#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The Gagarin Cup-2012’s winner, forward Mikhail Anisin spoke about how he ended up in the Far North and signed a contract with Norilsk. An interview with the famous striker was published by Match TV.
– The newly created hockey club Norilsk has signed a full-fledged contract with you. Is a trip to Taimyr a big adventure?
– First, I am very glad that I am in Norilsk. I am very grateful to the Nornickel and the hockey team’s headquarters for believing in me. We have a great team. By the way, this is not the first time I have been in a club that has just been created. I used to play in Sochi and Tashkent Humo.
– Have you just arrived in Norilsk?
– I’m here for three days, because the team was preparing for the season in other places – for example, at the base near Nizhny Novgorod. Currently, I live in a hotel. Many everyday issues have to be solved by the team that is created from scratch. But the uniform, equipment, clothes – what I see is not worse than in the KHL clubs.
– Aren’t you afraid of forty-degree frosts?
– It’s plus 12 so far, cloudy with clearings. I have not experienced the severe frosts yet. I know it’s cold in here. But I take it easy. Hockey players live between the arena and home, we are outside only when we get into the car. Training, rest, sleep, game. I think that I will not have much time to walk around the winter Norilsk.
Well, as for minus 40… People manage to live here. I look at the city and think that the Norilsk people who work here at the enterprises are heroes. I was very impressed when I was going from the airport and saw the scope of the industry. Behind this is the hardest work for the good of our Motherland, so I bow my head to the workers. My job is to go to the ice and please them with good hockey when they come to our game after a hard shift in a mine or a quarry.
– You also have Mikhail Varnakov in the team, with whom Norilsk also signed a full-fledged contract.
– This is very cool. I’ve already said, I have not seen such a team for a long time. Although I played with many clubs! But here the guys are special, some kind of family atmosphere. All are friendly and cooperative.
– You sing wonderfully. Are you going to give a concert for local fans?
– No problem! If the Norilsk authorities approve this and the people want it, I’ll do it with pleasure. We are playing for the audience, people need not only goals, score, but also shows.
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Text: Match TV, Photo: Denis Kozhevnikov
