Grigory Morozov: «This season is a great experience»

Defenseman Grigory Morozov returned to the Reaktor from the Chaika. This season Grigory played 15 games with Reaktor and 45 games as part of the Chaika and won the Kharlamov Cup.

– Grigory, last season you spent with two teams. Was it hard for to join a new team during the season? Are there any differences in the training process between Chaika and Reaktor?

– I did not expect this trade coming. I did not believe it at first; I thought it was just a joke. When I got an official information, I realized, step by step, that I was moved to a team of a different level and with different tasks. Guys there are great, that is why I did not have any problems in joining the team. I appreciate the way guys welcomed me. Special thanks to Nikita Artamonov, he helped me a lot in my adjustment to the new team. There was no time to waste.

Of course, the training process is different for each team. I like fast-paced hockey. I like quick passing that practiced by Chaika, so there were no problems with adjusting to their style of hockey.

– You return to the Reaktor as the winner of the Kharlamov Cup. What are your goals now?

– The goal is the same – to win as much game as possible and do my best in every game. I know that for me the upcoming season is the last in the JHL and I have a special responsibility, as an oldest and most experienced player. I will try to do for our team.

You need to develop both as a player and as a person. Of course, I want to try to play at another level - in the KHL.

– You and Nikita Artamonov will bring the Kharlamov Cup to Nizhnekamsk.

– Yeah, this event will take place next Saturday, on June 24, in the lobby of the Neftekhim Arena. I would like to invite all the fans. Nikita and I will definitely bring some gifts; there will be autographs and photo session for sure!

– Did you have any feeling that this season would be a successful one?

– I was surprised that in Nizhny Novgorod everything is focused on the task. You know, the team, coaches, organization’s staff, absolutely everything focused at the championship. It was clear that the was going to take the Cup.

– What is the main experience you gained in the championship season?

– In fact, this season is a great experience. Bunch of things were new to me there. This is my experience. Starting with some household problems and ending with games and a Cup.

– Where did you live in Nizhny Novgorod?

– All players of Chaika from other cities and Torpedo Hockey School live at the base. I quickly got to know everyone. We are texting each other often now. I lived away from my parents for the first time, but everything went smoothly, there were no household problems at all.

– Have you talked with Torpedo head coach Igor Larionov? Did the Professor gave you some advice?

– It was not possible to talk personally, but Chaika was under the close attention of Igor Larionov. I went to Torpedo practice when I had the opportunity. I tried to use his advice, his philosophy of life, self-discipline.

– Nikolai Voevodin, the head coach of Chaika, played for Neftekhimik and was the captain of our team. We remember him as a great player. What about Nikolai Voevodin as a coach?

– Fair and demanding coach, he gives all his best in practice at 100%. He sets task and explains clearly. Looking at him, conscience does not allow to waste time during practice. He develops hard work in hockey players. Nikolai Voevodin is a very interesting person. By the way, he often joked about Nizhnekamsk, he loves and remembers our city, many sights and places of our city.

– Who is your hockey role model in the KHL and world hockey?

– Cale Makar - the Colorado Avalanche defenseman. I like his philosophy. In one interview, he said: «I control everything that I can control in myself, and let the rest take its course.» You know, practicing, discipline and nutrition. I try to stick to this theory and do the best I can.

I am watching the way defensemen are playing, like Roman Josi, Victor Hedman, Adam Fox and Mikhail Sergachev.

– You are probably the most smiling player in the JHL.

– Tears are not going help, so I try to treat any situation with a positive. Therefore, it is easier to think and make decisions. If something is not going the right way now, it will go the right way later. There is no point in wasting life and energy on sadness.

To paraphrase Einstein's theory, we can say that whatever energy you have the same energy you will get. In fact, from childhood I was taught to smile, both by my parents and by my coaches at the Neftekhimik Hockey School Roman Agafonov and Roman Vafin. I think I am getting better at it!

– You mentioned that your parents visited your final series in Nizhny Novgorod. How important is family support to you?

– It is always important. The family is not only mom and dad, but also grandparents, plus I have 3 younger brothers. I have a big, friendly and positive family; we support each other in everything.

– What do you do besides hockey?

– I am a chemist-technologist in my second year at NCTI. Of course, I want to continue my career as a hockey player, but there always should be a plan B. Hockey will end sooner or later, I understand that.

– Is it interesting for you to study?

– We study together with Max Ustimkin. Last year, when the hockey season ended, for a couple of months we constantly went to institute, without missing any classes. One day we went with him from class and Max says: «Listen, studying is cool!». When you constantly visit classes, learn a subject, it makes studying at the institute is very interesting.

– How important for hockey is the process of learning not hockey related skills? In your case, getting a higher education…

– Brains in any case work and horizons expand. Studying helps to focus on, develops the ability to think critically, analyze, and make decisions. For hockey, this is also quite important, to see the rink, to analyze the game and to read the game.