He shouted that he was going to finish me off. The first NHL Season of the Famous Provocateur – NHL News – Ice Hockey



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Source: Sport-Express

Dec. 19, 2001. It was that day that I made my debut in the National Hockey League. Sixteen years after I decided to become a hockey player, I'm wearing the legendary form of Detroit and I'm competing against Vancouver.

You may think that I am in seventh heaven with happiness. And yes and no. Of course, I am very excited, but I control my emotions. I understand that we should not only rejoice at the very fact of falling into the higher world. I still need to show Detroit that I can give something to the team something something new. If not, I'll be sent back to Cincinnati soon. I think a lot of hockey players make a mistake when they see the shot in the NHL as "the end of the road." Now, is it possible and easy to die? I do not share these views because I have absolutely no intention of dying. In addition, I'm not even sure to be happy for a long time with my NHL debut

The soffits are shining more and more, because the game is broadcast on television, the quality of the ice cream is better, the shape is finely decomposed. It seems that I was some sacred temple. It's a new world for me.

But I can not let this surprise stop me. We must show everything here and now. You can not have any doubt or alarm slipped into you: "Hey, Detroit fans, you've seen so many stars that you can not count, and now look at me!" For me this game is not special. Okay, I confess to the roll, I found myself thinking that I was looking around me with a big open mouth, but I did not forget my goal: you entered the NHL and now you wait here.

Voltage of the NHL debut somewhat removed from the fact that I already knew many of the partners of the previous training camps . Hull, Iserman, Chelios and Shenahan – they all remember playing a trick to a newcomer. They tease me by telling me what Scotty Bowman himself said about me: "They promised us that a guy who scored 30 goals in the kids league and who leads the team with him, did not you see him? "I just laughed back. I laugh anyway. Because I'm sitting in the locker room next to Brett Hall, whose poster was in my room.

Of course, Scotty did not give any words of farewell before the debut. But the very fact that all these future Hall of Fame members have heard of me is already a good sign. Later, I learned that Bowman was very fond of talking, continuing to talk. But it's not because he likes to hear the sound of his own voice. Scotty, who received a fractured skull when he was hit in the junior league with a stick on his head (which ended his playing career), sometimes left the impression of a man communicating with extraterrestrial intelligence. And he had only one look to understand everything about you. Perhaps the brain injury has affected these abilities, but you should not neglect the information that he has received from the main extraterrestrial base.

Detroit had a lot of options. They could exchange someone or call another pharma player. But the choice was stopped on me. After a brainstorming organized by Kenny Holland, Jimmy Devellano and Scottie Bowman (and they made all the decisions together), they bet on me. They decided that it was Sean Avery who was the element that would help Detroit.

Jimmy Dee has created a great system in the club. He knew how to select prospectuses and then followed their evolution closely. He often visited a farm club, liked to communicate with young people. Including during training camps. He invited us for lunch or dinner and asked questions about life. He was more interested in the person than in his playing skills. "What do you like to do during your free time?" Asked he. "I'm getting ready for the next match," I replied. You know, you do not always have to be forthright with your leadership.

I think it is behind Develano that the last word about the future prospects of this or that player has remained. Will it be the base? Is it worth it to raise it from the farm? Is it worth it to expect in the future? I've also learned, and highly respected Jimmy Dee for that, that he does not tolerate fools, but believes in a second chance. And the "Red Wings" have provided me with it. And more than once. Believe me.

And now, they give me the main chance in life. And you can not say that this team is in a desperate situation. At this point of the season, we lead to scored points (65), although they have fallen into a small pit. In the last ten games, "Red Wings" has won three times, tied twice and lost five times.

The team can only become a dynasty if it does not know how to react to the situation or calm down on what has been accomplished. And Scotty Bowman was not only a great thinker, but also an excellent psychologist. He knew how to feel people, read them, and then use the data obtained to their advantage. Probably, he felt that there was a threat on the team, so he called me.

One of the brightest memories of the first game that my parents, Al and Marlin, were able to visit him. For many years, they were hanging out with me across the country as I pursued my hockey dream. But we never dreamed how it would be: to hold the first game in the NHL? He understood that they were very nervous and worried. In the end, they see on their little boy's ice, that they rebadured when everyone said that he failed to reach the NHL, and they pressed when he replied that he was still reaching his goal. They never doubted me. Understand what it means to me

FIRST OPPOSITION

I spent 17 shifts and 10 minutes of play at the first encounter, which could be considered a normal result . Hell, yes, I could only make one change, and be always satisfied. I did not score, I did not even throw a single shot, but realized that I could play at that level. It's even more pleasant that Detroit defeated Vancouver (4: 1).

