Russian hockey player, goalkeeper, graduate of the Ufa "Salavat Yulaev" 20-year-old Andrey Vasilevsky was awarded the prize "Best hockey goalkeeper of the year." This award was established more than 20 years ago Olympic champion Alexander Pashkov and sports philanthropist Alexander Petrov present it under the auspices of the Federation of Sports Journalists of Russia (FSJR). And the winner is determined by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation.
The rise of Andrei Vasilevsky was swift. The guy proved himself in the youth team of Russia, and today he is one of the leading goalkeepers of the country, world champion, rookie of the Tampa Bay Lightning NHL club. Last season, thanks in large part to Andrey, “Salavat” reached the finals of the Eastern Conference of the KHL championship. Vasilevsky was invited to the national team, and the debutant had an amazing world championship - in the match against the US team, he repelled 39 out of 40 throws and ended the game dry with Germany. In the spring of this year, the leadership of “Tampa” signed a three-year “rookie contract” with Andrey Vasilevsky. Having played the 2013/14 season in Salavat, he did not continue to play for this club and announced his departure to the NHL.
Andrey Vasilevsky could not fly to Moscow from Florida for the award. The prize was received by his agent Alexander Tyzhnykh, who will give Andrey this symbol of hockey recognition.
Tyzhnykh, a well-known CSKA and USSR national team goalkeeper in the past, is called a "Chelyabinsk Canadian": Alexander lives in Ottawa and represents the interests of hockey stars in the NHL. The correspondent of "RG" spoke with him.
Our congratulations to Andrey. Why do you think the choice fell on your ward?
Alexander Tyzhnykh: There were many serious competitors. And, I think, the choice in favor of Andrei Vasilevsky is not accidental. He is a young and talented player. I think the most promising. Last season for Andrey was the first big one in his career, he adequately withstood the competition. He had a very smooth season - without drops, he played especially well in the playoffs.
You, Alexander, are the goalkeeper. And represent the interests of the goalkeeper. Do you work as an agent only for this "hockey specialty"?
Alexander Tyzhnykh: It so happened that my wards are goalkeepers. Andrei Vasilevsky is one of them. I also have Andrey Makarov, Ivan Nalimov, and some others who play in Canada.
Trite, but they say the goalkeeper is half the team...
Alexander Tyzhnykh: More! During the playoffs, this is already 75 percent of the team. It seems to me that the coach of the Russian hockey team, Oleg Znarok, selected goalkeepers, in particular, according to this "digital model" - Alexander Eremenko and the same Vasilevsky.
Spectators may not discuss attackers or defenders, but the goalkeeper is a must.
Alexander Tyzhnykh: An ordinary fan may not notice, unlike specialists, the mistakes of an attacker or a defender, but a goalkeeper - for sure. Some unpredictable rebound and suddenly - the "butterfly" flew in! Who is guilty?! Of course, the goalkeeper. In fact, standing at the gate is a lot of pressure, including psychological. And physical - all 60 minutes in the game. I believe that not everyone is able to cope with such pressure.
How it goes sports fate Andrei Vasilevsky?
Alexander Tyzhnykh: Andrey is in the Tampa Bay Lightning system. Signed the first "newbie contract". Now he has two options - either immediately in the NHL, or for now in the reserve, in the farm club, where young players are being tested. My opinion: it is more useful for him to start the season in the farm club. After all, the game in the NHL is too tough in the sense that you can not make mistakes. The coach will worry if Andrei can or not. And in the farm club, he will play calmly, even allowing mistakes at first. Do not feel too much psychological pressure. Andrey will improve from match to match, and even during the season it will be possible to launch him in the first team. That's the plan we discussed with Steve Yzerman, general manager of Tampa Bay. Steve, by the way, praises Vasilevsky very much. This summer, Andrey was involved in the Lightning camp and topped the rating of rookie goaltenders in the league according to ESPN.
How soon will he be able to move to Enkhaelovskoy “Tampa”?
