Kodola, Karnaukhov and other hockey players who refused to play for Belarus. Interview with the director of the Yunost sports school Andrei Karnaukhov Your greatest achievement so far

Zvezda forward Pavel Karnaukhov, in an interview with the club’s press service, spoke about his idol, what people to follow and much more.

- Pavel, you and your brother are both hockey players. Do you have a hockey family?

No, just my brother and I. When I was about six years old, I was watching hockey and asked him to take me to class. And my brother came to this sport after me. He was about nine years old at the time, which is late for a field player, so he became a goalkeeper and I became a striker.

- First school and first coach?

- “Youth” in Minsk. Polshakov Alexander Valerievich.

In 2009, we came to Moscow to the CSKA children's school, together with my brother. Then I stayed, and a year later he returned to Belarus.

- You spent two years in Canada. Tell us about your life there?

Life there is very different. You could say it's a different world. I lived in the city of Calgary, in a good family. I still maintain relations with them. It was interesting, of course, to live in Canada and see all this.

- Were there any difficulties with the language barrier?

When I first arrived, I knew English at a basic level. The Russian guy Fazleev Radel also played in the Calgary Hitmen, he helped me a lot. And then they hired me a tutor, and I tried to teach myself. So over time it became easier and easier.

- Did you go to NHL games?

Yes, the family I lived with had season tickets. I went, maybe not to every game, but often. We also had a neighbor who worked for the Calgary Flames, after all, we played in the same arena with them. Naturally, I had no problems with tickets. I especially remember the moment in the playoffs when the whole stadium was cheering, twenty thousand people were wearing red jerseys. The spectacle is impressive.

- Do you have a hockey idol?

Jaromir Jagr has a lot of respect. I've heard a lot of stories about him, not even about how he stays physically fit at his age, but how he approaches business. There are very few such people. I like him both as a person and as an athlete. In general, role models are different people for me.

Military. I think we should look up to them. People who inspire the deepest respect, who are ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of another person. They generally belong to a different category of people, we may not understand this. I watch a lot of films about the military.

- Most memorable film?

I watched a lot of films about the Patriotic War, and about Afghanistan, and about Chechnya. The last one is “Badaber Fortress”. Not so long ago it was shown on Channel One. Very touching, interesting film. You need to know all this.

- Music?

I like the group “Blue Berets”, also Viktor Tsoi. I recently started listening to Vysotsky, he has very interesting and serious songs. It’s not that I didn’t listen to him before, I just do it now with awareness.

I don’t necessarily read books on military topics. By the way, when I left for Canada, my grandmother gave me a book by Jack London, in which events also develop in Western Canada.

- Tell us more about your hobbies. What do you do on vacation?

On vacation, I would love to watch tennis and tournaments such as Roland Garros. Or a fight. I myself was engaged in wrestling until I left for Moscow. I also have awards.

- Did you think then of giving preference to wrestling rather than hockey?

No, I did wrestling to be physically strong. I went a couple of times a week. And I’ve liked hockey all my life, so I wasn’t wrong with my choice.

- What kind of vacation do you prefer?

Restorative ( laughs). Come to the beach to play volleyball, in the evening - football. But I don’t understand traveling by bus on excursions. For me, the main thing on vacation is that food and bathing are available 24 hours a day.

- What is the most memorable place you have been?

In Calgary, Banff National Park and the mountains. By the way, 50 km from Banff there is the famous Lake Louise - the seventh wonder of the world, but we didn’t get to it. And Banff was very memorable. I remember we had a week off for Christmas. My father arrived, and the family I lived with and I went to this park.

- Pavel, if you hadn’t become a professional hockey player, what would you have been?

I remember when I was asked this question before I was fifteen, I answered that I would become an athlete, even if not a hockey player. And now I will answer that I would connect my life with military activities.

- What is your greatest achievement so far?

Bronze at the MFM last year. It was unforgettable and will remain in my memory for the rest of my life. In addition, the competitions took place in Canada, in Toronto and Montreal. I think this is the best place for the World Youth Championship. 20 thousand people came to watch our game with the Canadians. For me, this medal is a serious achievement. And at such moments you realize that the work is not in vain.