After the game, I met parents who were trying to keep themselves in control, even though it was clear how worried they were. They caught my mind, that I only spent the first game of, I hope, the future together. But I did not know if they would give me one more chance. Tomorrow I can be sent back to the farm, if the wizard Bowman pulls a new trick from his sleeve.

But I stayed at the bottom. And with me, the team won seven wins with one draw and one loss before we had to meet the Canucks again. I think it's in this game that I finally showed what I can give to my team who rushed to the playoffs

At the end of the first period we We have already conceded the score 0: 3, so that's a minute before the mermaid Scotty Bowman m let me out on the ice. Why does the coach send such a player on the ice at such a time? You do not need to explain to anyone. He just patted my shoulder. And I already see how the captain of "Vancouver" Trevor Linden arrives on the site.

Before the match I would not fight Linden. And why should I? Sometimes a fight may seem entertaining, but, believe me, fighting a professional athlete is another pleasure. Later in the career, I could already see in September on the schedule of matches and understand with whom I will fight in February. But not tonight. And no one planned to fight Linden

I followed him as a young man and I considered him one of the best players in Canada, although I could not think of him as my idols. Chelley considered him as shameless, but Linden was selected under the second overall number of the 1988 draft and quickly became a Vancouver favorite. He really did a lot for the city and for the club.

It was the perfect moment to hit. Probably, for the first period I managed to have all the "Canucks" players. It was this skill that I was different among the juniors, and it worked in the major leagues. I did not kill myself in the first minute of the meeting. Shouted to everyone at any practical opportunity. Of course, before the game, I conducted a special training and research. In the end, hockey and the NHL are the love of my life. I knew all the players in their lineup. For example, then for the "Canucks" was Matt Cook, with whom we crossed even on the juniors. He stayed the same piece of wood as he was in juniors. And I have not missed the opportunity to remind him of that.

"You have bloody veins running around your veins instead of blood ", – I did not kill myself. I think Cook was not just a provocateur, he was a dirty and dishonorable player. (I also have my own unwritten rules.) I remember that the killer whale advocate, Ed Giovanovsky, even told me about Kirk Moltby: "Where the hell did you get that moron?"

Most fans believe that the player goes to the ice, then he goes to war. Probably, there is truth in there. In the end, you will never miss the moment to demolish an opponent if he jumped or bowed his head. It is not uncommon for parents or even siblings to converge on the ice. But all hockey players know each other. And when they shout something one on the other on the ice, this is not necessarily a curse and an insult. During the years of my career, I have not heard how guys are willing to buy a car or a yacht, how they solicit the phone number the cute cousin of someone else. … Or, after the match, they meet at the bar a glbad of beer

However, I would not invite Linden to drink together. I put him several times and stabbed him several times. Linden, being a captain, decided to put the young man in shoes. Understand, the captain is fighting with the snotty rookie – he's just incredible of impudence and impudence. Veterans generally believe that a young player should make a goodwill gesture when he gets a shot on the face of an experienced player. Seriously. The captain sets the tone for the mood of the team. Probably, Linden felt that the Vancouver players had me enough to listen to tonight, but I was still surprised when he dropped his gloves. He took me by surprise, so in the beginning I was just trying to understand what was going on.

Yes, someone might consider Linden as being sweet, but when he grabbed my sweater and hit a few shots, Then I realized that no one was joking here. We started exchanging shots. But he missed, and I managed to grab the moment and answered right. The fight ended in the fact that Linden was on the ice, and I was dragged by line judges to the applause of the "Joe Louis Arena" grandstands. Commentators said it was exactly what Detroit needed at that time and that "Sean Avery understood that".

