Sevastyan Sokolov: «We are focused only on winning»

28.09.2024

18-year-old Reaktor forward Sevastian Sokolov talks about his family, friendships in hockey, studies, and his team.


– Reaktor is your home. Is it right?

Of course it is. My father (note: Alexander Yuryevich Sokolov) coached Reaktor for many years, and I have been going to games since childhood, my dad often took me and my older brother Arseny with him to summer training camps. We went to Sochi, the team trained, and we just relaxed. It was very interesting. I was probably two years old when we went with the team for the first time.

Did you ever think that you could become part of the team someday?

I did not think that far ahead, but when I got older, I had this desire. You could say that my dream came true.

Last year you played with your older brother Arseniy. Was there any unspoken rivalry between you?

At first, there was some pleasant anticipation, and also additional support for me. I always wanted to play better, there was a mini-competition, additional motivation.

Does Alexander Yuryevich analyze your mistakes or analyze your games?

We discuss everything, he is a coach after all. When he comes to games, he always points out my mistakes, where I could have played better, watches me, is interested.

Is hockey always on the agenda at home or do you try to abstract yourself?

You need to be able to switch from hockey to everyday life, not to burden yourself with these thoughts all the time. But still, there is no escape from it, hockey is constantly in the air, everyone wants to discuss a lot.

This season has become your second in the MHL. You have already exceeded the statistics of last season in less than the first month. When did you feel confident in your abilities?

I felt that the coaching staff trusted me more - both during and power play, I play at decisive moments. Last year we had different players.

Did preseason tournaments help you?

At the end of last season, I felt that the older guys were leaving and it was time for me to prove myself. I need to show my game, lead the younger guys.

You are a full-fledged graduate of the Nizhnekamsk hockey school. Here you began your sports career. Which of the mentors trained your team?

My first coach was Oleg Petrovich Yashin, and I finished the Youth Sports School with Sergei Rasikhovich Kasymov. We often cross paths with both of them, the small ice arena is just a few steps away from us. For Sergei Rasikhovich, we were the first team with whom he began coaching, probably that's why we became so close.

That is why you have known many of the guys well for many years...

I've known some of them since they were very young - Vladislav Rukhlyadev, Amir Gizyatov. Since 2005, we have been in touch as guys. Amir Gizyatov and I live in the same house, just in different entrances. It so happened that we grew up together, as children we'd go for a walk after training, play football, and become close as brothers. And Igor Borodinov also lives in our yard.

After several lost games, how is the mood in the team?

We are only focused on winning. Even after not very pleasant defeats, no one loses heart. We are charged for the play-in, for the playoffs, to fight for the cup, to play in these matches, I think there will be many more interesting things.

How do you personally experience unsuccessful games?

Immediately after the end of the game, there is an unpleasant aftertaste. It seems that we could have done a little more, played better, caught ourselves, not been sent off. Then I try to forget, prepare and tune my head to the next games.

A new specialist has appeared in the coaching staff of Reaktor – Dmitry Yuryevich Fyodorov. What fresh stream did he bring with his arrival?

He is a good person first of all, and a good psychologist. He charges everyone during the installation before the match, even goosebumps run down the body, everyone is so charged. Igor Viktorovich is in charge of the main tactics and structure of the game, and Dmitry Yuryevich suggests small moments that are worth paying attention to - how to place the stick, turn better to polish the nuances of the game. And indeed, already applying these tricks in practice, you notice that your game is improving.

You graduated from school this summer. Where did you go to study?

I was accepted to two places at once - to the College of Petrochemistry and Oil Refining to become an electrician and to the correspondence department of the NHTI Institute to become a technologist. The results of the Unified State Exam were such that I did not qualify for the full-time department at the institute based on the points, and I went to two places at once. Today the team has a day off, I went to practice in mathematics in the morning, it was a bit difficult because I missed the lecture. You have to do everything, catch up.

If you still have free time, how do you spend it?

Then Amir Gizyatov, Vladislav Rukhlyadev, and I go for a walk, sit in a cafe somewhere.

Who most often cheers for you in the stands?

Mom always comes to the games if she is not at work. I always enjoy seeing her. She usually comes to the games right after work, around the middle of the match.

The team has a short break between games now, a little over a week. How do such intervals affect the game tone - do you gain strength or does your game tone fail?

There is less game practice, but the training process becomes more intense. We gain strength, prepare for the games. I enjoy playing more, I just really love playing hockey.

Do you and your team come to Neftekhimik games?

Of course, we come to watch the older guys, especially when interesting opponents come. Especially since Christophe Muissu is now in the first team. We have many guys who would like and can replace him in leadership positions. And it's good that they are pulling guys up to the adult team, everyone is fired up and wants to get there. You just need to work and go for your dream, give 100%, at training, at the game - everywhere.


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