Arkadiy Shestakov: "Great atmosphere, I think that will be our trump card"

Barys and Kazakhstan national team forward Arkadiy Shestakov, in an interview with the club's press service, shared his expectations for the upcoming World Cup.

- Arkadiy, a team is in Riga to prepare for the final stage of the World Cup. How's it feel?

- We arrived quite late, slept and rested. Then straight to practice. Overall, everyone's good and the atmosphere is great. Everybody wants to play and win, they are all energized.

- Have you already had time to see the fans?

- Yes, it was as surprising and unexpected as it could have been. Before we left for practice, fans met us outside the hotel and encouraged us to have good luck. It is pleased that the Kazakhstan Embassy in Latvia supports us and communicates with our fans, I think they will attend matches. That's very cool.

- You have not played in the last control matches, what happened?

- The day before the tournament, I got a small injury in training. After the medical checkup decided jointly that it was better to skip these two games, and fully recover for the World Championships.

- We had our first practice at Arena Riga. I heard the ice had to be filled in several times after you did?

- Yes, we made a pretty mess on the ice (laughs). At the end of the training session, the power play was practiced, and the puck was no longer moving. Even while we were in Astana, we had intensive training. Training is hard, but it sets the foundation. The coaching staff has its own training plan for getting us in optimal condition for the matches. They do everything to keep us full of energy. So we're steadily preparing.

- This will be your third world championship in the elite. Feeling like a veteran?

- For years I've been dying to go to the World Cup. But for a long time I didn't get into the final roster. Now I have achieved this, and it's the third time I will play in the strongest national tournament.

- Do you remember that after your puck against Belarus at the World Championship in Astana, were we able to get a ticket to the elite?

- Sure, I remember that moment. That was the first time they took me to the adult world championship. And I ended up scoring such an important goal. We had a sort of final with the Belarusians, playing for first place. Еmotions were inexpressible. After that I had already signed a contract with Barys and played in the top division. I got that hard step forward.

- Roster of our team has been significantly upgraded. How did the guys, who had no experience at this level, adapt?

- Everyone is working hard, and it's obvious that their eyes are burning. Everyone is excited about this opportunity, many are playing in the elite for the first time. Yes, they are young, but it's a big chance for them. Maybe they will be a little inferior at first and their lack of experience will affect their performance, although it will compensate for their efforts. Everyone is burst to go into action.

- While you're training with Starchenko and Rymarev. Both are great masters, but at the same time you have to do a lot of defensive work. Are you ready for that role?

- Mentally, I'm already prepared for that (smiling). It takes work and defensive effort. But when they get their chances going in advance, they'll push as hard as they can, and get some goals. We all know that Roman and Evgeny can get the puck out of any situation, even if it's not a hundred percent.

- Some competitors have already published their rosters. Do you monitor the news?

- I haven't really followed the publications. I saw that Canadians came from the NHL for the most part, and there are some good young guys. It will be interesting to play with them, to look at ourselves. Actually, we've played with them before and we understand what we have to prepare for.

- The refereeing at the world championships is different from the KHL. Is it hard switching from a seasonally familiar rules pattern?

- At these tournaments, the referees give more play, penalties are given only for a hundred percent foul, and some moments they may miss.. First of all, I was struck by the throw-ins. In KHL, almost any premature movement with the stick is immediately penalized, you get a pause. And here they let you fight, you can block or even hit the stick. It probably makes it more spectacular.

- For you, as a center, is this a positive thing?

- Of course, we have to readjust, but it's more interesting to play this way. It is possible to have some moments that you usually can not do. Remembering our game with the Canadians last year - there were moments when the puck had not yet been thrown in, and they were already hitting the stick or could run into your side and angle. Instead, the match starts right from the first second, there is excitement immediately, I like it more.

- The first opponent - Norway, against which Kazakhstan's national team has never won in official tournaments. How to break this unpleasant streak?

- It's not even worth thinking about. We just have to go and play. There's a good team, they're all our guys, they all knew each other and support. Great atmosphere, I think that will be our trump card

General Partner of Barys HC – Samruk Kazyna SWF JSC

Partner of HC Barys - CF Fund for the Support of the Tourism and Sports Industry

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