Alexei Kovalev: “I had two offers from NHL teams, but I decided to get back to Russia” (Photo © Getty Images)

Alexei Kovalev recently signed a 2-year deal with Atlant Mytischi of the KHL, and he confirmed that he still had offers from the NHL.

“I had two offers from NHL teams”, 38-years-old Kovalev told Russian newspaper Sovetsky Sport. “But I chose Russia.”

Kovalev, who played more than 1300 games in the NHL, scoring more than 1000 points, explained one of the main reasons for his move to the Moscow region team.

“The lenght of the contract was a problem. I don’t want to pack my suitcases every year. I understood that in North America I wouldn’t get more than an one-year deal, while Atlant offered me two years.”

Kovalev also explained other aspects of his transfer.

“I didn’t play much in Russia. I got to the Rangers when I was 19 and I played in the NHL all my career. It’s hard to get used to something new, but I have a profession and I will keep on playing. I am healthy, I still have hands and conditioning. Yes, I’m going to another place, but hockey is hockey. I love it and I enjoy playing.”

Chris Bourque: “Got sick of waiting for my chance in Washington and then being used to plug holes in roster” (Photo © SportsDaily)

The former Washington Capitals forward Chris Bourque, who moved this summer to Atlant Mytischi of the KHL, gave an interview to SportsDaily.ru.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

The story of your signing with Atlant was pretty long. Were you hesitating?
Bourque: “I just wanted to see how it’d turn out with the Capitals. When the situation wasn’t clear I had to told Atlant that they’d have to wait.”

But then finally the Capitals offered you a contract. Why did you decide to move to Russia?
Bourque: “Things were going the way that I’d not get a spot with the Capitals. I have won everything in the AHL – like the Calder Cup and the playoffs MVP. Besides I was soon to reach the age limit, which would mean I’d have to part ways with the AHL. And since I wasn’t completely sure that I’d make the first team, I decided to move to Russia. I got sick of constantly waiting for my chance and then being used to plug holes in the roster.”

Quite surprising that the son of Ray Bourque had to ride the pine in the NHL
Bourque: “Nobody in the NHL cares who your parents are. If the coach doesn’t like you, you won’t get ice time even if you are the President of the USA. And I think they called me to Atlant not because of my father.”

As for you father, what was his reaction?
Bourque: “It was good. He wished me good luck and professional growth. He didn’t wish me to return soon – I have a two-year contract, and I’m going to spend these two years here. Then, who knows, maybe the KHL experience will help me to attract attention of the NHL. In Russia there is a great school, traditions, strong teams. And it seems to me that I can take a lot from the Russian style.”

Why you didn’t become a defenceman like your father?
Bourque: “That’s due to my frame. In today’s NHL defencemen are really strong, and I wasn’t big enough. Maybe that’s the reason why I didn’t get a spot in the NHL. In Russia I’ll try to find out what can be improved in my game while not having a big frame.”

What can you say about your new partners?
Bourque: “They are really skilled players with great skating and puck control. We are passing a lot here. The team welcomed me really well. I hope to get used to the game style in Atlant as soon as possible and start producing more. By the way, even though I didn’t play in the NHL’s Atlanta, these consonance gives me comfort. And also they say that the Russian language is something unique.”

Do you speak Russian?
Bourque: “Just a few words. Have to master the hockey language first to understand partners better.”

Do you have any problems with everyday stuff?
Bourque: “No, not at all. And after these continuous bus trips in the AHL I have just nothing to complain about.”

Can you compare KHL and AHL?
Bourque: “Can’t go in details yet as I don’t have much KHL experience. But in my opinion you can’t compare them at all. The KHL is a separate league, the best in Europe. And in the AHL there are farm teams with the purpose of giving experience to youngsters and practice to those not making it in the NHL. The KHL is, of course, a step forward for me.”

How ready do you feel for the season?
Bourque: “As for now, I haven’t shown even the half of what I’m capable of.”

You were already trusted with a shootout in the game against SKA…
Bourque: “Well, shootouts are what I practiced a lot. They are all the same in the NHL, KHL, AHL – come to the ice and shoot. You have just the goalie in front of you, though his level depends on what league you are playing in.”

Atlant didn’t start the season pretty well. And now you lost to SKA, even though in the shootouts. Are you upset?
Bourque: “I’m actually more upset that Nabokov didn’t play against us. I wanted to face him. And going one-on-one in the shootout against such an ace is a special occasion. As for the defeat, I’m sure we will get our points later, I see that we doing better every day. Our coach said that we were doing everything right and that we are progressing from game to game.”

Chris Bourque in 6 games this season: 1G, 0A, -2, ATOI 7:31.

KHL Players of December: Eremeev, Bykov, Mozyakin (Photo © khl.ru)

The KHL named the players of the month. They are: goalie Vitaly Eremeev, defenceman Dmitri Bykov, forward Sergei Mozyakin.

KHL goalie of December: Vitaly Eremeev, Dynamo Moscow. Eremeev recorded 3 shutouts in 6 games, having 1.33 GAA and 95.5 saving percent.

KHL defenceman of December: Dmitri Bykov, Atlant Mytischi. Bykov scored 2 goals and 4 assists in 9 games, having a plus-9 record.

KHL forward of December: Sergei Mozyakin, Atlant Mytischi. Mozyakin scored 5 goals and 9 assists in 9 games, having a plus-7 record.