Pavel, you are also the winner of the Kharlamov Cup and the World Cup as part of the Red Army. Where do you keep your rewards?

At home. My father looks after them, he manages to arrange everything neatly and beautifully.

- Who is your main support?

Press service of PHC CSKA

Andrey Karnaukhov, director of the Youth Sports School "Yunost" and the father of hockey players Pavel and Mikhail, postponed the meeting several times. But when he finally found time in his busy schedule, the recorder became white-hot. “This is probably due to the fact that we planned to talk for a long time, the conversation turned out to be such a long one. Well, nothing, but you will have plenty to choose from,” he smiled at the end of about a two-hour conversation.

- Andrei Leonidovich, did you expect that your youngest son would be selected in the NHL draft?

Yes, we expected and followed the draft. Pasha trained hard and worked towards this draft for many years. It happened to my son more than once in Canada that he was casually asked if he was going to skate extra today, and then they came and incognito observed whether he was really on the ice. Scouts collect information about the composition of the family, how a hockey player studies, whether he knows how to communicate with adults and peers, analyze his reactions in stressful situations, observe... It is almost impossible to be selected in the draft in the first place. And Pasha deserves it. Special credit, of course, goes to the CSKA hockey school, which educated him.

Andrey Karnaukhov

In the KHL system, all rights to Pasha are assigned to CSKA. Dynamo Minsk negotiated with the management of the Moscow club on the transfer of Pavel. The issue was discussed, including taking into account the interests of national teams. But the parties could not come to an understanding. Pavel went to the Calgary Hitmen - and did the right thing. The Western Hockey League, part of the CHL system, is a very good environment for growth. More than half of Canada's youth teams are made up of hockey players who compete at this level. And plus there you are always in front of NHL scouts.

It is known that Pavel played for the Russian junior team. Moreover, soon after the draft procedure, his words were widely circulated that there was a chance of playing for Belarus. Explain?

In his first season with the Calgary Hitmen, Pavel became one of the team leaders

Pasha believes that for an athlete the most important thing is the club in which he plays, it is in it that he develops. The Ivan Hlinka Memorial is a traditional tournament for mid-August, which is considered an unofficial world championship and allows scouts to make their first conclusions in terms of who to watch throughout the season. Pasha played - somehow it helped him. But he has not yet taken part in official matches for any national team. And I can’t say that Pavel doesn’t want to play for Belarus. There is, however, one subtle question here - how interested are they in it? At one time, the Yunost school sold the rights to its son to the Dynamo BFSO. Next, the Dynamo-Minsk hockey club held negotiations with CSKA at a professional level, as a result of which a cooperation strategy was developed. From September 2011 to May 2013, the Dynamo-Minsk hockey club, which is the base for the national team, provided financial assistance for Pavel’s education in Moscow, for which an agreement was concluded between the legal representatives - the parents - and the club. The purpose of this funding was to develop a young player for the future. But due to personnel changes at Dynamo, it was terminated, and the loan amount was returned to the club. At the same time, the naturalization of professional hockey players and investment in them continued. And how can our youth get into the squad?

A year ago, commenting on the inclusion of the Russian junior team at the Ivan Glinka memorial, Pavel said that if he played for the Belarusian team, he would play against the Spaniards. The words caused a great resonance...

Pavel is a young, progressive hockey player. And the fact that representatives of the press are constantly tugging at him is wrong. One carelessly spoken word, which is specifically focused on, turns everything upside down.

After the end of last season, he spent only three weeks in Minsk - and again to Canada. Not easy. But difficulties never frightened Pasha, because he was always a fighter and a leader. For two years at the Yunost school, training began at 6.30 am. I remember one vivid episode of that time: I went into Pasha’s room early to wake him up, and he couldn’t sleep in either eye, he was lying in a hockey uniform, saying that he was ready to go to training... At the pre-season training camp at the age of 14–15 with With other kids at the CSKA school, my son ran cross-country, sometimes 10 kilometers long. So, in order to improve the overall team result by at least 10–20 seconds, he, along with other team leaders, literally carried the laggards on their shoulders. Such actions deserve the respect of his comrades and determined the role of captain in his future.

