The lesson was scheduled for 11 hours, but did not start on time. Nemchinov looked sadly at the ice, where large snowdrifts lay. Something broke down at the ice-filling machine, and hockey players watched as technical workers hurriedly cleaned the snow.
- And you give the players shovels, let them clean the site, as in childhood, - they suggested to the coach.
This advice did not find a response. And who will clean? Ovechkin? Or recently signed a new contract Atyushov? Yes, and offer this to Kulemin as the youngest; he can also run away in the NHL, where there are no problems with ice.
But in about 20 minutes everything was put on alert. Nemchinov gathered all his hockey players at the side, gave the task, and the work went.
Ovechkin, going against Proshkin, made a subtle feint and powerfully threw the goal. Eremenko did not even react to the throw.
- Why are you missing something? - a teammate turned to him.
- And why are you giving up? - the goalkeeper asked in response.
A short argument ended with the fact that Proshkin and Eremenko missed another puck. This time from Kulemin.
By the way, the most progressive striker of Magnitogorsk Metallurg is almost the only one in the team who refused an interview. Perhaps he was prevented by Kaygorodov, rushing to a colleague after class.
Both representatives of Metallurg did not dine at the base, but went off somewhere to the city. The chefs working in Novogorsk breathed a sigh of relief.
“There will be 47 people tomorrow,” the hotel administrator called the dining room. “I don’t know where so many.” For breakfast, which will be at 11, and lunch at the same time you need to cook: broth with an egg, fried eggs with sausages, chicken breasts, oatmeal porridge. And, as usual, cottage cheese, raisins, prunes.
“Settle me somewhere,” Ilya Nikulin turned to her.
The administrator clutched her head.
“There are rooms with Kaygorodov and Kulemin, as well as Atyushov and Markov,” she replied after looking for free places.
- For three, or something to lodge? - the defender was surprised.
- Yes, you are 47 people. And there are few places.
- And with Ovechkin is it possible?
“Let's come up with something later.”
As soon as she figured out Nikulin, Alexander Eremenko appeared at the hotel.
“My last name is Eremenko,” he explained.
- How how? Eremenko. Somewhere I saw her, - the administrator was delighted.
Is it not in the list of deductibles? No, not there.
“There are almost no places,” she whispered, looking for a hockey player’s bunk.
“I can live at home,” the goalkeeper suggested hopefully.
“We sat down with the gymnasts,” they advised Alexander.
“It’s impossible with gymnasts,” the base worker shook her head. - They are due to the fact that there are many hockey players, they sleep in the rooms for several people, on folding beds.
Finally, they found a place for the goalkeeper. It is clear why they decided to abandon Kovalchuk. There are no more places in the hotel.
Alexey Shevchenko