“Everything was at the highest level”: what they said after the KHL Stars Match

“Such a tournament is necessary”

The KHL-2020 stars match will be remembered by all fans for a long time. Hockey players gathered in Moscow staged a real show for the audience and scored 53 goals. On Sunday at the VTB Arena, the winner was identified by four teams - the national divisions of Bobrov, Chernyshev, Kharlamov and Tarasov.

The victory was won for the first time in history by Bobrov’s division. In the final, he met with the Tarasov division. In normal time, the rivals did not reveal the strongest (6: 6). As a result, the outcome of the meeting was decided in a series of shootouts, and the Finnish striker Mikko Lehtonen chalked up the winning throw. The third place was taken by the Chernyshev division, who also beat Kharlamov’s division by shootings.

However, defeats in exhibition matches did not upset the players too much. So, Vityaz striker Alexander Semin, who played for Tarasov’s division, noted that despite losing in the finals, his team had practically completed the task before her.

“The installation was to reach the finals and not yield. Yes, we ended up losing, but on the shootings, so this does not count. But in general, I think the fans liked the Match of Stars, because there were a lot of goals, ”Semin said.

At the same time, according to the player, the tournament turned out to be somewhat lengthy. Because of this, as noted by the forward, the Match of the Stars loses in entertainment.

“I had to wait for other teams to play. It turned out to be delayed, including for the audience: the first two games are all watched, and then some are hard, but the final is still ahead, ”the hockey player said.

At the same time, for Semin himself, his son’s participation in the master show on Saturday was the strongest impression of the All-Star Game.

“My son was able to break through the bullet, and the fact that the child saw it all with his own eyes is very important for him and for me. Such bright, positive emotions! I talked with the boy - he is just delighted now, ”Semin added.

The striker also noted that he accepted the offer to play at the Star Game with pleasure. According to him, such a tournament is necessary for spectators and the league.

“I was invited - I went. Such a tournament, in my opinion, is necessary. Fans should be able to come see the best KHL players, ”concluded Semin.

“I want to say thanks to the fans”

The final match was called dynamic and intriguing by Vadim Shipachev, who spoke on the winning team. In addition, the Dynamo striker noted the skill of CSKA goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin.

“The final was cool, intense. Forty played great, in general I didn’t leave a chance, and I didn’t even score, ”Shipachev complained.

At the All-Star Game, the daughter of Polina supported. Following Semin, the Dynamo noted that for him the presence of the child was very important.

“The most vivid impression on the tournament for me personally is that the participants were able to bring their children. They cannot visit us on the ice and in the locker rooms during official matches, but there was such an opportunity. Now they will have memories for life, ”the athlete emphasized.

According to Shipachev, the audience was satisfied. Dynamo thanked all the fans for their support.

“In my opinion, the Match of the stars met the expectations. We very much hoped that the stadium would have a good atmosphere - and so it happened. I want to say thanks to the fans, there were so many. Everyone tried to make a show - we are on ice, they are in the stands, ”Shipachev added.

With a plus sign, the hockey player also noted the unusual format of the game - “three by three”. According to him, this is an even more successful scheme than the usual one.

“Three by three hockey is a good format, more fun than five by five, because everyone runs faster. It seems to me that this format of the game is also needed, ”concluded Dynamo.

“Everything was done at the highest level”

The scheme with three players on the court also pleased one of the main stars of the tournament - CSKA striker Kirill Kaprizov. At the same time, the CSKA complained about his own low performance.

“The three by three format is more convenient, better than the five by five format. More dynamic, more interesting. But today I have not fulfilled my task - I scored a little. I scored just two goals, but I would like things four or five in two games, ”said Kaprizov.

But the head coach of the winners of the tournament, Bobrov’s division, Alexei Kudashov, was pleased with everything. However, according to the SKA mentor, such a strong team was selected in his team that she simply could not concede.

“The finale was very interesting. And they led, and recouped, and as a result, the shootouts decided everything. But Dynamo could not lose! We just have five Dynamo players in the squad, including one from Riga, ”said Kudashov.

The mentor also thanked all the fans and organizers of the Star Match. According to him, the tournament was a success.

“Everything was great! First, you need to say thank you to the audience who filled the stands to failure. And secondly, to the organizers. Everything was done at the highest level. The guys were pleased to play, and the fans were interested to watch. The weekend was a success, ”he added.

Dennis Kazansky, Oleg Mosalev, Leonid Weissfeld and Dmitry Fedorov, who have temporarily changed their profession and become assistants to the head coaches of four teams, also became the heroes of the tournament. Kudashov in the Bobrov division was assisted by Fedorov, and the mentor was pleased with his assistant.

“Journalists asked me all the time about him - I’m looking, right, the main question for these days. But Dmitry, really well done, did a good job. He is very emotional and energetic, ”concluded the specialist.