Alexander Tyzhnykh: The training camp will begin, and if Andrey turns out to be head and shoulders above the goalkeepers of Tampa - the American Ben Bishop and our Evgeny Nabokov, then the coach will decide who to leave and who not. I won't be surprised if Andriy almost immediately starts the season in the first team. But, I repeat, it should be the same as in the educational process: first a school, an institute, then, let's say, an academy. There are worthy players in the farm teams, technical, skating, thinking. It's just that sometimes they don't have a chance to get into the NHL. For example, they do not fit according to the so-called growth data, in other words, they did not come out with a sprout.
What is hockey for Andrey now?
Alexander Tyzhnykh: It is in the first place. It is both work and pleasure for him. Mom and dad in Ufa. Father is a goalkeeping coach youth team"Tolpar". The older brother, Alexei, is also a hockey player. It is interesting that both brothers started as forwards, but later the older one was retrained as a defender, and the younger one as a goalkeeper.
"Crosby was already phenomenal at the age of eight"
- I left the USSR to play in Canada, since then I have been living there, but I consider Chelyabinsk my home, - Alexander Tyzhnykh begins. – Here are my relatives and friends, unfortunately, some of them have already passed away. Here I can meet the Makarov brothers at the match with CSKA, with whom I played together. I remember Sergei from the Voskhod school. He already stood out then with a perfect hockey IQ, good skating and hands. He was able to beat the whole team alone.
As an agent, have you come across such diamonds as Makarov?
When I'm done sports career, then opened several hockey schools. Once, an 8-year-old boy named Sidney Crosby came to one of them. Even then he was extraordinary and was four years ahead of his peers in development. Sidney was in our school for five years, and I always knew that one day the guy would grow into a big star. And so it happened.
What is the difference between hockey education overseas and Russian?
A clear vertical has been built in Russia. Take Chelyabinsk: there is Traktor, farm, youth team, schools different ages. And it's all one structure. In Canada, children's teams have nothing to do with the NHL clubs. Sections are mostly paid. If you take the entire hockey education of a child from 7 to 15 years old, then it will cost parents at least 30 thousand dollars. And that's not counting summer camps, workshops and hotel costs. The minimum return begins only at the age of 15-16, when a guy through a junior draft gets into a team with a professional coach. The club provides him with equipment and a salary of $50 a week. But not everyone gets picked in the draft.
“The story with Voinov cost me sleepless nights”
You are working with Traktor's goalie Vasily Demchenko, who is actively interested in Arizona.
The Coyotes offer a two-year contract, there is interest and Russian clubs, but I think that Vasily will connect his near future with Chelyabinsk. You see, the agent is there to give the guy the right advice. Contracts are second. And I think that you need to stay in your own club, pay tribute to him and go through some stages with him. Traktor is a great place, president Boris Dubrovsky is attentive to any issues, the club has ambitions - there is where to prove oneself.
Demchenko started the season with the first number, but then Francouz began to play more.
We must pay tribute to Pavel, who caught the chance and shows phenomenal statistics. Vasily needs to be added to stability. There are also games where one goalkeeper in the field is not a warrior. Like a recent away game with Dynamo Moscow. Three majority - three goals. It seems that the goalkeeper is charged and set up for the match, but it's just not his day. Either way, competition helps grow. It is very good that there are two strong gatekeepers in Traktor. The one who is better prepared plays.
Your client Vyacheslav Voynov has survived domestic violence charges and an American prison. Has what happened changed him in any way?
In all families, disputes and difficult moments happen. Vyacheslav and Marta came out of the situation with dignity. Gennady Timchenko, Roman Rotenberg, Vladislav Tretyak, Oleg Znarok, our embassy in the USA helped us a lot. Now Vyacheslav plays great for SKA, he has rediscovered himself in Russia. The contract with St. Petersburg is valid for another year and a half, if Voinov continues to be satisfied with everything, then he may remain in the KHL. Moreover, the disqualification in the NHL has not yet been lifted.
What did the story cost you?
Sleepless nights! But I did not fall into despair. I have known Vyacheslav since the age of 15 - even then he was a leader and a man capable of overcoming difficulties.
"An agent is not a nanny or a friend, but a business partner"
Your colleague Shumi Babaev believes that the agent helps the hockey player not become a slave. Alexey Dementiev is sure that the agent is a friend of the player, helping him to become the best. How would you define the mission of your profession?
