On September 9, Vityaz defeated HC Sochi (5-4) at home in the next game of the KHL regular season. In this match, newcomer to the team Ivan Chekhovich made his bright debut for the Moscow Region club.
A month ago, Lokomotiv rejected the forward’s services, placing him on the rejection list. Several KHL teams showed interest in the hockey player, but in the end the choice of the forward fell on Balashikha.
The 25-year-old striker fit in perfectly with the new team, scoring a hat-trick of assists in the first half. Chekhovich made a huge contribution to the final success of “Vityaz”, and after the meeting he gave an exclusive interview to “Championship”, speaking openly about the key details of his departure from Yaroslavl and his move to Balashikha.
“I really miss offensive hockey”
— For you, this was your first hockey match in almost six months: did you have any problems with your physical condition towards the end of the match? — I think I prepared well in the summer, as I slightly changed my pre-season training. It was not so difficult to join the team because I missed hockey a lot. Mainly offensive hockey. Of course, I was left with the most pleasant impressions from such a debut.
— Many of your colleagues in the hockey world said that individual preparation for the season is a real agony. How difficult was it for you to prepare for the season without a team? — You could say that I had a kind of team training session in the summer. We met up with the guys who live in Yekaterinburg and played five against five.
When I arrived in Yaroslavl, I waited about 20 days until the contractual situation was resolved. I was already training there without a team. I was traveling alone, running a little. And it was difficult mentally. Thank God I survived everything and it was not so difficult to play today. But of course, we still need to gain condition.
What did the player’s agent say about Chekhovich’s departure from Lokomotiv?
Chekhovich’s agent: Ivan was not satisfied with his playing time at Lokomotiv
“Everything was decided with Vityaz in one conversation, literally in two minutes”
—Are we glad we managed to get out of the free agent ranks so quickly, because we know how many famous hockey players are now stuck in limbo? — Honestly, I am very happy. I considered offers from two or three KHL teams. But as soon as I found out about Vityaz’s interest, we decided everything with the club in one conversation, literally in two minutes. Without thinking twice, I accepted their proposal.
At the same time, I feel sorry for the guys who find themselves in this situation. I wish them more strength, because it is not that easy.
—What criteria most influenced your choice? — As I said before, I miss hockey very much. Precisely to play hockey and not to work in hockey. I wanted to enjoy hockey and [снова] I love hockey. I had some tough times.
Ivan Chekhovich
Photo: hcvityaz.ru
— During your short stay at the new club, have you already felt how different the systems of Vityaz and Lokomotiv are? – Certainly. I think this is no secret to anyone. Everything here is obvious.
— Vityaz does not hide the fact that he was promoted to a managerial position at the club. Is it important to regain that kind of trust? — For me, this was one of the most important factors when choosing a new team. It was necessary for people to believe in me. I want to be a leader and help my team with attacking actions.
What are the Vitiaz coach’s expectations regarding Chekhovich’s performance?
Vityaz told what they expect from the striker, rejected by Lokomotiv in the summer
—Did you know coach Pavel Desyatkov before? – Only indirectly. I knew where he played and where he trained. I heard a lot of good things about his vision of hockey.
“If Nikitin had wanted it, he would have left me at Lokomotiv”
— Your career at Lokomotiv started with a big exchange between Yaroslavl and Torpedo. Three hockey players were sent to Nizhny Novgorod and a significant monetary compensation, which was supposed to indicate the level of expectations from their game. Did this put any pressure on you? — To be honest, there was no pressure. I wanted to play hockey, to remain a player with my own individuality and creativity. To not be pushed into a box.
— It is interesting that you met one of the participants in that exchange, Alexander Darin, already in Vityaz. Did you have time to discuss this with him? – (Smiles.) Yes, of course. We argue and laugh. I know Alexander is a good guy and a good player. It’s a pleasure to talk to him. I don’t think anyone has any complaints.
How did Daryin end up in Vityaz? Great conversation with him.
