Alexey Shevchenko
STRANGE PURCHASE
The famous Latvian goalkeeper Arthur Irbe, who spent 13 seasons at San Jose, Dallas, Vancouver and Carolina, signed a contract with Omsk Avangard.
In Omsk they turned one of the most mysterious transfers. This season, Irbe did not play at all, and in the past left ambiguous memories of himself in the Austrian Salzburg. The Latvian is 39 years old, which even for the goalkeeper is considered a critical indicator. They have not loved Arthur in Russia since 2000, when, after defeating the Russian national team, he rejoiced too violently, not hiding the political background of such feelings. And, finally, 4.5 million rubles must be paid for Irbe as a foreign goalkeeper.
Hardly anyone will surprise this November more than the leadership of the Siberian club. Recall that before the start of the season in Omsk refused the services of very good players (for example, Sergey Mozyakin) due to lack of money. And as soon as the means appeared, they begin to be scattered in the wind.
AUTHORITY NOT IN HONOR
Forward Novokuznetsk Metallurg Andrei Potaychuk released from the team.
I remember that at the start of the season, the hockey player lamented that the “Chemist” (where he spent the last season) did not need veterans. And he promised to prove in the new club that they had written off it in vain. Did you prove it? The team takes 17th place, and the leadership is looking in vain for free coaches who want to accept it. And, judging by the fact that it was not possible to agree with anyone, the situation in the Kemerovo region is bad. Potaychuk scored 7 points in 19 matches, scoring only once. It seems to be a little, but only two forwards have more points in the team. And, nevertheless, they preferred to part with him as if they had not justified a high salary. As far as we know, Andrey was not very upset. He did not like living in a small town. Only here a hockey player is unlikely to find a new job in the Super League. He is too authoritative among the players. And which specialist will take such a headache to the club?
AMUR WAVES
Khabarovsk Amur invited many new hockey players.
The head coach of the Far East, Vladimir Marinichev, at each press conference said that the team needed to be strengthened, and he was waiting for the transfer window to wait. And then it opened wide. However, changes in the composition of Amur are rather strange. For example, an experienced and strong defender Artem Ostroushko was expelled. And a dozen players were invited right away. Perhaps the age-old Antipin (36 years), Kamaletdinov (34) and Pupkov (30) are excellent hockey players. But to play in Khabarovsk, you need good health. Even 23-year-old boys with no bad habits can hardly adapt to long flights and a constant "boiled" state that accompanies acclimatization.
In Khabarovsk, Novoseltsev, Shvidky and Redlikh, who have experience of performing in the NHL, are also signed. But overseas they did not linger. And someone believes that the first two, having left for America, broke their careers. The best recruits for the team are goalkeeper Tyler Moss, known for playing for Spartak, as well as Mikhail Buturlin, whom Lada from Togliatti for some reason refused.
WITH RISK FOR LADA
Oleg Belkin returns to the Lada.
This talented hockey player, unfortunately, loves to break the regime and does not know how to deal with it. More than one coach tried to reason with him. First, Oleg moved to Mytishchi to Peter Vorobyov. It was believed that with such a tough mentor, the hockey player would keep himself within the framework. Did not work out. He showed good hockey in Ufa, but again broke. Now Belkin’s leadership will try to protect Belkin from temptations.
Scandalous MOST
HC “Wings of the Soviets” appealed to the FHR to clarify the situation that arose in the team’s match against Khimik on November 5.
“In the case of providing inconclusive explanations in this regard, the club reserved the right to appeal to the Arbitration Committee or to contact the IIHF representatives to analyze this situation,” the team said in a statement.
Recall that the referee Polyakov after a 15-minute viewing canceled the goal of “Wings”, although the puck flew into the net according to all the rules. But the referee in charge of the penalty box held Dmitry Bykov there, thereby extending the majority of the hosts. The judge considered that the defender had a fine, in which he was supposed to appear on the ice only when the match was stopped. The Chemist disputed this, threatening to leave the ice. And his demarche took effect. As a result, the weak suffered.
COMING SOON
Magnitogorsk Metallurg signed a contract with striker Eduard Kudermetov.
The forward began this season at CSKA, but recently in Moscow they refused the services of a hockey player who scored 13 (5 + 8) points and 20 minutes in a penalty in 21 matches. Thus, Kudermetov returns to the club, where he spent four previous seasons.
It turns out that Vyacheslav Bykov, the main democrat of the league, is not sinless. This is not the first time that he quarrels with players out of the blue, and then sends them to other teams, regardless of the usefulness of the hockey player. Last year, Nikolai Lemtyugov became such an outcast. This is Kudermetov, one of the smartest red-blue players. He was immediately called to Magnitogorsk, and Metallurg would benefit from this.