ALEXANDER SHININ’S FIRST NORTH AMERICAN INTERVIEW
BY: EUGENE BELASHCHENKO (WWW.RUSSIANPROSPECTS.COM / WWW.HOCKEYSFUTURE.COM )
DATE: 06/03/02
Alexander Shinin is a promising offensive defenseman. He is a complete package with size, hockey sense and ability. He spent the past season playing with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the Russian Upper League. During the 2001-02 season, Alexander has been consistently invited to join the ’84 Russian National squad in international competition. There, he joined his friend and Traktor Chelyabinsk teammate, Alexander Semin. Alexander is a friendly, open guy and gets along very well with his teammates. RussianProspects and HF writer Eugene Belashchenko caught up with Alexander, while he was resting in Chelyabinsk after coming back from a team (Traktor Chelyabinsk) vacation in Turkey.
What are up to?
Nothing really –I am taking it easy.
When did the team let you go?
They let me go after the 24th [of May]. We went to Turkey together for vacation.
As a whole team?
Yeah, right now I am still in the city [Chelyabinsk - EB], and I want to go to Turkey for another week, and then, well, that’s it. – Then we are planning to go [to Toronto for the draft - EB] on the 24th [of June - EB].
First of all, can you tell me where you were born, how you started to play
hockey?
I was born in Chelyabinsk. At about seven, my father brought me to play hockey.
Did you start playing as a defenseman from the beginning?
Yes. It just happened that way. At first I was little, and did not think much about it and then I played as coach placed me.
Who had the biggest influence on you becoming a hockey player?
Coach, Alexander Stapanich Glaskov – àt first I played for our neighborhood team and then I moved on to a hockey school.
How would you describe your playing style to those who are not very familiar with you?
First of all I am a defenseman. I play defensively first, but my style is of an offensively minded defenseman. I shoot a lot on the net and join in [on the offensive – EB].
And how is your shot?
I think it’s pretty good – back when we were little, I already had the most powerful shot on the team.
In your opinion, in what characteristics of your game do you feel you need to work on the most?
Well, first of all, I need to work on my skating – skating backwards, for example.
At the beginning of this past season, while you played in the Upper League with Traktor, did you set any goals before yourself? Do you feel you achieved your set goals?
I definitely had the goal to play in every game, to play on the power play and shorthanded. And I believe that yes, I was out there. I mean, I was trusted on the power play and shorthanded and I believe that I justified their trust.
How pleased are you with your past season with Traktor?
I am 100% pleased with this past season, as it was my first season playing with men. It was kind of difficult, but it went all right.
And who did you play together with on a defensive pairing? With someone specific or various?
I constanly played with someone different – because there were injuries, or something else.
Were you replacing other guys, or did you constantly have a role on the team?
I always had a constant role on the team. This season, I did not spend a single match with the second [farm – EB] team.
In the April of this year, you went with the Russian National Team to Slovakia. How did you like it? What kind of a role did you have?
I believe I played respectably. Of course there was a slight nervousness, but I believe that overall, I played well and was dependable.
There, did you play in pairing with another one specific defenseman or a number of different ones?
There I played together with Alexei Stonkus from Lokomotiv.
And how do you think you guys played together?
I think we played well – I only allowed one goal during the Championships.
Did you get a lot of ice time? What defensive pairing did you play in?
We were on the top pairing. We stepped on to the ice with the starting line. It did vary though – sometimes we played on the second pairing, sometimes on the third, but most often were the first on the ice.
What are your plans for next year?
Next year I want to play in the Super League.
Do you have any offers?
Yes, I do have offers – from Omsk, Magnitagorsk, but I believe the most realistic one is from Mechel. Mechel Chelyabinsk because I will be closer to home.
Have you heard anything regarding the changes that are taking place in Chelaybinsk hockey – the coaches are changing…
Yes, yes, the coaches are changing. Here in the newspaper it was written that Traktor’s new coach is Makarov. So, I don’t know if I will be able to leave for Mechel, because they [Traktor – EB] most likely will not let me go.
Do you have a contract with Mechel?
No, I still have a contract with Traktor. But that contract was agreed upon while I was under 18 and it is, well, kind of unofficial.
Is it written in letter?
Yes, it is a written contract, but my parents signed it. I believe that after 18 you should sign your own contracts, and I have not yet signed anything myself, since my parents signed it.
Do you follow NHL over there?
NHL, yes of course I follow it. Sometimes we go to bars and root. We have a group here and we constantly watch matches together.
Is it a group of players or a group outside hockey?
No, it’s a group outside of hockey, but those who love hockey.
What do you think are the main differences between hockey in the NHL and in Russia?
There, first of all, the game is fast, while here it is slower. There is also more physical play over there, more hits.
And do you think you play a physical or more of a European style of hockey?
More of a European style, but when necessary I can play the body.
When do you plan on coming to Toronto?
We plan on leaving on the 17th, so on the 18th.
What are you going to do before the draft?
Well, we are going to go sightseeing around the city’s landmarks. I am going there with my mom and dad.
On the international arena, do you plan on continuing to play with the Russian U18 squad?
Of course, and I also hope to make the Russian U20 squad.
Do you know the coach of the U18 junior team well? I believe his name is Iskhakov.
I don’t know if after the World Championships [U18 – EB] the coach was relived or not.
There was a serious conflict?
Yes, there were rumors that he [Iskhakov – EB] was going to be replaced prior to the World Championships.
Could you tell us why?
I really don’t know.
[further on the coaching situation – EB]
At first there was [the coach of the ’84 squad – EB] Sevidov, then it was the Chelyabinsk coach Ilya Federovich Shumakov.
And how was he?
Well he was, how can I say it, I don’t know. We went to tournaments and finished third or fourth. Ravil Iskhakov is understanding – sets the tone before a game, directs us, explains things.
Can you share you impressions regarding the last game? Well, actually can you talk about all the games, and then why it turned out that way in the last game.
We were determined before each game. The level of effort was there, the collective molded well. In he last game we, most of all, were physically and morally tired. And the Americans were more prepared physically. Finally, we just weren’t fortunate, simply not fortunate.
You play on the team with Alexander Semin, he also plays with Traktor. Are you guys friends?
Yes, of course we are friends. When we are in Chelyabinsk we call each other often. We even rented an apartment and lived together – without the parents. We even cooked ourselves.
- Eugene Belashchenko