Next season, like last season, Pavel will play for the Calgary Hitmen, or do you assume that he could be invited to the NHL team?

We are still quite young and look at things realistically. First, the club must propose a contract. And Pasha, of course, strives for this. After the draft, my son took part in the Calgary rookie camp, and soon he will have another one. They are happy with it. Pasha will start the season with the Calgary Hitmen. At the same time, he will be in full view of the Calgary Flames officials. Then everything depends on the player himself. If they give you a chance, use it.

- Are the living conditions in order?

In terms of everyday life and the organization of the training process, everything there is structured so clearly that you don’t have to think about anything else but hockey. Pavel lives in a cottage with a man who represents his interests. My son has an entire floor at his disposal. Right in the house there is a specially equipped room with an exercise bike, dumbbells, a barbell, and a mini-court with an installed goal for throwing. In addition, the house is located on the shore of a lake, where hockey rinks operate in winter. If you wish, you can always study additionally.

How do you feel about the comments of fans who call Pasha a defector and other bad words?

We wish good luck to all those unfortunate writers who are settling scores with their son - as a rule, these are people who have nothing to do with hockey. I don’t see a tragedy in the fact that our players have Russian passports. Obtaining a passport for Pavel is a normal procedure. He is a graduate of the CSKA hockey school named after Kharlamov.

Michael

- Let's move on to talking about your eldest son.

Mikhail was born in 1994, he also started his career in hockey at the Youth Sports School "Yunost". Then he played with Pasha in CSKA, after which he returned home - and Dynamo bought the rights to him. Everything worked out well for Misha in youth hockey. He played for the Minsk Bisons and Dynamo-Shinnik in the MHL championship. As a member of the U–18 and U–20 national teams, he played at the World Championships and twice took part in the World Cup among youth clubs in Omsk and Ufa, where he was recognized as the best goalkeeper. Now he has a two-way contract with Dynamo-Minsk and Dynamo-Molodechno, and is at pre-season training camp in the Czech Republic.

- Last season, Mikhail traveled a lot between Bobruisk, Molodechno and Minsk, but never played in the KHL.

There is a coaching staff, they decide who and when to play. We are ready to compete as before. We are not afraid of difficulties. Mikhail is motivated enough to fight for a place in the first team. Waiting for a chance to prove himself.

Misha, to be honest, had good offers this off-season; the option of going overseas was considered. But after negotiations, during which the Dynamo sports management promised to give him playing practice in the KHL, it was decided to stay. The question is whether the word will be kept.

- Is Mikhail one hundred percent ready for the Kontinental Hockey League?

If I were one hundred percent ready, I would play somewhere else. Let's be objective - Mikhail is young, he still needs to learn a lot. For this, he has senior comrades, coaches of the club and national team. I hope he can improve this season and show his readiness on the ice.

- It must have been difficult for him in Moscow...

The Army Club collects the best from Russia and neighboring countries. Breaking through his system is not easy. But this overwhelming competition is what young hockey players need to grow. I think that Mikhail received a good base during his studies in Moscow. And I am absolutely convinced: if teenagers go to top Russian schools in their teens, then this can only be welcomed. I will always understand and be ready to support parents who lead their children along this path.

Andrey

At the May meeting of the executive committee of the hockey federation, a commission was created to determine candidates for the U-17, U-18 and U-20 national teams - and you, among others, were also included in it.

Everyone has their own area of ​​work. Mine is to thoroughly know the guys who study at the Yunost school, especially those who, based on sporting principles, are worthy to move to the RCOP for winter sports “Raubichi” and could potentially compete at the 2016 Junior World Championships in the Chizhovka Arena. We definitely need to return to the elite. Because now our young hockey players have virtually no chance to show themselves to scouts and attract the attention of representatives of the world hockey elite. In modern conditions, hockey is a market where talent fairs and drafts are held, where clubs reserve young players for the near future. Accordingly, our task today is to enter the market.