The main goal is the development of the client! Help an 18 year old boy training process, with choice proper nutrition, to give right advice. The agent is not a babysitter or a friend of the player, but a business partner. When my hockey player does not work out, I ask him harshly. If I find out about the violation of the sports regime, then I go into conflict. As for the “shackles”, there is no need to be afraid of long contracts for two or three seasons. This is an absolutely normal situation. Of course, it happens that the club imposes a contract according to the regulations ... We, agents, would like all hockey players to be free and able to change jobs at any time. But in Russia this will not work. A mess will start, everyone will run from their clubs.
How exactly do you help clients grow?
Every year I collect them in Ottawa and organize camping: ice, OFP, Athletics, yoga, gymnastics. I hire strong specialists, for example, the Montreal coach works with the guys in skating. Each player has his own program: someone needs to work on speed, someone on physics. During the season, I follow everyone the same way and notice their flaws, no matter in question about a budding young prospect, or Andrey Vasilevsky, or Kirill Petrov.
“A hockey player should not discuss politics and criticize coaches”
Do you work only with Russian hockey players?
No, we're dealing with Canadians and Slovak Los Angeles goaltender Peter Buday. The search for talent is ongoing. I have assistants in Russia who monitor the youth and send me reports. But before signing a contract, I try to see the guy's game with my own eyes. When I was in Chelyabinsk, for example, I attended the Polar Bears match. There, many guys can grow into good hockey players.
Which of the unlit Chelyabinsk avenues can shoot in the near future?
I have heard a lot about Vitaly Kravtsov. He is an interesting boy, called up to the 1999 national team. He has already made his debut for Traktor. Also, Vladislav Sukhachev. He can grow into a goalkeeper for the national team.
Young players are active in social networks and sometimes this leads to disasters. The Internet showdown of the ex-player of the "black and white" Igor Velichkin with fans, for example, almost led to real bloodshed. Do you give recommendations to clients on what to post on Instagram and VK?
I can't forbid a guy to talk about his personal life, but he must be smart and remember about publicity. Spreading provocative things online is wrong. We are constantly explaining to players how media works. For NHL clubs, this is also the norm. For beginners, lectures on working with journalists are held. They are told that they need to be open, but at the same time avoid provocations. Do not discuss politics, do not criticize the club, coaches and partners, do not wash dirty linen in public.
Last youth championship world showed that Russia is growing fewer stars. Fairy link Kaprizov, the rest were workhorses.
In Bragin's team, each player has a role to play. The coach, for example, did not take my client Nikita Korostelev to the championship, who scores almost two points per match in Canadian youth hockey. But you're right, Russian coaches don't have the same choice as Canadians, Americans or Swedes. This is confirmed by the latest NHL draft. Previously, they chose 20 of our guys, now 7-10. And it's not about the "Russian factor" at all. I do not want to offend anyone, but the problem is in the coaching staff. Children's mentors do not develop. They, unlike their predecessors, who spent the night on the ice, lack enthusiasm. Today it's all about pay. We need to make good bonuses for coaches whose students get into the KHL and NHL. And perhaps this will somehow affect the situation. Although Russia has strong schools, and our hockey does not stand still.
The famous goalkeeper and agent - about the competition between Demchenko and Francoise, Voinov's family drama and the most talented Chelyabinsk prospect.
"Crosby was already phenomenal at the age of eight"
I left the USSR to play in Canada, since then I have been living there, but I consider Chelyabinsk my home, - Alexander Tyzhnykh begins. - Here are my relatives and friends, unfortunately, some of them have already passed away. Here I can meet the Makarov brothers at the match with CSKA, with whom I played together. I remember Sergei from the Voskhod school. Even then, he stood out with a perfect hockey IQ, good skating and hands. He was able to beat the whole team alone.
As an agent, have you come across such diamonds as Makarov?
When I finished my sports career, I opened several hockey schools. Once, an 8-year-old boy named Sidney Crosby came to one of them. Even then he was extraordinary and was four years ahead of his peers in development. Sidney was in our school for five years, and I always knew that one day the guy would grow into a big star. And so it happened.
What is the difference between hockey education overseas and Russian?