They were right, because my fight against Linden woke the team up. Chelios, Shenahan, Hull and Eisman – all the while agreeing to applaud in the back and urging the team to follow my example. In the end, we won in overtime – 4: 3. Yes, I did not send the puck into the net, but I have no doubt that my 6 minutes and 11 seconds of play time contributed key to the match. I could only hope that after that Scotty Bowman and Ken Holland would see in me a person who could give something to the team

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J & Spent the month at the base. But all this time, I understood that I was restrained until the wounded were restored. The unpleasant truth of professional sports is that a pharmacy player will not regret if the hockey player is damaged. After all, it promises him another chance. But I'm already collecting things and I'm going to Cincinnati when Igor Larionov and Darren McCarthy come back to the locker room. What can I do? Frankly, I would not be angry if McCarthy was missing because of an injury all season – did not wish him anything bad under any circumstances – but he would have me a place in the link with Draps and Moltby. You've put everything in place, you've even shown that you can really play with older guys, but mathematics and doctors are blocking you.

It was a blow to me. But I returned to Detroit for the last months of the 2001/2002 season. Yes, I'll remind you that the team won the Stanley Cup that year, by the way.

And I was no longer exiled to the farm. In March 2002, my stay in the group had already lasted three months, I was already used to the rhythm of a new life. They treat you like a king. Everything is ready: the form is prepared for the game or for training, you are always expected for abundant food, you fly on clbady charters and stop at the best hotels and hotels. For a simple guy from Scarborough, Ontario, remains something impressive. Whenever I wanted to pinch myself to make sure it was not a dream.

Any day you could go to the Red Wings Gym and discover, for example, the great Ted Lindsay. He liked to come to us and work with the players. Probably he was then 75 years old, but he still kept a great shape.

In other clubs, it is considered that it is not worth it to leave people in the locker room, to admit them into the team. But in Detroit, everything was different. The club knew exactly what it took to win.

Of course, Scottie Bowman and Steve Yzerman never worried that "Terrible" Ted Lindsay entered the locker room on match day. Such a question did not even arise because they knew it would not change anything. In any case, for the worse.

As a young player, I started to realize what a league is. And all the wisdom has taught me exactly in the "Detroit". But, after playing in "Red Wings" and then moving on to another club, sometimes you have to hide your knowledge deeply. You realize that useless things are sometimes cooked in these clubs, and you know yourself that the champion teams really do not care. After all, you yourself have been in such a team.

March 2, 2002. Saturday match against Pittsburgh. Thousands of fans in the stands and millions of others on the television screens. We led the score (2: 1) five minutes before the end. In such moments, it seems that every rebound of the puck is playing for the opponent. But this time, luck was on my side. The "penguins" tried to get out of the area when we covered them with pressure. And the puck went to us with Thomas Holmström.

I was in the throw-in circle. Slightly advanced and seemed to be at a disadvantage, being in a very acute angle. But since childhood, it has been said: "You will not score unless you throw" – so I did what I was taught. Surprisingly, apparently, the guard Jean-Sébastien Auben was waiting to transfer and began to move. So the puck slid into the open left corner

The first goal of the NHL. I have rolled as if I were eight years old. After all, it is from this age that I have dreamed of this event. In addition, this goal was important – it guaranteed us a comfortable margin in the account and a more relaxed end. And the main thing is that now all fans in the United States and Canada could think of themselves: "Hey, and this Sean Avery can really play in the NHL."

And, yes, we follow the opinion of the fans. And not only those who came to the stands. At the time, there was no Google, Twitter or Internet broadcasts. And we knew perfectly well that this game would be broadcast on national television. I even called my grandmother who lived in Florida and asked her to turn on the television to see how her grandson was doing what he had promised to do for the past ten years. And I imagine how happy she was when I scored that goal. She was proud of me. And achieving this has brought more happiness than even the wasted purpose itself.

The guys in the team were also happy for me. So they prepared me a special gift: we went to the Club Flight Club.

I will use the official wording and call this place a "men's club". And now I'm dancing with a precious puck that was hanging on my neck, with three girls naked on stage, when Joe Koshur approached me and told me to follow him immediately. Who will be in his right mind to talk to Joe? So I run after him and stumbles on the district attorney who personally rushed to the club to warn us of the upcoming police raid

Fortunately, we managed to fall to the hour, so our names did not appear in the newspapers the next morning. 19659004] A week later, our game was again broadcast on television. This time we came to St. Louis. Many experts claim that the Detroit 2002 model team can be considered the most talented and brilliant since the days of Edmonton -84: Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Grant Fur and Paul Coffey, coached by Glen Sater, or even the legendary Montreal "-72: Ken Dryden, Guy Leffler, Jacques Lemaire and Larry Robinson, led by Scottie Bowman. Оба этих тренера оказали большое влияние на мою карьеру.

