Danil Yurtaikin and Matvey Nadvorny guest on DFM Radio

This season, Neftekhimik hockey players have become frequent guests on DFM Radio's "Guest Studio" program. For an hour live, the players share stories from their lives, answer questions from listeners, and invite them to upcoming games. We've decided to publish excerpts from radio interviews featuring our players. Matvey Nadvorny and Danil Yurtaikin recently appeared on the radio program.

– Matvey, you scored your first KHL goal in the game against Dynamo Minsk on September 11th. How would you describe your first emotions? What were you thinking?
– Scoring a goal always brings positive emotions, joy. But I think it was only on the bench and later after the game that I realized I wouldd scored my first KHL goal. I didn't have time for that during the game.

– Is there some kind of bonus at the club for scoring your first goal?
– The coaching staff gave me a personal gift, but I won't say what it was. Let's keep this to ourselves. And in any league—the MHL, KHL, VHL, and NHL—they sign the first puck. Gera Tochilkin signed it for me, and he passed it. That souvenir will last a lifetime.

–  In an interview after the game against Dynamo Moscow, you mentioned that your father was in the stands. How does having your family there affect you? Does it motivate you, or does it make you feel uneasy, and you feel a sense of responsibility, which only makes things worse?
– No, neither. It's always nice to have your parents at the game. Especially now, when I play in arenas with 10,000 or 12,000 seats. When I played in the MHL for Dynamo, my parents always came to the games, and now it's doubly nice to see them, especially my father, who brought me to hockey. I think he's proud of me.

– Danil, in the game against Avtomobilist, I could have easily scored the puck into an empty net myself, but I passed it to Andrei Belozerov. Even national bloggers praised this noble act. Why did you do that?
– I was just running and saw my teammate skating behind me. So we could each score a point, I just passed it to him. There were no questions asked; I had no doubt I'd pass it.

– You were born in Belovo, Kemerovo Oblast. How did you end up in Yaroslavl, where you went through your hockey training?
– When I was 10, my father got a call from Yaroslavl inviting him to a tryout. I came, stayed, grew up in Yaroslavl, and went through my hockey training there.

– Matvey, what do you think of Saratov and the VHL?
– I recommend visiting Saratov; it's a big, beautiful city. The VHL is an interesting experience, an opportunity to mature and move on." After the youth team, you come and play with the guys, get used to the speed, and that's the only benefit.

– Why do hockey players play soccer before a game?
–  Matvey: It's a tradition, every team has one. To unwind a bit, to concentrate a bit, we play "skin," that's what they call it.

– Is it true that the puck used to be square?
– Danil: - This is the first I've heard of that, I don't think that was the case.

–  Matvey, what have you read recently?
–  I'm currently reading Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov," and I'm going with the Russian classic.

– Why do goalies only fight with other goalies during fights?
– Danil: - Goalies are untouchable on the ice. If someone goes after the goalie, the whole line will attack that person. That's why goalies only fight with other goalies. That's the custom. And it's unfair to fight a skater with less protection.

– Why do you always have your mouthguard sticking out in photos?
Matvey: - I already lost it in Magnitogorsk, I'm waiting for a new one while I'm playing without it. It's actually comfortable for me, like chewing gum; it calms me down a bit. I always wear it in my zone; a puck might hit me, and it could be uncomfortable. My mom is a dentist, and she makes me play with it.

– Matvey, how would you rate your start to the current season? Are there any areas you're happy with, and what still needs to be improved?
–  It's not for me to judge; it's the coaches and experts. There's always something to work on, especially now that I'm playing in a league with such greats as Dania Yurtaikin. There's always something to observe and improve.

– Danil, you played for CSKA, Traktor, and Lada. Where did you feel most comfortable?
– You draw something positive from every team. I felt comfortable with all of them, and I'm grateful to them all.

– Tell us about the tradition of a player making his KHL debut being the first one out for pre-game warmups, doing a rookie lap. Where did that tradition come from?
Danil: - It's been that way for a long time, and it continues to this day.

– Matvey: I just recently had that rookie lap. The most important thing is not to fall or step on the puck.

–  What's behind the choice of jersey numbers?
– Danil: - When I was playing in high school in Yaroslavl, I was transferred to the MHL, and they gave out random numbers. I liked #50, and I still like it.

– Matvey: - I'm pretty standard. I was born on the 17th, so I took #17.

– Do you get a lot of attention from fans outside the ice rink? Do you have a favorite story about someone giving you gifts?
– Danil: - One of the fans painted a picture, I'll highlight him.
– Matvey: - In Saratov, fans gave me a lot of gifts; I keep them at home. It always touches me.

– How do you like Nizhnekamsk and Tatar cuisine?
– Matvey: - Echpochmak. And in general, I really like the local cuisine. The city is also very clean and tidy, with everything you need.

– Will you be able to beat Mozyakin's record?
– Danil: - It's a bit late.

– Do you like female hockey players?
– Matvey: - Why not?

–  If it weren't for hockey, what would you do?
– Matvey: - I'd go to school, and then see how things go. I haven't thought about it. Danil: - When you dedicate your whole life to hockey, you don't think about anything else.

– Have you met Alexander Ovechkin? What do you think of his record?
– Matvey: - It's a world-class achievement; he broke Gretzky's record, a fellow countryman of ours. I trained with him when I played for Dynamo in the youth team. He trained with us in the summer. It was a wow moment to be on the ice with such a player. I was standing last in a drill, and he came up to me and asked how to do it. I told him I didn't know.

– How do you celebrate a victory?
– Danil: - In the locker room, the best player gets a helmet, we turn on some music, and everyone's in a good mood.

– There are a lot of jokes on Saratov public groups about Matvey scoring.
Matvey: - There are a lot of hockey fans and enthusiasts in Saratov. It's stuck with me, it's nice to be watched. Say hi to everyone.

– Is everyone's jersey the same size?
– Matvey: - The goalie's is bigger.