Exclusive
“SKA and CSKA used to lose during the holidays. Now it is not like that in the KHL.” Interview with Daryin
— From the outside, it seems that the entire period of my career in Yaroslavl was a bit spasmodic: there were brilliant goals, there was a hat-trick in the playoffs against CSKA, but it was not possible to find stability. — It’s probably hard to say now. In my opinion, the first season wasn’t that bad. As you might have noticed, the same hat-trick happened in the playoffs. However, it’s quite difficult when you’re playing, knowing that if you don’t show your best hockey today, you can’t count on getting into the lineup in the next game. Still, there were some small things that were felt.
I have no questions for Igor Valerievich Nikitin. He is a wonderful person with whom we still maintain good contact. Personally, I have great respect for him.
— Did he often try to support you in personal conversations? “He wanted to help me with all his heart, but things didn’t work out.” Even before I was offered the trade, he called me and was surprised that this was happening. I received great support from him: if it was his will, he would have left me on the team. But it happened, it happened.
Igor Nikitin on the Lokomotiv bench and Ivan Chekhovich in goal
Photo: Yuri Kuzmin, foto.khl.ru
“Now I can write an encyclopedia on how to play defense”
— In the last playoffs you were in and out of the lineup, as the team fought for the Gagarin Cup. How difficult was it to not give up, but to keep trying to help in any way you could? – You are right that this is a difficult situation. But first of all I came to Lokomotiv for the Gagarin Cup. I believed in the team and we were united. If they didn’t expect me to help in attack, then they should have helped at least in defense: I went for every puck and I don’t think there are any doubts about my dedication. I made all the adjustments, but to no avail.
— If we look at the positive aspects of your career in Yaroslavl, can you say that it made you a more versatile player? – 100%. Previously, I watched hockey only from the offensive side. Now I know both sides of the coin and understand how to play defense. Igor Valerievich and I talked so many times about different little things and details that now I can write an encyclopedia on how to play defense (laughs). I definitely learned a lot.
“In the final, Metallurg changed their entire tactics and changed their entire game”
— Before the Gagarin Cup final, many experts unanimously predicted Lokomotiv’s victory, but everything turned out differently. What went wrong in the decisive series against Metallurg? How did your opponent surprise you? – First of all, they were faster than us, as if they were physically stronger. I don’t know, maybe the long break between episodes disappointed us. After the passage of Traktor, we waited for the final for about eight days. No matter what training was done, the gameplay was still lacking.
“Metallurg” surprised us because they played the same hockey as “Avtomobilist”, but they came to the final with something completely different, unlike us. We played the same hockey during the playoffs and then Metallurg changed their whole tactics and changed the whole game.
Ivan Chekhovich plays in the final of the Gagarin Cup – 2024
Photo: Vladimir Bezzubov, photo.khl.ru
— In that final, Alexander Petunin scored two winning goals in four matches. Did it turn out that your good friend turned into the evil genius of Lokomotiv? – Yes, he is a very good friend of mine. We have a good relationship, but as good friends as we were, it was very offensive back then.
“If Nikitin had led the team from the bottom of the table, he would have taken it very high”
— After leaving Lokomotiv, it will be difficult to rebuild mentally, given that Yaroslavl is fighting for the Gagarin Cup and Vityaz has the task of reaching the playoffs. — I hope to bring my contribution and my baggage, which I acquired in the final, after all, I played many matches in those playoffs; I was in the team’s locker room and saw how everything was happening. I would like to bring this to Vityaz and help the Club as much as possible so that everyone here has faith in themselves and the team. We must have faith not only in reaching the playoffs, but also that we can do much more.
— Overall, do you agree that the league is getting better every year? Before the start of last season, it was impossible to imagine that Metallurg and Lokomotiv would make the final, and even more so that it would end like this. — I definitely agree with this point of view. You are absolutely right that at the beginning of the season it was impossible to even imagine that Metallurg would become champions and we would play in the final.
The fact that Lokomotiv made it to the final is a great merit of the coach. I don’t want to offend anyone and name a specific club, but I’m sure that if Igor Valerievich were to lead a team from the bottom of the table, he would take it very high. A very strong coach. This kind of hockey is not for everyone.