- The youth team finally made it to the top division last year.

We worked hard towards this goal. Now we need to deeply analyze and study our opponents, their tactics and style of play. Because today all teams playing in the elite of youth hockey have representatives from strong youth leagues, including the CHL. They play hard power hockey and are very physically prepared. However, we must believe in our guys. And most importantly, they themselves must believe in themselves.

- Pavel Karnaukhov is only the fourth Belarusian selected in the NHL draft in the last ten years...

When was the last time our youth team played with the national teams of Russia, the USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia at official tournaments? Where can young people gain experience? How to further get into the clubs of the Belarusian championship and Dynamo Minsk? After leaving youth hockey, I often had to wait for the older guys to finish and play hockey. Lots of painful questions. One thing is good: today all the clubs and hockey schools that operate in the country, together with the hockey federation, have developed a strategy aimed at preparing the U-17 and U-18 reserves on the basis of the Raubichi Regional Training Center. I hope that the guys’ performance in the MHL will yield positive results both for the national teams and for the subsequent growth of professional athletes. Perhaps, over time, Belarusian guys will become more visible in the North American market, which can significantly strengthen their positions in youth hockey and the U-20 team.

- The Yunost school will soon celebrate its 40th anniversary. What are your plans?

The school has already trained many high-level athletes. But we are not going to rest on our laurels. Lots of ideas. With the support of the Yunost-Minsk hockey club, conditions have been created for the boarding school, which already exists in its initial form. Its essence is that in regional schools in Vitebsk, Novopolotsk, and so on, capable 14-15-year-old children are selected for the “Youth” system. They live in Minsk, train, and then, if they work on themselves correctly, they move to the Raubichi Regional Training Center. We have been running a goalkeeper school since last season. In the future, we want to organize a school for defenders and a school for attackers. For this purpose, certain personnel work is carried out, and advanced training methods are studied.

Belarusian hockey players have not entered the NHL draft since 2012, when New Jersey selected Arthur Gavrus in the 6th round at number 180.

18-year-old center forward Pavel Karnaukhov (height 186 cm, weight 89 kg) is a graduate of the Minsk Yunost, but before leaving overseas in the fall of 2014, he spent 5 years in the structure of CSKA Moscow.

At the age of 16, he made his debut in the MHL as part of the Moscow Red Army. In the 2013/14 regular season, he scored 29 (13+16) points in 48 matches, and 5 (3+2) points in 11 playoff matches.

The headquarters of the youth team wanted to attract Pavel Karnaukhov to the ranks of the Belarusian squad, but the hockey player never showed up at the team’s location. Later it became known that the forward received a Russian passport, and in the summer of 2014 he played at the Ivan Glinka memorial for the Russian youth (U-18) national team, scoring 1 (0+1) point in 4 matches with 2 penalty minutes and a utility indicator "- 1".

But the striker has not yet played in official tournaments for Russian national teams, and there is still a chance to play him for Belarus.

It is noteworthy that Pavel Karnaukhov’s father Andrei Karnaukhov is the director of the Minsk Sports School “Yunost”. And his older brother, 21-year-old goalkeeper Mikhail Karnaukhov, played for Dynamo-Shinnik in the MHL and for Dynamo-Molodechno in the Belarusian Extra League last season.

Pavel Karnaukhov played last season for the Calgary Hitmen in the junior North American Western Hockey League (WHL). In 69 regular season matches, he scored 42 (20+22) points with 51 penalty minutes and a utility rating of -4. In 17 playoff matches, he earned 11 points (6+5) with 10 penalty minutes and a utility rating of -1.

The lists of applicants for the draft included two more young Belarusian hockey players - Dynamo Shinnik forward Dmitry Buinitsky and grenadier-defender of Minsk Yunost Stepan Falkovsky (height 200 cm, weight 100 kg). But no one ever drafted them.

But for the first time in NHL history, a Chinese player was drafted. Mikhail Grabovskiy's Islanders selected Andon Son with the 172nd overall pick. He is the captain of the Chinese youth team. And he moved to North America when he was 10 years old.

