Boris Ivanishchev and Oleg Bolyakin responded to media questions

In the press center of Barys Arena there was a meeting of Barys management with representatives of the media, which was regulated after the end of the period of additional players. Boris Ivanishchev, the general director of the club, and Oleg Bolyakin, the acting head trainer of the main team, answered the journalists' questions.

Oleg Bolyakin on the lineup before the deadline

- We didn't look for hockey players on the market. I believe we have skilled hockey players, skilled mercenaries, skilled homegrown guys. Overall they can play at a good level. Basically, the last games show that the guys fulfill the tasks we set for them. So we saw no point in acquiring other players. With our players, we will continue to fight to make the playoffs. No one has taken the task off us.

Oleg Bolyakin on the team's recent acquisitions (Rymarev, Apalkov)

- These are guys with experience in the game, brought solidity to the team, gave confidence. Zhenya Rymarev is a player of the national team of Kazakhstan. We were basically counting on him. I think the skill set that he has gives the opportunity for the other local guys to develop. They have him as a visual reference, as an example. Apalkov - we understood that the player missed quite a long period of time, but the experience of the game he played in the KHL, 517 games, didn't go anywhere. Now he is giving himself fully to the game and giving positive results, scoring goals.

Oleg Bolyakin on the possible extension of contracts with foreigners.

- It's premature to say yet, but we have leaders in certain lines. David Sklenicka is a core defensive player. I think it should be extended first, but that's not for me to decide. We can only make recommendations. I think that's a player we need. Nelson Nogier has looked pretty good in recent games, too. Camara, LaBate, Cerveny, all those players who are playing now are benefiting. There are not many players in the market. These players I've just announced, there's already a queue behind them. They wanted to trade them now before the deadline, we declined.

Boris Ivanishchev on the progress of Arkadiy Shestakov

- Of course, Arkadiy has improved a lot, including in games for the Kazakhstan national team. We'll talk, try to keep him, make a longer term deal.

Boris Ivanishchev on New Year's uniforms

- On New Year's Day, we always try to give something special. We're playing in jerseys, teddy bearfall is tomorrow. Usually done before New Year's Eve in the season, fans loved this. Going forward, we plan to play exhibition matches next season. Perhaps the exhibition match will be in Almaty. It's a definite cost, and negotiations with sponsors are underway. I think the final conclusions will be at the end of the season.

Oleg Bolyakin on Alex Grant's health

- Alex was already out on the ice. He had a serious injury - two hernias in his spine. The guy's in rehab now. He's been skating in the general group with the team for six days now. Will go on a road trip after New Year's Eve. Hopefully it will start to recover slowly. If he also has a positive process, then we can involve him in the third or fourth away game and use him as the seventh defenceman. Obviously, we're not going to put him in the main lineup right away. A player like Grant is needed, he's a first pairing player, a first line poweplay forward. We certainly miss him.

Oleg Bolyakin on Alikhan Omirbekov

- At the moment Alikhan is a player of the main squad. The guy with his play, his scoring, his efficiency shows that he deserves a place in the main team. Count on his energy, on his movement, on his positivity. Very decent looking. Having all of our players add with every game, we will only be happy about it.

Oleg Bolyakin on aggressive playing style

- I don't think we're going to step away from this style of game. Because this game brings results. This is the kind of game the fans like, and we play for the fans. And I noted yesterday that the fans gave the energy the team needed. And the players felt this energy and, naturally, repaid it with their dedication. Now modern hockey, it's so aggressive now, and the aggression is to not let the opponent have possession so they lose control of the puck. And, basically, if guys do it all right, the result won't be long in coming. Recently, we have improved our offensive game and started scoring. Now we have to get better on defense. There are certain things that we focus on in positional defense, because the team can't play offense all the time. It has to play both offensively, in the middle line and in the defensive zone. It's patient, painstaking work. Guys are realizing that and starting to apply it to the game.

Oleg Bolyakin on the fight for the playoffs

- I think that we can compete for the playoffs due to the game discipline, due to dedication, due to confident play in all lines. We need a winning streak that will give confidence to the players. Those wins we are waiting for, they will come, they will give confidence to the players. The quicker the point gap to get into the playoffs shrinks, the more confident the players will be and they'll realize we're going in the right direction. Every win gives confidence.

Boris Ivanischev on Nomad's participation in the Continental Cup

- Now we have let a number of players who played in Barys to strengthen Nomad. We have an extended list, and Oleg Vladimirovich will decide literally after tomorrow's game. We need to compete for the first place of the Continental Cup, it's very prestigious. Good teams in the opponents will be from Great Britain, Denmark, Poland. "Nomad has never won the tournament yet, played in the finals, but it didn't work out. In the championship of Kazakhstan at the moment the first stage is over. Have played 40 games each, the Federation makes the schedule considering Nomad's departure. Naturally, this pause was considered. Now our team is in third place, last season we were champions. The challenge is to defend that title.

Oleg Bolyakin

- Happy New Year to all the fans! Come cheer on the team. We will try to bring the fans back to the stands with our game. We wish everyone good health and prosperity in the coming year. That our team will always be happy with its game, with its victories. Together with the fans we are a force, we are Barys!

Boris Ivanishchev

- I would like to thank our fans for their support. No matter how we go, they still support us, always there for us. So thank you so much to them! Happy New Year coming up, all the best. Come hockey time, we'll try to improve.

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