Donbass in press

Sergei Shakurov: "Season is to start soon"

26-05-11 13:12:13

Well, Donbass got good opponents for the Donbass Open tournament which starts on the September 1.

- How did you manage to have such competitive teams come to Donetsk for the tournament?

- It wasn't anything special. We just talked, of course a lot, but in the end, we made the deal.

- Will they come with their best rosters?

- I hope so. The seasons starts soon, so they will be on peak of their preparation process then.

- Do you expect soonest joining the VHL. What are your prediction for 31st of May (the Directorate of VHL chair is to consider Donbass' application then)?

 - I give 90 percent. I can't outdo the process. When it comes, it will come.

- Was the visit of VHL Managing Director a good challenge? He said there were some remarks.

- Not essential ones. For example, we didn't have video cameras in front of locker-rooms and on the hockey players way from locker-rooms to the rink.   

- What about the roster? It is said on Donbass internet the process came into the way.

- Yes, the roster is almost done for 90 percent.

- Are there any guys of the Ukrainian Junior (U-18) squad which won the gold on IIHF World Championship in division 2?

- Yes, we already had some guys signed.

- There were some Russian and Belarus players in Donbass last season, but now there're gone. Why?

- Ice-hockey is a challenge and a kind of competion inside the team.

- Sokil Kyiv and Ukrainian national team veterans?

- The head coach wasn't interested in them.

- So, let me ask probably a naive but yet interesting question. Have you ever contacted with a well-known Donetsk born Oleg Tverdovsky? I mean not only like a player...

- Not yet.