KHL individual stats: goals, assists, points (Photo © khl.ru)

More than half of a season has passed in the KHL and it is time to tally up an interim total.

Below are Top 5 lists of goal scorers, assists, points and plus/minus leaders. Among the highlights are Marcel Hossa of Dinamo Riga topping the scorers rating, Maxim Spiridonov proving his worth after a few bad seasons with 20 goals in 40 games, SKA linemates Maxim Sushinskiy and Alexei Yashin being assists leaders and Sergei Fedorov being the 3rd in plus/minus rating.

KHL Top Goal Scorers

1. Marcel Hossa, Dinamo Riga, 24 goals in 37 games.
2. Alexei Morozov, Ak Bars, 20 in 34.
3. Maxim Spiridonov, Barys, 20 in 40.
4. Maxim Sushinskiy, SKA, 18 in 39.
5. Alexander Radulov, Salavat Yulaev, 18 in 36.

KHL Assists Leaders

1. Alexei Yashin, SKA, 32 assists in 39 games.
2. Sushinskiy Maxim, SKA, 29 in 33.
3. Sergei Zinoviev, Salavat Yulaev, 28 in 42.
4. Sergei Mozyakin, Atlant, 26 in 36.
5. Patrick Thoresen, Salavat Yulaev, 26 in 38.

KHL Points Leaders

1. Maxim Sushinskiy, SKA, 47 points in 39 games.
2. Alexei Yashin, SKA, 44 in 39.
3. Alexander Radulov, Salavat Yulaev, 43 in 36.
4. Sergei Zinoviev, Salavat Yulaev, 42 in 37.
5. Sergei Mozyakin, Atlant, 41 in 36.

KHL Plus/Minus Leaders

1. Patrick Thoresen, Salavat Yulaev, +25.
2. Raymond Giroux, SKA, +25.
3. Sergei Fedorov, Metallurg Mg, +22.
4. Vitaliy Vishnevskiy, Lokomotiv, +22.
5. Miroslav Blatak, Salavat Yulaev, +22.

Here are some useful links with complete lists:
Top Goal Scorers
Assists Leaders
Points Leaders
Plus/Minus Leaders

Martin Gerber’s injury not so serious (Photo © boeboda.ru)

Swiss goalie Martin Gerber, who was hospitalized yesterday with a neck injury, underwent advanced examination Monday morning. Fortunately it didn’t confirm the preliminary diagnosis “compression fracture of the fourth cervical vertebra”. According to the new information Gerber has spinal contusion and recovering will take weeks, not months.

“When Gerber was delivered to the Podolsk hospital he underwent examination that didn’t show any fractures. Monday morning computed tomography confirmed there was no fracture but rather a spinal contusion,” said Atlant’s doctor Andrei Bagdasaryan to Sovetskiy Sport.

“According to the doctors, Gerber’s recovering will take weeks and not months. Thus there is no need in searching for a new goalie. However, this is not 100% clear,” said KHL Atlant’s GM Andrei Verevko to Sovetskiy Sport.

According to the official Atlant website Gerber will be back in 2-3 weeks. It means he will be able to play for Switzerland at the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Finally there is a video of the episode.

Martin Gerber hospitalized with a serious neck injury (Photo © khl.ru)

Swiss goalie Martin Gerber, who past summer left the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL to play for Atlant Mytischi of the KHL, was hospitalized after suffering a serious neck injury in a game against Vityaz Chekhov on December 13.

According to Russian site lifesports.ru during the second period a Vityaz forward ran into Gerber. As a result Gerber ended up lying on the ice. After being tested by the team’s doctors Gerber was put on a wheel stretcher and taken off the ice. He was sent to a Podolsk municipal hospital where he was diagnosed with a compression fracture of the third cervical vertebra.

“The injury is very serious, Martin can forget about hockey for the next 6 months,” said one of the hospital’s doctors, Igor Suvorov. “Thank God the spinal cord was not hurt and there is no threat to his life. Gerber will soon be sent to a special clinics in Podolsk to undergo computed tomography to ensure the spinal cord is not hurt.”

Martin Gerber is expected to stay at the hospital for at least 2 months.

Update:
Russian newspaper Sovetskiy Sport talked with Atlant GM, Andrei Verevko:

“Gerber underwent computed tomography. The preliminary diagnosis is a compression fracture of the fourth cervical vertebra. Monday morning Gerber will have an advanced medical examination.”

Update (Monday):
Martin Gerber’s injury not so serious. He is expected to be back in 2-3 weeks. Video finally available

Denis Bodrov leaves Atlant (Photo © atlant-mo.ru)

Through Atlant’s official site, the team’s General Manager Ravil Ishakov reported that the contract with Denis Bodrov is ceased with immediate effect. The parts mutually agreed to separate ways. Bodrov joined Atlant last season, after spending his whole career within Lada Togliatti. A couple of years ago he has been very near to a move overseas as the Philadelphia Flyers manifested much interest towards him, but he apparently refused offers from both the Flyers and Avangard Omsk to remain in his hometown club. Denis Bodrov was a second round draft pick on the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

In the 33 games he played with the Moscow Region team during 08-09 and 09-10 seasons, he scored two goals and five assists, with 30 PIMs. He also played four post-season clashes last year, with one assist in four games. So far no rumors have been spread about his career’s continuation.