И есть причина, почему 21-летний незадрафтованный хоккеист оказался в команде суперзвезд. Я работал усерднее других. И теперь моя задача – заставлять проверенных ветеранов не сбавлять обороты, даже если им иногда становится немного скучно по ходу длинного регулярного сезона. Добавить энергии. И именно этим я занимаюсь в начале второго периода, когда счет на табло 2: 2, а мы с Тайсоном Нэшем кружим в центральном круге

Нэш стал одним из самых ненавидимых игроков в НХЛ, потому что он хорош в своем ремесле. Выводить соперников из себя, заставлять их делать глупые вещи, а потом еще сильнее злиться на скамейке штрафников. Т у у у у у у у у у у у…………… Да, Нэш также зачастую оказывается на скамейке. Но это легче пережить, особенно учитывая, что соперник теряет гораздо более ценного игрока. Но вот в городе появился новый хулиган, и я с радостью готов заявить о себе.

Я хотел помериться силами с этим парнем. Но просто кричать на него недостаточно. И я я п п……………………… Так что я представился мистеру Нэшу – и мы сбросили перчатки.

Правой рукой я выепился в есть не не пользования, левой постарался достать Тайсона. И он не выдержал, оказавшись на льду. Когда после игры и Халл, и Челиос, и Шэнахэн, и Федоров, и Молтби, и Дрэйпер, и Гашек – все поздравляют тебя с удачным боем, ты чувствуешь, что становишься все ближе к тому, чтобы стать настоящим энхаэловцем

Я. не мог вепе первую хоккейную драку. Это точно произошло, когда я был еще ребенком. И мы выепились друг другу в маски, пока не сообразили, как стащить их. Тогда все и началось. Хоккей – быстрая и жесткая игра. То носишься по льду, сталкиваешься с соперниками, у вас в руках оружие – всякое может случиться. И иногда нужно схитрить, чтобы выйти победителем.

Говоря о драках в хоккее, мне на ум часто приходит боксер Флойд Мейвезер. Конечно, я не хочу, да и не могу сравнивать себя с ним, хотя у нас схожие антропометрические данные, но я всегда разделял его взгляды и тактику на бой. Стремился никогда не стоять на месте, чтобы не облегчать сопернику задачу. А л л щ щ щ щ щ……………………………………… Но, если тебе в переводительная придется драться, то бей первым. И не ввязывайся в драки, где твои шансы на успех стремятся к нулю.

Почему хоккеисты дерутся? С одной стороны, потому что, еще будечи ребенком, ты видел, как твои кумиры делают это на льду. Стороны, соперник иногда так больно врезается в тебя или может сказать такое, что тебе просто хочется проломить ему голову. . Адреналин тебя переполняет, и ты выпускаешь эмоции при помощи кулаков

Почему хоккей – единственный вид спорта, в котором игроков после драки не выгоняют с арены? Интересный вопрос. Я никогда не видел, чтобы фанат покидал трибуну посреди боя. Наверное, в этом и кроется ответ. Болельщикам это нравится, значит, нравится and владельцам клубов. Да даже самим игрокам это по душе. Согласен, существует множество логичных и веских аргументов против боев. Но хокке страническая получить польчить монимальное пойти на вечалования, чтобы получить монимальное преимущество. Вы видите, как игроки на скамейке используют нюхательную соль, чтобы взбодриться. А видеть то, как команда отдает на не подержение, оказывает еще большой эффект, чем любой препарат. . Драки – это как наркотик

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Скотти Боумэн как-то раз отвел меня в сторонку по ходу тренировки "Не вздумай драться, когда мы выигрываем. Ты ри .и .о .о .о .о .о .о .о .о .о .о. Я и раньше сталкивался с такими мыслями, и полностью разделяю их. Не знаю, дрался ли я, когда мы вели в счете? Будучи провокатором, в таких ситуациях я получал еще большее преимущество. Потому что соперник хотел оторвать мне голову, но я отказывался от драки, а потом мог добавить еще пару слов или ткнуть его клюшкой, после чего он срывался и зарабатывал удаление

Драка. – это умение чувствовать. Чувствовать физическую и психологическую готовность. Чувствовать момент, когда и с кем можно драться. В теории, котробнее проиграть бой, если сражаешься с более мощным оппонентом. Но эта теория не очень помогает, когда тебя используют в качестве груши для битья. Тебе не буду аплодировать трибуны, который больше тебя. Так что я всегда выбирал тех, с кем мог бесплатно.

