Ilya Slepkov: «At first I wanted to be a forward»
28.12.2024
Reaktor defenseman Ilya Slepkov talks about this season, hockey life and his education.
– More than half of the regular season games are behind us. How would you rate the start of the season for the team?– The start is not the best. We had a good preseason, so we thought that the start of the season would be about the same. Somewhere too early we believed in ourselves, relaxed a bit. As a result, our opponents punished us with a crushing score in the first two matches. After these games, we realized that not everything was as simple as we thought. Therefore, we did not focus too much on these matches, but on the contrary, we pulled ourselves together, prepared well and played two good matches against Tolpar.
– What about this season personally for you?
– For me personally, I do not rate the start of the season very well. I think the injury played a role - I did not have any game practice from November to August. It was hard to get into the game mode, so I felt unsure of my actions during collisions and sudden movements. I was afraid that my shoulder would hurt again.
– Last season was interrupted for you at one point due to an injury. Do you remember that moment?
– Yes, I remember that moment clearly. I come to the bench, take off my chest protector, look at my shoulder, and there is a bone sticking out. We immediately went to the hospital, where they took pictures. The doctors said that I had a torn ligament and a dislocated clavicle joint, and that I would need surgery. It was a shock for my family. And it was hard for me to realize that I would most likely miss the end of the season. There were even thoughts that I would have to quit hockey. I want to say a huge thank you to my family, who supported me throughout the entire recovery period. And also to the guys from the team who wrote, called, asked how I was doing. Thanks to them, I began to think positively, that I would recover and start training again.
– When you realized that you would have to miss the end of the season, how did you take the news?
– After such an injury, unfortunately, you need time to recover. I thought that everything would go faster. But it turned out that my first operation was on November 27, and on January 8, I needed a second operation. Therefore, the recovery process was delayed. After the second operation, I had a good two-week rehabilitation in Innopolis. At that time, the hockey season was coming to an end, and I was unable to return to the ice. I understood that I had missed the season, but I did not give up, I went to training in the gym, on the ice at the Youth Sports School. It was hard mentally during that period, I don’t even want to remember.
– You are the successor of a hockey dynasty - your brother Daniil is a former player, and now he trains children at the Neftekhimik hoceky school. Was it he who brought you into hockey?
– No, my dad brought you into hockey. My older brother was already a hockey player, there is a 6-year difference between us. As my parents say, I have never been interested in toys other than a hockey stick and a puck since I was a child. My dad had no other choice.
– Do you and your brother discuss your games?
– Yes, my brother and I often call each other after games, he is like a coach, he gives me some advice on where and how I could play better. I, in turn, try to go to his team's games at the Youth Sports School, and we can discuss his games. In general, we share our experiences with each other.
– You said that you skated with a stick from an early age. Do you remember how you learned to skate, with whom and where it was?
– I was almost five years old when my dad brought me to the Neftekhimik Youth Sports School. My coach was Yuri Aleksandrovich Ivanov, it was the 2004 class, the guys were all a year older than me. That was the first time I went out on the ice. A year later, I started training with my peers, the guys of 2005. By that time, I could already skate more or less. Our coach was Andrei Pavlovich Mukhin. I remember that Igor Borodin and I were in the same kindergarten group, our parents would pick us up from kindergarten for training, and then bring us back. We usually returned during nap time, ate a cold lunch and also went to bed.
– Did you want to play as a defenseman or did it happen by chance?
– I was almost five years old when my dad brought me to the Neftekhimik Youth Sports School. My coach was Yuri Aleksandrovich Ivanov, it was the 2004 class, the guys were all a year older than me. That was the first time I went out on the ice. A year later, I started training with my peers, the guys of 2005. By that time, I could already skate more or less. Our coach was Andrei Pavlovich Mukhin. I remember that Igor Borodin and I were in the same kindergarten group, our parents would pick us up from kindergarten for training, and then bring us back. We usually returned during nap time, ate a cold lunch and also went to bed.
– Did you want to play as a defenseman or did it happen by chance?
– At first I wanted to be a forward, I liked to dribble and score goals, but coach Andrei Pavlovich put me in defense. Now I think it was the right decision. Dad always said that there are a lot of forwards, but a good defender is in short supply.
– Do you have any favorite defender players and what do you think are the most valuable qualities for a player in this position?
– Yes, I have favorite defenders. I like many, but I want to highlight Rasmus Dahlin, a player for Buffalo. In my opinion, he is an excellent defender - he has an excellent understanding of the game, a good start to the attack, he can connect at any moment, he has good skating along the blue line - in general, all the qualities that a defender needs. For me, he is a good example.
– Your coach at the Neftekhimik Hockey School when you graduated was Viktor Fyodorovich Lyalin, and your teammates at school were Amir Nugmanov and Nikita Artamonov. How do you think Viktor Fyodorovich manages to develop star players?
– Viktor Fedorovich has many years of coaching experience, a huge experience, he has been in hockey all his life. He has something to pass on to his students.
– What memories do you have of the school and the team with which you all grew up as athletes?
– Of course, the memories are pleasant. There were many funny moments, at training camps, at tournaments. I miss all the guys from the team, I keep in touch with many of them, and with some of them we still play on the same team, but now in the MHL.
– Do you have any favorite defender players and what do you think are the most valuable qualities for a player in this position?
– Yes, I have favorite defenders. I like many, but I want to highlight Rasmus Dahlin, a player for Buffalo. In my opinion, he is an excellent defender - he has an excellent understanding of the game, a good start to the attack, he can connect at any moment, he has good skating along the blue line - in general, all the qualities that a defender needs. For me, he is a good example.
– Your coach at the Neftekhimik Hockey School when you graduated was Viktor Fyodorovich Lyalin, and your teammates at school were Amir Nugmanov and Nikita Artamonov. How do you think Viktor Fyodorovich manages to develop star players?
– Viktor Fedorovich has many years of coaching experience, a huge experience, he has been in hockey all his life. He has something to pass on to his students.
– What memories do you have of the school and the team with which you all grew up as athletes?
– Of course, the memories are pleasant. There were many funny moments, at training camps, at tournaments. I miss all the guys from the team, I keep in touch with many of them, and with some of them we still play on the same team, but now in the MHL.
– Who most often supports you in the stands during home matches?
– Of course, my family, at almost every home match - my mom, dad and brother. Since this season, my aunt has joined them. I'm glad that they come to cheer for me, their support is very noticeable.
– How do you spend your free time, and do you have any at all?
– There is little free time, but when I have it, I go for a walk with the guys, and I also like to play computer games.
– Where are you studying now?
– I study at the Nizhnekamsk Pedagogical College, in the profession of "physical education teacher". Igor Borodinov studies with me, we are in the same year. We chose this direction, because they are understanding about athletes there, after all, we often cannot attend classes. There is practically no time for studying, but we try to do the assignments that are sent to us in the evening. Thanks to Oksana Sergeevna, our curator, she helps us in difficult situations.
– Of course, my family, at almost every home match - my mom, dad and brother. Since this season, my aunt has joined them. I'm glad that they come to cheer for me, their support is very noticeable.
– How do you spend your free time, and do you have any at all?
– There is little free time, but when I have it, I go for a walk with the guys, and I also like to play computer games.
– Where are you studying now?
– I study at the Nizhnekamsk Pedagogical College, in the profession of "physical education teacher". Igor Borodinov studies with me, we are in the same year. We chose this direction, because they are understanding about athletes there, after all, we often cannot attend classes. There is practically no time for studying, but we try to do the assignments that are sent to us in the evening. Thanks to Oksana Sergeevna, our curator, she helps us in difficult situations.