Dmitry Semenyonok: «In the first line you get more on–ice time, it means that the coaching staff trust you»
27.10.2024
Reaktor defenseman Dmitry Semenyonok talks about himself, his future and life in Nizhnekamsk.
– You give the impression of being a very modest and reserved person. Is that true?– Yes, and many people tell me so. I have been like this throughout my entire life.
– How can such a character be combined with rather tough hockey?
– On the ice, everything is different. There, aggression, sport anger, and emotions are displayed.
– How did you get into hockey?
– I was born in Pskov, and when I was almost 6 years old, my parents and I moved to St. Petersburg. That's where I started playing hockey, about a couple of months after the move. My dad and I watched a lot of matches on TV, and once we went to a SKA - CSKA game. I remember that I liked it so much that my dad asked: "Do you want to do this?" That's how it all started. We went to the Ice Palace, and my hockey journey began. My school years in sports can be divided into two parts - first I was on the Silver Lions team, and then I moved to the SKA Youth Sports School.
– Here are a lot of guys from St. Petersburg.
– Makar Kurbatov and I started playing in the Serebryanye Lvy, he in 2007 team and I in 2006 team. I recently reminded him of this, and he also said that my face was very familiar to him. He didn’t even remember that we started together, he was surprised. Kolya Rulikov also played in the SKA system, and he was born, like me, in Pskov. And now we are together in Reaktor. I have also known Chris and Kondrat since childhood.
– Was it difficult to decide to move to Nizhnekamsk a year ago?
– After the end of the season, I had to undergo surgery, spent the summer in rehabilitation, and I completely missed the preparation time for the new season. By the beginning of last season, my agent called me and said that they wanted to watch me in Nizhnekamsk. I was very happy, because I thought that I would be left without a team. Without even thinking, I said that we were going, I would try. My parents were worried not so much about the move, but about my health, and how I would handle the load. I was very lucky that they took me to the team. Still, having missed the preparation, I was falling behind in physical fitness. Before leaving, the most I managed was to go out on the ice 3-4 times. It was hard at first, but I got used to it, and everything became good.
– You arrived in Nizhnekamsk right before the start of the season?
– Yes, I remember, there were two training sessions and two games with Molot at once. I played as best I could.
– How are you living in Nizhnekamsk?
– At first it was completely unusual, the city is small, the distances are short, you can get where you need to go on foot. Sometimes we go somewhere to eat, play or go to the cinema - everything is like everyone else.
– Do you think that Reaktor has already formed as a team in its updated lineup?
– Over time, you can make a very good team. We have a lot of new guys, both young and older, we need to stick together. Last year, the older guys helped me and other newcomers, and now I am among those who should help the young ones. We must do everything possible to make the team like last year, and maybe even better.
– What was the most memorable moment for you in Reaktor?
– Just a good game in a match is remembered, even if it was without scoring. In the middle of last season, I was put in the first line against Loko-76, from that moment the game went differently. The first goal was also in the match against the Yaroslavl team. As far as I can remember, matches against Lokomotiv have always been special; it’s the most interesting for me to play against them, it’s been like that since school tournaments.
– Sometimes you can hear such a characteristic of Reaktor that the team plays very fun hockey. Do you agree with this?
– I agree, sometimes we play on the attack, but forget about defense, and then we have a hard time recouping from this. Or, for example, we are losing 1:4, we need to get something out of ourselves, so we had enough matches with intrigue until the last minute. Still, the main thing is the result, and we really need it.
– Next season, there may be games between the teams of the East and the West, there will be an opportunity to be at home during the season.
– To do this, we need to get into the gold division. In principle, this is our goal. Now the first thing we need to do is have a good home series, and win more. Last year, we were just one win short of the gold division in the play-in. It was very disappointing to be eliminated, the stars did not align, unfortunately. The work that I did all year did not pay off. But, as Igor Viktorovich says, everything is in the piggy bank, we continue to work.
– Is it important for you who will be your linemate in defense?
– For some, it is really important that the partner matches their playing style. But in this sense, I can quickly change my style to suit any other defender. It is not important to show all your best qualities, the main thing is to be useful in defense. You need to be able to establish contact with any partner. I think that a pair should have one attacker and one defensive defender.
– Is playing in the first line for you additional motivation or responsibility?
– In the first line you get more on–ice time, it means that the coaching staff trust you, and this is very motivating, you have no right to make a mistake, and you do your best.
– Now the team has a fairly long break between games - 9 days without matches. Is this situation more of a plus or a minus?