A clear vertical has been built in Russia. Take Chelyabinsk: there is a Traktor, a farm, a youth team, schools of different ages. And it's all one structure. In Canada, children's teams have nothing to do with the NHL clubs. Sections are mostly paid. If you take the entire hockey education of a child from 7 to 15 years old, then it will cost parents at least 30 thousand dollars. And that's not counting summer camps, master classes and hotel costs. The minimum return begins only at the age of 15-16, when a guy through a junior draft gets into a team with a professional coach. The club provides him with equipment and a salary of $50 a week. But not everyone gets picked in the draft.
“The story with Voinov cost me sleepless nights”
You are working with Traktor's goalie Vasily Demchenko, who is actively interested in Arizona.
The Coyotes offer a two-year contract, there is interest from Russian clubs, but I think that Vasily will connect his near future with Chelyabinsk. You see, the agent is there to give the guy the right advice. Contracts are second. And I think that you need to stay in your own club, pay tribute to him and go through some stages with him. Traktor is a great place, president Boris Dubrovsky is attentive to any issues, the club has ambitions - there is where to prove oneself.
Demchenko started the season with the first number, but then Francouz began to play more.
We must pay tribute to Pavel, who caught the chance and shows phenomenal statistics. Vasily needs to be added to stability. There are also games where one goalkeeper in the field is not a warrior. Like a recent away game with Dynamo Moscow. Three majority - three goals. It seems that the goalkeeper is charged and set up for the match, but it's just not his day. Either way, competition helps grow. It is very good that there are two strong gatekeepers in Traktor. The one who is better prepared plays.
Your client Vyacheslav Voynov has survived domestic violence charges and an American prison. Has what happened changed him in any way?
In all families, disputes and difficult moments happen. Vyacheslav and Marta came out of the situation with dignity. Gennady Timchenko, Roman Rotenberg, Vladislav Tretyak, Oleg Znarok, our embassy in the USA helped us a lot. Now Vyacheslav plays great for SKA, he has rediscovered himself in Russia. The contract with St. Petersburg is valid for another year and a half, if Voinov continues to be satisfied with everything, then he may remain in the KHL. Moreover, the disqualification in the NHL has not yet been lifted.
What did the story cost you?
Sleepless nights! But I did not fall into despair. I have known Vyacheslav since the age of 15 - even then he was a leader and a man capable of overcoming difficulties.
"An agent is not a nanny or a friend, but a business partner"
Your colleague Shumi Babaev believes that the agent helps the hockey player not become a slave. Alexey Dementiev is sure that the agent is a friend of the player, helping him to become the best. How would you define the mission of your profession?
The main goal is the development of the client! We need to help an 18-year-old boy with the training process, with the choice of proper nutrition, and give the right advice. The agent is not a babysitter or a friend of the player, but a business partner. When my hockey player does not work out, I ask him harshly. If I find out about the violation of the sports regime, then I go into conflict. As for the “shackles”, there is no need to be afraid of long contracts for two or three seasons. This is an absolutely normal situation. Of course, it happens that the club imposes a contract according to the regulations ... We, agents, would like all hockey players to be free and able to change jobs at any time. But in Russia this will not work. A mess will start, everyone will run from their clubs.
How exactly do you help clients grow?
Every year I gather them in Ottawa and organize camping: ice, fitness, athletics, yoga, gymnastics. I hire strong specialists, for example, the Montreal coach works with the guys in skating. Each player has his own program: someone needs to work on speed, someone on physics. During the season, I follow everyone equally and notice their shortcomings, no matter if we are talking about a promising young prospect or Andrey Vasilevsky, or Kirill Petrov.
“A hockey player should not discuss politics and criticize coaches”
Do you work only with Russian hockey players?
No, we're dealing with Canadians and Slovak Los Angeles goaltender Peter Buday. The search for talent is ongoing. I have assistants in Russia who monitor the youth and send me reports. But before signing a contract, I try to see the guy's game with my own eyes. When I was in Chelyabinsk, for example, I attended the Polar Bears match. There, many guys can grow into good hockey players.
Which of the unlit Chelyabinsk avenues can shoot in the near future?
I have heard a lot about Vitaly Kravtsov. He is an interesting boy, called up to the 1999 national team. He has already made his debut for Traktor. Also, Vladislav Sukhachev. He can grow into a goalkeeper for the national team.
