May 8, 2020. According to the long-established schedule of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), it was this Friday that the World Championship was to begin in Zurich and Lausanne. In the evening, at the Hallenstadion, Switzerland should have faced Russia there.
As part of the preparation of this major event in the sports calendar of the year in our country, we sat for thirty minutes with the Russian winger Ilya Kovalchuk (37 years old) on February 5 in Montreal after morning training at the Bell Complex in Brossard. Today a member of the Washington Capitals after passing through the “Canadian” box, the first overall choice of the Atlanta Trashers in 2001 is a routine of the Worlds. He took part in it eleven times, winning seven medals, including two gold in 2008 (Quebec) and in Bern (2009). In 94 games, he amassed 86 points. In 2009, he appointed MVP. In 2008, in the final against Canada, he scored two goals, including one in overtime victory.
Was it necessary to publish this interview? Or should you drag it to the “trash” icon on the laptop? We hesitated for a long time. And finally, as the interview went beyond the canceled 2020 world championship, we chose to press the “upload” button.
Ilya Kovalchuk, do you consider yourself a patriot?
Yes. Why this question?
Because you have always honored the invitations of your coaches when you were not involved in the NHL playoffs and in health …
You know, when I was a kid, I never dreamed of the NHL. I dreamed of wearing my country’s jersey. My father was passionate, he had passed this love on to me. Besides, if I wear No 17, it is not by chance (note: in selection, it sports 71 because 17 by Kharlamov is withdrawn). It’s in honor of Valeri Kharlamov, who was my father’s favorite player. He died before I was born, but I was able to watch several of his matches on tape, including those in the Century Series.
Beyond the honor of wearing the national jersey, why do you love the Worlds so much?
A world championship is always a challenge that you don’t have in clubs. Gathering a group of players in a few days, quickly building a team spirit and doing everything to win: it’s fascinating. And each time, the guys are happy to be there.
In 2008, in the final against Canada in Quebec, you signed 4-4 in the 55th minute and the goal of victory in overtime. When you are told about it, do you still shiver?
In overtime, he had signed the goal of the first world coronation of Russia.
Yes! Come to think of it… A few minutes before the end of the match we were two goals down. On their bench, I assure you, as we have seen, the Canadians were already celebrating their victory. With hindsight, it can be said that this reversal has changed the face of Russian hockey. This success, this first title since 1993, this first coronation under the name of “Russia” made it possible to found the KHL and to develop a very competitive league in the country.
Do you remember the identity of your opponent in the quarterfinals?
((Bursts of laughter) Yes, yes, all right, it was your team, Switzerland. Your guys had two goals in their own goal in the opening minutes of the game. You can’t forget something like that because, say, it doesn’t happen often. But can I tell you something?
Of course!
Today, nobody smiles when we talk about Swiss hockey. It’s crazy: in a few years, your little country has made considerable progress that commands admiration. Let’s be honest, at the time of the Quebec City Worlds, you weren’t considered a hockey nation. Today, you are coming out of the top picks overall in the NHL Draft. Respect.
In 2009, the tournament took place in Bern and Kloten and you won your second gold medal there. A special memory?
His second title of world champion, in 2009, in Bern. (Photo: Keystone)
For our country, this was an extraordinary demonstration of the value of KHL because, in the selection, we were only two NHL players. Slava Bykov had managed to unite the group around his project. Hat, really hat to him.
You are talking about Slava Bykov, who was your coach and coach in Saint Petersburg where you won the Gagarin Cup in 2015. What does he mean to you?
He’s one of the coaches I owe a lot to.
To prepare for this interview, we called him. He told us that you were not the player without defensive rigor as many described you at the beginning of your career …
That’s why I owe him a lot. He helped me so much. Above all, he believed in me. In all the years I spent together on the ice, I never had a single problem with him.
In 2015, under the guidance of trainer Slava Bykov, he won the KHL championship with SKA Saint-Petersburg. (Photo: Slava Bykov Collection)
Besides Bykov has a message for you (we show him a video on which the ex-Gottéron player slips a few words in Russian) …
((Emu) Slava is really special. It’s not unusual to see great players become great coaches. But he, in addition, he is a great man. I praise his honesty, his frankness. When he has something to say to you, he does it by looking you in the eyes. I have a lot of respect for this character. Besides, even when I went through bad times when I was not producing, he always supported me.
The next time you play for your country, you will not be able to wear the Russian jersey and your national anthem will not sound due to the sanctions imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Sad?
It’s not good when politics takes over sport. And hockey players have never been involved in all of this. But we know where we come from. Our flag is in our heart.
Interview by Emmanuel Favre, Montreal
Created: 08.05.2020, 10h39
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