because it was never before like this. I called George and asked him what happened. And he answered, "Listen, what the hell? All hockey players call me and everyone asks what happened. My phone is off the hook!" It turned out that Ovechkin made fun to all. We laughed for a long time afterwards. But our head coach had the worst. Ovechkin asked him to call the owner of the team, billionaire Ted Leonsis. When this happens, it means you are either get fired, or you are in a serious trouble. Our coach called, but got Leonsis' answering machine. Only then Ovechkin explained that it was a joke. The coach was swearing like a sailor!"

Source: http://kp.ru/daily/25747/2734674/




The saying should be changed to "Swearing like Bruce Boudreau!" :-)

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