– Game practice is lost, but we continue to train and work. There were two intensive training days, now we are preparing closely for the games. 3-4 days are enough for me to gain strength. But it's good that this year there will be a good break during the New Year, and I will be able to go home to visit my parents.
– Do you manage to see your family and friends?
– My parents visit me, they try to come to games, and usually after the games we are given days off, so we manage to spend time together. Last year, my mother came to Nizhnekamsk, and my father to Yaroslavl, when we were away. The New Year schedule was difficult, I was not able to visit them at home, but this year everything will definitely work out.
– Have you gotten used to living on your own yet?
– Yes, we live in a dorm, a test that you just have to pass. Over time, you get used to everything.
– You will soon be 18. Will you switch to a visor?
– I will gradually get used to it during training, I am a little afraid for my face and teeth, but what can you do - this is hockey. It seems to me that the more you are afraid, the faster it will come.
– You graduated from school this summer. Where did you go to study?
– Lesgaft Sports University, in St. Petersburg. Kondrat, Chris, and many athletes I knew from SKA and Dynamo all entered together - all in the same boat.
– After finishing my time in hockey, were you already thinking about what you would do?
– This conversation took place before the Unified State Exam, my mom and dad suggested that I study in some other fields. So far, only hockey. If I went into hockey, it would be for life. If there is no hockey - then what? I thought about becoming a rehabilitation specialist, but I have to study a lot, I don't have time for that yet.
– What do your parents do?
– My mom is a PhD candidate, associate professor of the Russian language department at St. Petersburg State University, my father is a driving instructor. I got my literacy from my mom, I really love writing essays, I got the maximum score on the final essay at school.
– I agree, sometimes we play on the attack, but forget about defense, and then we have a hard time recouping from this. Or, for example, we are losing 1:4, we need to get something out of ourselves, so we had enough matches with intrigue until the last minute. Still, the main thing is the result, and we really need it.
– Next season, there may be games between the teams of the East and the West, there will be an opportunity to be at home during the season.
– To do this, we need to get into the gold division. In principle, this is our goal. Now the first thing we need to do is have a good home series, and win more. Last year, we were just one win short of the gold division in the play-in. It was very disappointing to be eliminated, the stars did not align, unfortunately. The work that I did all year did not pay off. But, as Igor Viktorovich says, everything is in the piggy bank, we continue to work.
– Is it important for you who will be your linemate in defense?
– For some, it is really important that the partner matches their playing style. But in this sense, I can quickly change my style to suit any other defender. It is not important to show all your best qualities, the main thing is to be useful in defense. You need to be able to establish contact with any partner. I think that a pair should have one attacker and one defensive defender.
– Is playing in the first line for you additional motivation or responsibility?
– In the first line you get more on–ice time, it means that the coaching staff trust you, and this is very motivating, you have no right to make a mistake, and you do your best.
– Now the team has a fairly long break between games - 9 days without matches. Is this situation more of a plus or a minus?
– Game practice is lost, but we continue to train and work. There were two intensive training days, now we are preparing closely for the games. 3-4 days are enough for me to gain strength. But it's good that this year there will be a good break during the New Year, and I will be able to go home to visit my parents.
– Do you manage to see your family and friends?
– My parents visit me, they try to come to games, and usually after the games we are given days off, so we manage to spend time together. Last year, my mother came to Nizhnekamsk, and my father to Yaroslavl, when we were away. The New Year schedule was difficult, I was not able to visit them at home, but this year everything will definitely work out.
– Have you gotten used to living on your own yet?
– Yes, we live in a dorm, a test that you just have to pass. Over time, you get used to everything.
– You will soon be 18. Will you switch to a visor?
– I will gradually get used to it during training, I am a little afraid for my face and teeth, but what can you do - this is hockey. It seems to me that the more you are afraid, the faster it will come.
– You graduated from school this summer. Where did you go to study?
– Lesgaft Sports University, in St. Petersburg. Kondrat, Chris, and many athletes I knew from SKA and Dynamo all entered together - all in the same boat.
– After finishing my time in hockey, were you already thinking about what you would do?
– This conversation took place before the Unified State Exam, my mom and dad suggested that I study in some other fields. So far, only hockey. If I went into hockey, it would be for life. If there is no hockey - then what? I thought about becoming a rehabilitation specialist, but I have to study a lot, I don't have time for that yet.
– What do your parents do?
– My mom is a PhD candidate, associate professor of the Russian language department at St. Petersburg State University, my father is a driving instructor. I got my literacy from my mom, I really love writing essays, I got the maximum score on the final essay at school.
