Mikhail Kravets: “Newbies understand what Avangard is”

On Monday, July 24, Avangard HC Omsk held a training session open to the media and fans at its home arena. Approximately 3,000 hockey fans visited the stands, primarily children and youth.

In Omsk, on July 24, an open training session of hockey players took place at Avangard. On it, the team worked out various game actions and fast skating.

The fact that the Omsk audience already missed the game was evident simply by their reaction, including cries of support.

Well, after the first part of the training, the chief mentor of Avangard talked to journalists Mikhail Kravets.

– Already at the moment it is clear that Avangard will have a new team. But what will it be?

– Of course, a lot of players have left us, many new ones have come. But that’s history. Naturally, there is excitement. Of course, when you come to the team and see that in the links that were earlier, there are only point changes, it’s easier. More confidence. There is some excitement in our situation, but it becomes less every day, because you get to know the guys and you see that many newcomers are in good shape and “hungry” before the game. And they also understand what “Vanguard” is. Moreover, having seen the attention of people at an open training today, I think they will be imbued with this understanding even more.

What will Avangard be like – aggressive, active, there is a mindset to win every match, to set such a goal. This is a team of like-minded people. Well, there is also a global goal to win the Gagarin Cup.

– Will Igor Geraskin become a complete replacement for Tolchinsky?

– I don’t want to compare them, each of them is a good player in itself. And the ice will show the reality.

– Today Geraskin skated with Pyanov and Panyukov. Is this a variant of the second shock trio of Avangard?

– At the moment, yes.

– Should we expect Knight and Bush already at the training camp in Sochi?

– I hope so. According to the plan, they should arrive there on August 3 before the tournament.

– Are you waiting for the extreme Tkachev to Knight and Bush or are there any other options?

– Of course, we are waiting for Tkachev, and then we will look. Which of the players will be able to play with the legionnaires. In addition, we need to use the fast skating of our hockey players, even though not all of them are tall.

– Will you actively let young players from the MHL and VHL train with the team, so that they at least feel the atmosphere of working in the Avangard?

– Quite a lot of young people worked at the past training sessions, for example, our entire staff liked Filatiev very much. I hope he continues to progress. I have already said that after all, we do not have a charitable organization where the screening takes place. We celebrate, we watch, they prove their level in the VHL or MHL, they cling to us. If someone is hooked, of course, I cannot but put such a player in the KHL game already. Mikhail Gulyaev also shows himself well, I hope that Kholodilin and Solovyov will make their way into the squad. I hope Kruzhenkov will add. Let’s not forget Trikozov, of course. We want to give him a chance. It all depends on them as a whole – everyone named has a talent.

The Omsk team will continue to train in their hometown. And on July 27 at 17:00 she will play a two-sided match with her farm club in the VHL Omsk Wings. After that, the “hawks” will hold a training camp in Sochi, where they will also play in their first pre-season tournament.