A total of 211 hockey players from 13 countries were selected in 7 rounds of the draft. The most players are from Canada - 79. 55 hockey players from the USA were drafted, from Sweden - 19, Russia - 17, Finland - 13, Czech Republic - 11, Slovakia - 5, Switzerland - 4, Latvia - 3, China, Holland, Germany , Ukraine and Belarus- by 1.

In total, 23 Belarusian hockey players were selected in the NHL draft over the years:

1988 Defender Yuri Krivokhizha (No. 209) - Montreal
1989 Defender Alexander Yudin (No. 231) - Calgary
1990 Forward Andrey Kovalev (114) - Washington
1991 Forward Alexander Andrievsky (No. 220) - “Chicago”
1992 Forward Dmitry Starostenko (No. 120) - Rangers
1993 Defender Alexander Zhurik (No. 163) - Edmonton
1993 Forward Vitaly Kozel (No. 212) - Anaheim
1994 Forward Dmitry Shulga (No. 162) - Edmonton
1995 Forward Vladimir Tsyplakov (No. 59) - Los Angeles
1996 Defender Ruslan Salei (No. 9) - Anaheim
1997 Defender Sergei Yerkovich (No. 68) - Edmonton
1999 Forward Konstantin Koltsov (No. 18) - Pittsburgh
1999 Forward Evgeny Kurilin (No. 259) - Carolina
2003 Forward Andrei Kostitsyn (No. 10) - Montreal
2003 Forward Konstantin Zakharov (No. 101) - St. Louis
2004 Forward Mikhail Grabovsky (No. 150) - Montreal
2004 Defender Sergei Kolosov (No. 151) - Detroit
2004 Forward Sergei Kukushkin (No. 218) - Dallas
2005 year. Forward Sergei Kostitsyn (No. 200) - Montreal
2008 Forward Mikhail Stefanovich (No. 98) - Toronto
year 2009. Defender Kirill Gotovets (No. 183) - Tampa
year 2012. Forward Arthur Gavrus (No. 180) - New Jersey
2015 Forward Pavel Karnaukhov (No. 136) - Calgary.

Several examples of anti-patriotism.

Denis Grot (defender, 31 years old)

Pupil: “Youth” (Minsk)

Now: without club

Grot was born in Minsk and at the age of 7, following the instructions of his father, began playing hockey in Yunost. A few years later he moved to Yaroslavl, where they slowly began to take advantage of the talented short defender. In 2002, Grotya made his debut in the Russian youth team at the Junior World Championships. That same year, the defenseman was drafted quite high 55th overall by the NHL's Vancouver Canucks. However, the overseas period in the hockey player’s career is completely absent.

A year and a half later, Denis played for the Russian youth team at the MFM alongside future world stars Ovechkin and Malkin. This was the defender’s last experience in playing at the international level - Grot was no longer called up to the main team of the neighboring country. Throughout his professional career he played for Russian clubs. Before the 2013/14 season, he played in the KHL for mediocre teams - Sibir, Avtomobilist, Torpedo, Amur, Neftekhimik, Yugra. Last year he became the VHL champion as part of Neftekamsk Toros.

Roman Krikunenko (forward, 17 years old)

Pupil: Novopolotsk

Now: Loko (MHL)

Krikunenko’s father is a Ukrainian hockey player who played in the Belarusian championship from 2004 to 2011. And although Roman himself was also born in Kharkov, he began playing hockey in Belarus. Until 2011, Krikunenko played for Khimik in the Belarusian children's championship. And again, after Novopolotsk, the hockey player ended up in Yaroslavl at the age of 13. In the Lokomotiv system, Roman develops gradually. As a child, he was one of the best on his team, scoring more than 70 points in 32 matches of the season. Last year I started joining the Emkhael team. In 6 matches this season, the striker has 6 (4+2) points. Already now they predict a good future for him and at least a draft in the NHL. But, unfortunately for Belarus, the guy is already lost - Krikunenko was called up to the Russian junior team for friendly tournaments. And it seems he doesn’t mind playing in an official match.

