Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: Tampa Bay Lightning right wing and alternate captain. Regarded as one of the best players in the world, he won the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL’s most valuable player 2015-2016), Art Ross Trophy (NHL leading scorer 2018-2019) and the Ted Lindsay Award as the best player voted by fellow NHL players (2018-2019).
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 180 pounds
DOB: June 17, 1993 In: Maykop, Russia
First Hockey Memory: “My first practice. I was six. I had only my skates and helmet and I didn’t have all the equipment. And I just stepped on the ice and I didn’t fall, I just skated away. A smile on my face every time. My mother filmed like a movie of it. And then after like ten minutes I just fell on the ice, just laying on the ice and laughing, didn’t do anything. So it was kind of funny.”
Hockey Inspirations: “Heroes? Pavel Datsyuk. I think he’s the best. I watch so many highlights about him in You Tube. So I try to play like him, take some things from him. I think he’s the best, for me.”
Last Book Read: “I don’t know, I don’t read much.”
First Famous Hockey Player You Met Or Encountered: “Jaromir Jagr in Moscow. He did a special appearance for the children. He gave me the gift because I was like the best in practice.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “When I got called up to the NHL and scored first goal (on first shot in first game vs. New York Rangers in 2013). And winning Stanley Cup (2020, 2021).
Most Painful Moment: “When I had injury on my shoulder. I think that was most painful for me (When?) Before world juniors in Calgary I had the injury but they didn’t tell me I had like a problem. They said it was good, you can play. And then I just keep playing, it was still hurting. I played in world junior and I played not very good. Everyone talked after like Kucherov is not really that good in world junior. And then we had playoffs with my team. And I was hit like three times and three times my shoulder was like dislocated. And it was so hurt. That was my most painful. And then the next year I missed like three months.”
Most Memorable Goal: “First NHL goal.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “St.Louis. [Why him?] Every time he’s talking he’s making a joke to try to make everyone laugh.”
Fiercest Competitor(s) Encountered: “I think St. Louis too.”
Favorite Uniforms: “I think our’s, the blue and the white I like.”
Why Do You Love Playing Hockey: “I don’t know, I just love to score goals and play the game. And I enjoy every time I step on the ice.”
Funny Hockey Memory: “I can’t remember.”
Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: “Soccer.”
Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: “Datsyuk. Christiano Ronaldo. And Lionel Messi.”
Strangest Game: “Couple times, we beat some team like 3-0 and they just started to like hit us and slash us and fight us. And in the second period our coach just said: Let’s leave the game. (Where?) In Russia.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”
First Job: “I was a referee. For three games [smiles].”
Family: Wife, Anastasia; one son.