Young players are active in social networks and sometimes this leads to disasters. The Internet showdown of the ex-player of the "black and white" Igor Velichkin with fans, for example, almost led to real bloodshed. Do you give recommendations to clients on what to post on Instagram and VK?
I can't forbid a guy to talk about his personal life, but he must be smart and remember about publicity. Spreading provocative things on the net is wrong. We are constantly explaining to players how media works. For NHL clubs, this is also the norm. For beginners, lectures on working with journalists are held. They are told that they need to be open, but at the same time avoid provocations. Do not discuss politics, do not criticize the club, coaches and partners, do not wash dirty linen in public.
The last youth world championship showed that Russia is growing fewer and fewer stars. Fairy link Kaprizov, the rest were workhorses.
In Bragin's team, each player has a role to play. The coach, for example, did not take my client Nikita Korostelev to the championship, who in the youth Canadian hockey gaining almost two points per game. But you are right, Russian coaches there is no such choice as Canadians, Americans or Swedes. This is confirmed by the latest NHL draft. Previously, they chose 20 of our guys, now 7-10. And it's not about the "Russian factor" at all. I do not want to offend anyone, but the problem is in the coaching staff. Children's mentors do not develop. They, unlike their predecessors, who spent the night on the ice, lack enthusiasm. Today it's all about pay. We need to make good bonuses for coaches whose students get into the KHL and NHL. And perhaps this will somehow affect the situation. Although there are strong schools in Russia, our hockey does not stand still.
USSR 22x20px USSR→Canada 22x20px Canada
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didn't get out
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Alexander Vladimirovich Tyzhnykh(born May 25, Chelyabinsk, USSR) is a Soviet and Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach and sports agent. Former goalkeeper of the USSR national ice hockey team.
Biography
Alexander Tyzhnykh - pupil hockey club"Tractor". As part of the Chelyabinsk team, he spent two seasons in the USSR championship. in 1976 he moved to CSKA Moscow. Played several matches for the national team Soviet Union at the 1984 Canada Cup. He spent the 1988/89 season in Ufa Salavat. In 1989, he moved to Canada and played for the Cape Brenton Oilers in the AHL. In 1991, he completed his career as a hockey player. After retiring from the sport, he opened hockey school in the Canadian city of Sydney. Later became hockey agent. Together with two Canadian lawyers, Alexander Tyzhnykh manages the Fideles Sports Management Group agency.
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An excerpt characterizing Tyzhnykh, Alexander Vladimirovich
Caraffa devoured me for another moment with his black eyes, and then turned on his heels and quickly left the room, as if afraid that I would suddenly stop him for some reason.I perfectly understood why he asked the last question ... From the very moment he saw that I could suddenly take it and disappear so easily, he racked his proud head, as if to "tie" me somewhere stronger, or , for reliability, put him in some kind of stone bag, from which I certainly would not have any hope of “flying away” anywhere ... But, with my answer, I deprived him of peace, and my soul sincerely rejoiced at this small victory, since I knew for sure that from that moment on, Caraffa would lose sleep, trying to figure out where it would be more reliable to hide me.
These, of course, were only amusing, distracting moments from the terrible reality, but they helped me, at least with him, with Caraff, to forget for a moment and not show how painfully and deeply wounded me what was happening. I wildly wanted to find a way out of our hopeless situation, wishing this with all the strength of my tormented soul! But just my desire to defeat Karaffa was not enough. I had to understand what made him so strong, and what was this “gift” that he received in Meteor, and which I could not see in any way, since he was completely alien to us. For this, I needed a father. And he didn't respond. And I decided to try if the North would respond ...
But no matter how I tried, for some reason he also did not want to get in touch with me. And I decided to try what I had just shown Caraffe - to go with a “breath” to Meteora ... Only this time I had no idea where the desired monastery was located ... It was a risk, because, not knowing my “point of manifestation ”, I could not “collect” myself anywhere at all. And that would be death. But it was worth trying if I hoped to get at least some answer in Meteora. Therefore, trying not to think about the consequences for a long time, I went ...
Having tuned in to the North, I mentally ordered myself to appear where he could be at that moment. I never went blindly, and this, of course, did not add much confidence to my attempt ... But still there was nothing to lose, except for the victory over Karaffa. And it was worth the risk...