Arseny Sokolov: «This year we will try to do our best»

Reaktor forward Arseny Sokolov talks about pre-season camp, last season and his JHL debut.

– Hi, Arseny! How did you spend your vacation?

– It was not a long vacation. Mostly I spent it not far from home, at a dacha in the Ilyinka village. In order to be ready for the upcoming season, it was necessary to continue the training process. I went to the gym and followed the training program.

– Recently, the team got together after an off-season break and started its pre-season camp.

– Yeap, we have a preseason camp. The team passed the medical examination.

Thanks to the club's management - for the third week we have been living on the baza of the first team. We got lucky because there are great conditions. This is an additional motivation for us.

In the morning - exercises, jogging etc. We have breakfast, after that we visit the Arena, there are two off-ice practices. Quiet time, lunch and evening workout.

At the end of the month, we will have pre-season games. We will work on our tactics and team chemistry soon.

– The roster of the team changed.

– Yeah, the elder guys left due to age, young guys joined our team. We have known most of them for a long time since the hockey school, you know, we grew up together. We are great friends, and we also spend our free time together.

– Last season was your first in the JHL. What do you think about your debut?

– I would not say that the last season was a successful one for myself and for Reaktor. The team did not make the play-in. Personally, I did not have enough experience, and the nervousness was not in my favor. Now I know what to expect. We need to score more points and goals. The morale is important; coaches and senior comrades will help us. For me, their advice is better than any psychologist is, and you understand how to play in a right way.

Any team loss is an occasion to analyze mistakes. The first negative emotions fade away and then you begin to think in order to prevent the same mistakes next time. This is how you gain experience. The victory does not motivate to analyze the course of the game and possible mistakes. This year we will try to do our best.

– You grew up in a hockey family. Your father Alexander Sokolov is head coach of HC Chelny. Do you think it helps you or not?

– It is definitely a great help. My father helps and supports me a lot.

– Who helped you to choose hockey?

– It just happened that since my childhood I visited hockey games. You know, the hockey-related theme has always surrounded me. I do not think it could be otherwise. I wanted to go to a hockey school and become a hockey player. My younger brother also plays hockey, now we train together. We are a hockey family.

– Do you have a «plan B» in case you decide to hang up the skates?

– For now, I do not see any other way. Now I am getting a technical education, I am studying mechanics at the Nizhnekamsk Institute of Chemical Technology; I have finished my second year. I would not say that this is the same «plan B». Studying is interesting.