[CSKA1974]

I would like to offer you the final installment of the Bryz's interview to "Sovetskiy Sport". As usual, I will keep translation as close to the original style as possible. However, I need to say Bryzgalov’s choice of words is as vibrant as he is, so some of the flavor will be lost in translation. Also, the reporter's language was tough to follow some times...


Iliya Bryzgalov: “Like wine, I am getting better with age…”

“Sovetskiy Sport” is publishing the second part the Iliya Bryzgalov interview.

“We have to be people, not piglets”

Q: Iliya, you said that goalies live in the dog eats dog world. We are afraid for Sergey Bobrovsky.

A: I have never had a problem with communications with my partners. Only warm and best relationships. He is my partner, a helper. We must help each other. Yes, there is a healthy competition, but we have to be people, not piglets.

Q: Are you ready to help him with advice?

A: If he finds it necessary to ask. However, it seems that Sergey is very self reliant with his skills.

Q: Is it good to have other Russians on the team?

A: Of course! There is someone to joke with, to talk about fishing, to discuss what perfect bait is.

Q: I saw a huge lobster for dinner on your twitter. Did you catch it?

A: I have quit twitter, by the way.

Q: Why?

A: The season has started, there is no time. And it became very boring, so I lost interest for now.

Q: How will you communicate with fans then?

A: Via press.

“I would've fought Avery"

Q: Do you follow the news? Have you heard that “Vityaz” tough guy Yablonskiy beat up goalkeeper Gelashvili?

A: Yes, I’ve heard, but did not see.

Q: Is it possible in the NHL. What if Avery had started fighting you(the interview was taken before Avery’s demotion. CSKA)

A: I would have fought him. There are plenty of idiots everywhere. However, the team mates would not let something like that happen in the NHL.

Q: Have you ever had a fight?

A: Yeah. When I played in “Lada-2” entire teams fought. I also fought in AHL. With Avery, by the way.

Q: Philadelphia’s Ron Hextall was famous for fighting and also scoring.

A: I can only score on myself.

Q: Have you tried to score in an opposite goal?

A: My puck would have gone to a blue line only. Like a T-Rex, I have weak arms.

Q: Did the team discuss “banana incident”?

A: Like I said, there are plenty of idiot everywhere. Of course, the fan should not have done it, but who knows what was inside his head.

Q: Have you seen something like that before?

A: Well, there are plenty of bananas thrown to black cocker players in Russia. I have not seen in it in North America. Also, we did not discuss this topic in the locker room. Wayne is very good and smart fellow. He reacts adequately to the things like that.

“I tremble like a hare”(Russian idiom for being very scared. CSKA)

Q: Do you like to watch “Formula- 1”?

A: Yes. Pre- season is like that- warm-up laps.

Q: The “Flyers” are like Ferrari then, aren’t they?

A: Yes, we have a good car and many drivers.

Q: Can a goalie drive?

A: I don’t know.

Q: What’s your trump card?

A: Ace of diamonds.

Q: But, seriously.

A: I can’t judge myself. People have better view of me. What am I confident in entering the ice? Nothing. I tremble like a hare in front of a wolf.

Q: I understand that you will keep your secret. That’s correct. If your opponents read that, they will start scoring into your weakness.

A: Do you really think they do not know? They all professionals here, they have studied everyone.

Q: You are a veteran. You turned 31. Is it possible to change your style at that age?

A: We are working on the technical aspects with the goalie coach. But no one will change my manner- too late. But I try to keep up with the progress, because it does not stand still.

Q: You are not getting any younger…

A: I am getting better with age, like wine. However, I have not had a drink in 14 years.

Q: Well, will compare you to food then.

A: Just imagine that you are getting a 14 year old chicken for dinner. Not something you would want, don’t you agree?

“I like bright colors”


Q: Does your family miss you when you are away?

A: Of course! We talk over the phone and Skype each other all the time.

Q: How did your children take relocation here?

A: No problem. They are very outgoing children.

Q: Do they like hockey?

A: Very much. They come to the games on weekends, not on a school days, though.

Q: What do they say after the games?

A: They always support my team. They have switched to the “Flyers” already.

Q: Do you like orange color?

A: I like bright colors.

Q: You will be impressed in play offs when all the fans will wear orange shirts.

A: Really? The whole arena is like a big orange fruit?

Q: More like a pumpkin.

“They have to replace a system not the planes”

Q: Did you feel like the end of the world after the “Lokomotiv’s” tragedy?

A: I could not believe for a few days. Then the reality settled in that all of the players, coaches and support staff have died. It’s very sore.

Q: Did you have friends there?

A: I knew quite a few. For example, I played with Saley in Anaheim, was in the junior team with Balandin.

Q: There will be a moment of silence before the first game in Philadelphia. Also, they will sell wrist bracelets to fundraise for the families.

A: It’s a big tragedy. Some of the guys played in the NHL, but it really does not matter where are we from. We are all made from the same dough. And when something like that happens to the human beings it is very sad. In my opinion, there are more plane crashes than automobile accidents.

Q: Are you afraid of flying now?

A: I have not flown yet. What can you do? Everything is in God’s hands.

Q: It is promised that they will switch to better planes in Russia.

A: Do you really believe in that?

Q: Do you?

A: They may buy newer planes, better models. But there is no accountability in the whole process. The problem is not the age of the plane, but it’s maintanence- how they take care of it, how they fix it. Is it inspected, are the pilots qualified? Are pilots sober? They have to fix the whole system. The plane that “Coyotes” are flying is 27 years old, but it has always had good maintenance. All the old parts are replaced on time.

It appears that Yak- 42 has not been in production for 8 years and there is no technical support for this model. A mechanic somehow fixes, and everyone hopes that a plane will somehow land.

Q: Have you had scary flying moments?

A: Too many.

“Escape to Sochi? How?”


Q: Let’s get back to hockey. Will you obey if the NHL will decide to ban players participation in the Olympic Games? Or will you run away, like Kovalchuk and Ovechkin had promised?

A: Run away were?

Q: To Sochi. To play for your country.

A: We will see.

Q: OK, let me change the question. Should the NHL let players play for their countries in the Olympic games?

A: I think so. But I do not know what I will do. I will decide then. On the other hand, how will I escape? I have the obligation here, I have a contract. I studied the document and signed it. I can’t say later: “You know what folks, I have Olympics to play.” It’s not professional, not business like. I have accepted a contract, I receive monies on time and without problems. And then I behave like a pig? The business is not run like that.

Q: You have an opportunity to address all Russian fans right now. What would you like to say?

A: Please do not be angry at me!. I might have been wrong sometimes, but we all make mistakes.