Sergei Sotsky (defender, 16 years old), Kirill Petkov (forward, 17 years old) and Kirill Ustimenko (goalkeeper, 16 years old)

Pupils: Gomel

Now: Dynamo (St. Petersburg, Russian youth championship) and SKA-1946 (MHL)

An interesting trio from Gomel. The short defender grew up in the fifth school of sports school in Gomel. In 2011, the guy took part in a tournament in Dmitrov. Apparently, they noticed him there. In the same year, Sotsky ended up in the St. Petersburg team “Forward”. He spent the entire last year in the Russian youth championship, playing for Dynamo St. Petersburg. And last year he made his debut for the Russian youth team at friendly tournaments.

Ustimenko is a 16-year-old goalkeeper of the same Dynamo. Last season, the goalkeeper played a couple of friendly matches in the Russian youth team.

Petkov also disappeared for white hockey through St. Petersburg. In 2010, the guy left for the Silver Lions and is slowly moving towards becoming more noticeable. This season he played for SKA-1946 from the MHL and SKA-Karelia (Kondopoga) from the MHL-B. Last year I went with the Russian team to the world Hockey Challenge (U-17) - 6 matches, 1 (0+1) point.

Vladislav Lonovenko (forward, 19 years old)

Pupil: Novopolotsk

Now: Almaz (MHL)

And one more person whom we lost through St. Petersburg. Until 2009, the guy played for Khimik-SKA, and in the following seasons he wore the uniform of SKA and Forward. True, talk about renouncing hockey citizenship began only in 2013. Lonovenko and another hockey player of his age, Vadim Atrakhimovich, refused to play for the Belarusian youth team.

– I refused to play for the national team because of my hockey citizenship. I recently received a Russian passport and if I play at least one match for the national team in any tournament, I will already be considered a foreign player in the MHL. But, I note that I only refused the next tournament.

For the third year now, Lonovenko has been playing for Almaz Cherepovets in the MHL. Has not yet played for the national team. But it seems that the guy values ​​a club career more than a national one.

Pavel Karnaukhov (forward, 18 years old)

Pupil: “Youth” (Minsk)

Now: Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

The brightest Belarusian hockey player of his age. At the age of 11, the boy was plucked from Minsk by Russian scouts - the forward continued his studies in CSKA Moscow. After a bright period in the “Red Army”, he received an invitation overseas from the MHL. Karnaukhov spent the entire last season with the Calgary Hitmen, a team from the Western Hockey League. In the summer, he entered the draft and was selected by the Calgary Flames in the fifth round. Before this season, he started working in the main team's camp, but last week he was sent to the Hitmen. He did not score any points in two WHL regular season games.

The athlete expressed his position towards his homeland more than a year ago: “I was born in Belarus, I have a home and family there. But he decided to play for the Russian national team. In general, I have the opinion that both Russians and Belarusians are one people, Slavs. Therefore, I don’t see anything criminal here.” In the 2014/15 season, Pavel played for Russia in several friendly matches and at the Glinka Memorial. However, the Belarusian hockey world still hopes that Karnaukhov will change his mind and play for our national team. Already at the next youth world championship.

Vladislav Kodola (forward, 18 years old)

Pupil: Gomel

Now: Severstal (KHL)

The most recent example of failure. Kodola was brought up in Gomel, but at an early age he left for St. Petersburg. In 2011, he ended up in the Severstal system, and spent the last two years in the Ontario League - he played quite well for Sarnia and Saginaw. In the 2013/14 season, he played a couple of matches for the Russian youth team at the Glinka Memorial. This summer, the forward attended the camp of the Belarusian youth team and even played several exhibition matches. I was finishing my preparations for the season in my familiar Cherepovets. In mid-September, he entered into a tripartite agreement with Severstal (KHL, VHL, MHL) and refused to play for the Belarusian national team at the MChM. Already the former head coach of our youth team, Pavel Perepekhin, noted that the striker was quite capable of joining the Russian national team.

P.S. Only the most striking examples of failures are mentioned in this text. But there have been dozens and dozens of such refuseniks over the last ten years.

Photo: khl.ru, russianprospects.com, vk.com