22 August 2021

Zubov and Valk speak about the second match with the Belarusian National Team

Barys forwarders Alexey Zubov and Curtis Valk shared their impressions after the second match with the Belarusian National Team.

Alexey Zubov

- Already with the home tournament, other games, other speeds have started. I saw another level. You need to think faster and move faster. Basically, I’m not saying there’s anything supernatural, these are people as we are. We played well today.

- Today you scored the first goal in Barys. Even if it's a pre-season match, did you take it away?

- I must say a huge thank you to Gura (Dmitry Gurkov author) for this opportunity. He did a great job there and gave it away, I just had to beat the goalkeeper. I didn't take the puck. I hope that when the KHL season starts, I will score again.

- During one of the mini-matches, you showed decent stickwork, but the situation was fraught with interception.

- Actually, we try to act on the instructions of the coaches, but in this episode I decided to tinker. Of course, now we, who have just joined the team, first of all need to prove to the coaching staff that we can be trusted, and that we will not let the team down at crucial moments.

Curtis Valk

- I think we played the second game better than the first. There was more energy. Again, we worked out various points in the majority, in the minority. We need to continue working in the same way, and then we will approach the start of the championship in good shape.

- You scored two goals that turned out to be similar to each other.

- Yes, we had two such opportunities with a rebound and an interception. That's the work of the whole five, so I had two such opportunities. The main thing is that both times the puck was in the goal.

- The fourth goal was recorded for Nikita Mikhailis. Have you discussed this moment?

- Nikita said he didn't touch the puck (smiles). So, it turns out, it was a hat trick. But it's okay, the main thing is that we scored.

- What can you say about the Belarusian National Team?

- They are a good team, and play very fast. There are a lot of attacking players who can score goals. I'd like to wish them good luck in the Olympic qualification.