Press-conference

After the match with the Hockey Club “Donbass” the head coach of Izhevsk “Izhstal” Albert Loginov blamed himself for the defeat…

I would like to congratulate our opponents on their victory. You taught us a good lesson. A lesson in the mastery of skills that in today’s hockey is a very important part of a team’s success. “I am blaming myself for the defeat. I couldn’t bring the whole importance of this match to the boys. Every game for us right now is a play off. We need to get into the Eight, that is our specific goal. Half of the team today were scared of the name “Donbass” and there were playing only two triples of the team on ice today - the third and fourth.

- Your team has a solid history. How many pupils of the school are playing in the team “Izhstal” today?

- Six - eight people. Carriers, Glebov, Polyudov, Abramov, Kascheev ...

- The hockey club “Donbass” is creating their own school right now. How important is it for the club?

- They need a school. The team is amongst the leaders. This is a good incentive for children to engage in ice hockey. You can buy players if you have money, but to have prospects in your own school is really good.

- Recently your team has introduced several new players. Did they help to enhance the team?

- The new players are playing well. They joined the team well and quickly learned the requirements that I ask from the players, our game and tactics. Presently, during the season, we don’t have the possibility to invite new players to our team, especially the players whom we would like to see in. Those who are already in the team, are playing at a good standard.

- Your colleague and predecessor Nikolay Myshagin previously talked about the personnel problems and specific difficulties. Now you're talking about a task to take a place in the Eight. The situation in the club has changed a lot, if you are making such goals?

- We still have personnel problems. To play eight minutes with an advantage and not score … Two victories in away games? Probably, somewhere we had a lucky attitude. Today we lost in all single battles, in all technical moments. We didn’t have enough character to win. We thought that six points from the away game that’s enough for us.

After the match with "Izhstal" head coach of "Donbass" Aleksandr Kulikov complained about the large number of injured players in their team and talked about future plans...

- A lot of our players are staying in the hospital today. We have a lot of sick and injured players and several affected by cold. Seven players are out of the game for now. Today we tried several new combinations with the new goalkeeper. They gave the new goalkeeper a taste of the game at a higher level. In my opinion, Oseledets joined the game and did well.  Concerning the game, after the score was 3:0, we realized that we weren’t going to give up. There was only one thought left… to wait for the final score.

- The head coach of "Izhstal" said about “Donbass” – “Do you feel that it has happened”?

- Comparing from a year ago, against the background of what has been created over the last four or five months, obviously, we did good job, especially when different teams began to arrive here, and with the tournaments that were held here. We are very pleased that the number of fans has increased - it is pleasure for the guys that they are recognized on the street. Everybody relate differently to us now. In Ukraine, the name of the hockey club "Donbass" is getting better known. We are very happy.

- A lot of penalties in the second period – is it a possibility that players are relaxed, probably, the rivals made them play like this or, they decided to practice playing shorthanded?

- Each match we receive enough penalties. Today wrongly-used playing technique, or probably, emotion, led to our 8 minutes of shorthanded play; failures appeared. Some people play constantly, others – just sit. Penalties always count against the team. There were no directives to play roughly or any other directives. There were faults which the referee punished. Of course we have a lot major penalties. We have discussed it during the break. Today we didn’t score goals but with other teams everything can be on the contrary.

- Are you satisfied with your new formation:  Isaenko – Shagov - Materuhin?

- Several central forwards dropped out. This formation didn’t play badly apart from the minutes when Shagov got two penalties in sequence. Isaenko kicked a goal. They played their best as we expected them to.

- Shagov got the penalties in 30-minute intervals. Did he have to be changed leaving the bench?

- It was the moment, this formation coming on ice, and Shagov staying on the ice too. Then due to new 2-minute penalty he was changed (laughing).

- Today Isaenko showed his desire to resume his position in the roster .

- The guy does his best. His desire is great, and if he keeps it up, he will have his place on the ice and will have it constantly.

- Will the team keep on competing for first place in the regular championship or has it already started to prepare for the play-offs?

- We don’t have much time until the end of the championship. From the beginning of February the team will start to work in another mode a little bit. It would be difficult to conduct some games due to this, but if we don’t do in this way, we will not be strong enough for the play-offs. We have already played a lot of games and we should pay attention on the decisive matches. Probably we might lose some points but anyway the main task – to win in each game – is still the priority. We want our team to be worthwhile in the play-offs.

- After the trip to Rouen there were a couple of difficult matches.  Today your team has played differently – the players were active, they were competing. 

- Each team can be trapped in the situation like this. Remember when “Rubin” having dropped out of Continental Cup, the had three away matches and if I am not mistaken they won only one of them. One can cope with it only by work and patience one can cope with it. I think that in time everything will be settled. Preparing for the play-off is the first in the list.

Press-service of HC "Donbass"