Я даже знал парней, которые любили ощущать сильный удар по лицу. Но я не из таких. Колтон Орр рассказывал, чтобы любил пропускать первый удар, потому что после этого он входил в раж. Но я могу сказать, что получить удар от настоящего тяжеловеса – это все равно сомнительное удовольствие. Кажется, что тебя ударили бейсбольной битой. И никакой приток адреналина не заглушит эти болевые ощущения.

И окончание драки на льду – это тольво лишь начало для бойца. Через час после завершения матча ты начинаешь ощущать реальный последствия боя. Твоя челюсть вспоминает тот правый хук, который ты пропустил. Ноги и руки сводит от усталости. Посреди ночи ты просыпаешься, чтобы сходить в туалет, and твоя подушка в крови. Т с с с с……………………………………………………………………. Ты д о о о о о о о о о о??????????????????????????????????????????????? Но все равно даешь положительный ответ.

В 80 процентах случаев ты не испытываешь негативных чувств к человеку, который стоит в стойке напротив тебя. Я даже старался настроить себя против соперника перед боем, чтобы разозлить себя. Но нужно сохранять хрупкий баланс. Когда я дрался с настоящей злостью, то зачастую все для меня заканчивалось печально. Я должен контролировать свои эмоции, не бросаться вперед, придерживаться плана.

Иногда тебе приходится драться даже с друзьями. Как-то я бился с Робом Димайо, хотя мы часто тренировались вместе с межсезонье. Он был крепким парнем, так что мы быстро согласились на ничью. Мы до сих пор с улыбкой вспоминаем тот случай.

У меня была простая стратегия на бой: выжидать, избегать ударов, измотать соперника и подловить момент для удачной контратаки. БУМ! И снова уходить в защиту. БУМ! И повязать его в клинче.

Если ты продержался хотя бы 20 секунд, пусть на льду это кажется целой вечностью, то соперник начинает уставать. Тогда можно навалиться на него и постараться опрокинуть на лед, что позволит тебе не только победить, но и сохранить хоть какие-то силы до конца матча. Я просто ухохатывался, когда видел, когда двое парней стоят друг напротив друг друга и обмениваются сокрушающими ударами. Такая пустая трата здоровья.

Я верю, что драки могут приносить пользу команде. И я всегда выкладывался на все сто на льду. Но одной вещи я всегда старался избегать — столкновения с Бобом Пробертом. Против него у меня не было никаких шансов. Огромный монстр, самый устрашающий тяжеловес в лиге, невероятно одаренный физически человек. А я — мелкий пацан, которого мало кто представлял в лиге. Да, моя задача — заставить соперника получить удаление, его — заработать штраф. Но для таких людей время на скамейке штрафников — удачная инвестиция.

Любой соперник начинал сомневаться в своих силах, когда видел, как Проберт только что уничтожил их тафгая. Эти данные вы не увидите в статистических выкладках, потому что это невозможно измерить. Никто никогда не скажет: «Не приближайся к их вратарю, потому что у них есть Проберт». Но если ты все же летишь на ворота, то у тебя появляется лишняя веская причина притормозить или свернуть пораньше. И пусть никто из хоккеистов официально не признается, что боялся Боба, но я гарантирую, то они старались смягчить силовой прием против него.

Конечно, именно поэтому я и влетел в него что было сил в конце второго периода матча против «Чикаго» в декабре 2001 года. После этого началась куча мала. Я оказался на вершине горы из тел и смог стукнуть крагой Проберта по затылку.

Естественно, понимал, что он будет взбешен. Ты не смеешь бить другого хоккеиста, если не готов ответить за свои действия. Но молодой и наглый пацан иногда может откусить больше, чем может проглотить. И против Проберта этот поступок оказался, мягко говоря, опрометчивым. Нас разделяла достаточное количество тел, чтобы он не смог дотянуться до меня, что взбесило его еще больше. Он стал орать на Скотти Боумэна, чтобы тот больше не смел выпускать меня на лед. Иначе он прикончит меня. И любой, кто слышал его рев, поверил бы его словам. Во всяком случае, я поверил точно.

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