The forward of Kyiv Capitals spoke about his first experience in the Optibet Hockey League, the specifics of playing in a new position, and shared his impressions of participating in the Elite Ice Challenge.
Sam, how would you sum up the past stretch for Kyiv Capitals?
The past stretch has been extremely positive for us as a team. Obviously, on the surface, we have been winning games, but I think that’s a result of the team coming together. I think there was a time earlier in the season when we were all still finding chemistry and finding consistency with line combinations, as well as adapting to new systems. I think on a team with as much talent up and down the roster as ours, it takes time for guys to get used to new roles and positions – now you can finally see everyone playing with full confidence to the best of their abilities. Additionally, we have a great locker room culture, and everyone genuinely shares in each other’s success.
Was the transition from the Ukrainian championship to the Optibet League difficult for you?
I would say the transition wasn’t the easiest for me personally. This season I’m playing center, which I haven’t played in a couple of years, so that took some time getting used to. I would say the Optibet league is a higher level than the Ukrainian championship, and there are more competitive teams overall. The style of play is also different – all the rinks here have small neutral zones, meaning the game will feature fast transitions, similar to North American hockey. As soon as you get the puck, you’re pretty much on offense, and as soon as you lose the puck, you must start defending. In general, the hockey here is fast and hard-hitting, and the Latvian players are all at a good level, as Latvia is always a strong hockey nation.
How do these two championships differ?
As I mentioned earlier, the style in the Optibet league is fast and physical hockey, characterized by quick transitions up and down the ice. In Ukraine, I observed a style that was slightly similar to the older hockey style, characterized by numerous side-to-side plays on the ice rather than north-south, as well as a more neutral zone-oriented game. This meant slower, controlled breakouts and teams implementing neutral zone traps more frequently. In short, Optibet League is faster and more physical, and Ukraine is a bit slower but more controlled.
Before the game against Liepaja, you had a streak of 14 consecutive matches in which you recorded points. Were you keeping track of that statistic?
I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t keeping track, but I didn’t pay too much attention until I was 7 or 8 games into that streak. I had a 13-game streak earlier in my career, so I really wanted to beat that streak as a small personal goal. For me, I’m happy with my game as long as I’m doing my job on the ice and playing the right way to help the team win – that is what I’m really focused on. Earning points is simply a byproduct of playing well and creating opportunities to help yourself and your teammates score.
Last season, you scored more goals than you had assists, but now your assist numbers are much higher. What’s behind this change?
I think that’s a product of adapting to new roles on this team. The biggest change for me this season is moving from playing wing to center. As a center, you have more defensive responsibilities, but you also tend to get the puck more than as a winger, so there are more opportunities for you to make passes and set up your teammates to score. As a winger, you have fewer defensive responsibilities, so you can concentrate all your energy on shooting and scoring – especially when you play with a good center like Serhii Chernenko.
The team is currently on an eight-game winning streak, which has allowed it to return to first place. Are such strong results the outcome of balanced forward lines?
Yes, I believe our team has one of, if not the deepest, rosters in the Optibet league. Any one of our lines can get hot and score a couple of goals on any given night. We have a lot of good players, but everyone here is used to being the top guy on their previous teams, and I think we are now understanding that if we all do a little bit «less», then we will accomplish «more» as a team. Additionally, we have excellent and experienced defensemen, as well as, in my opinion, the best goalie group in the Optibet league.
The team and coaching staff selected you as the best player of November. Is it nice to win in two categories at once?
It’s an honour, but I have to say it’s a collective effort from our whole team as a group. It goes to show what my coaches and teammates think about me, and I really appreciate the support from everyone on the team. Nobody in hockey can find great success on their own. And in November, I think there could have been five different MVPs.
Which opponent’s game stood out to you the most?
The top few teams have their own unique style and are all challenging to play against. For example, Mogo/RSU plays a physical and rugged style of hockey that wears down the opposition throughout the game. Zemgale/LBTU plays a complete, system-oriented style with active defensemen, and Liepaja has a team full of young, fast, and skilled players.
Last Saturday, you took part in a charity match, the Elite Ice Challenge. Could you please tell us more about the event and share your impressions?
I think the charity match was a success on and off the ice. Many people came to watch the game and support Ukraine, which is heartening to see. They were able to raise a pretty good amount of money through this event. I can tell that the organizers put a lot of effort into it, as there was a pregame laser show, a fog machine for our walkout on the ice, live singers for the national anthems, and numerous cameras and media personnel involved. The game itself was a lot of fun for our team, especially for me, as I had the chance to play against a few of my former teammates who are now retired.
