Ilya Pastukhov: «I would become a coach»
19.06.2025
Ilya Pastukhov talks about his VHL experience, first KHL chance and vacation.
– Ilya, please, tell us about yourself as a student of Novosibirsk's hockey.– First, I joined the youth team Sibirskie Snipery, and immediately took a leading position in the first year. In the second season, they began to include me in the main team. During this period, there was a change of coach, Nikolai Nikolayevich Zavarukhin replaced Alexander Leonidovich Andrievsky. In general, I didn't manage to gain a foothold. Then I had my first experience at the VHL level, in the Yuzhny Ural team from the city of Orsk. I had a successful start, I became the best rookie. A month later, I returned to Novosibirsk, and there I made my debut in the KHL. When Andrei Alekseevich Martemyanov joined the team, I was sent on loan to the top team, to Yugra. I periodically returned to Sibir, sometimes it worked out, sometimes not so much. Thanks to Kirill Valerievich Fastovsky, who went to meet me halfway: when I wanted to leave the club, he calmly let me go.
– You terminated the contract with Sibir on your own initiative, which happens quite rarely. It turns out that you did not agree with your position and on–ice time?
– Yes, along with the arrival of a new coach, the concept of the club changed, and I again had to go to the VHL. I did not agree with this.
– Were you already expected in Vladivostok at that time?
– No, but Admiral showed interest in me. Unfortunately, when I finally got there, they did not put me to play at all. I played one match, and in the second I only came out for one shift. But this was also a good experience for me. I think I managed to work with Leonid Grigorievich Tambiyev.
– How did you end up at Neftekhimik?
– At the same time, two clubs were interested in me, Admiral and Neftekhimik, but a Far Eastern club, showed great interest, and I, as I said, initially decided to go there. Then my agent called me and said that they were waiting for me in Nizhnekamsk. And so I ended up here. Thanks to Neftekhimik and Oleg Yuryevich Leontyev for giving me a chancet.
– This season you have consistently played in the first or second five. Did you imagine that in a short time you would become one of the leading players of Neftekhimik?
– You always strive to become better, to be confident in yourself. When I arrived, Oleg Yuryevich gave me two games to prove myself. It's good that it worked out, and I am grateful to the hockey club "Neftekhimik". It is very valuable for me to be here.
– Were there any hints from "Sibir" about returning?
– For me, this is already a passed stage. Of course, home is home, but we must strive further. I believe that in terms of tasks Neftekhimik and Sibir are more or less the same teams. We need to win and prove ourselves here, and then we'll see what happens.
– Do you remember your debut game in the KHL and your first goal?
– I played my first match against Jokerit, I had 40 seconds of playing time, only one shift, it was a modest debut. But the goal was very memorable, it was a match between Sibir and SKA during the COVID season. Mikhail Berdin was in goal. It was a pleasant feeling, but, to tell the truth, after the next shift I was put on the "bench".
– Are you a two–way defenseman or do you prefer to focus only on D–zone?
– Of course, my first responsibility is defense. But I wouldn't call myself a one–way defenseman, I try to join the attack, I enjoy it. You know, I am a kind of hybrid, a universal player.
– Now the goals from the blue line are kind of a rare thing. Do you think this is due to the fact that they have expanded the area of the rink and moved blue line?
– I don't think it's related to that. Now many teams have rebuilt their style of play to defense, and it has become difficult to deliver the puck to the goal. Both I and the team need to develop. So that goals come from both the blue and red lines.
– And now the KHL players have started to block more shots?
– Yes, the current form allows it, and there are many dedicated guys who play in this league.
– You spent a significant part of your career in the VHL. Tell us how it differs from the KHL, in your opinion?
– There are many good players in the VHL who are hungry and fight for their place. But in general, the level of play is lower in terms of decision–making, tactically and technically.
– And what about organizational and everyday issues?
– If you take Yugra, then they have great conditions for players, everything is like in the KHL - these are planes, hotels and food. And if you take Yuzhny Ural, then these are buses, and in general, the conditions are worse. But on the other hand, there was a good team, and I didn’t care about the conditions, the main thing was to prove what I was capable of. The game came first.
– You are already spending your second season in Nizhnekamsk. Do you feel at home here?
– Nizhnekamsk is a great city for me, cozy, clean, compact. And there are no temptations. I spent three weeks in Novosibirsk, and I realized that I already miss Nizhnekamsk.
– Do you already have favorite places?
– Yes, I mostly go to the cinema or have a bite to eat somewhere. Last season, Nikita Khlystov and I went out more often, this season I spend more time with my girlfriend. I hang out at the base with Grisha Seleznyov.
– You spent almost your entire career under number 55. Why exactly that number?
– I played under number 9 since childhood. And when I came to the youth team, it was already taken, and I chose the most beautiful of the remaining numbers – number 55. And so I stayed with it. Once in Admiral I decided to change it to number 9, but I realized that it was a bad idea. I shouldn't have done it, it was a bad experience. When Bogdan Kiselevich came to Neftekhimik, I was ready to give up his favorite number. But he, as an older friend, did not insist.
– How did you end up in hockey?
– When I was 4, I was sent to a hockey school on purpose. My uncle played football, but he advised me to play hockey. I tried it and liked it.
– Did you immediately choose the role of a defender?
– Probably, all beginners want to play in attack, and I am no exception. I also thought about playing as a goaltender. But my dad said that I would not be able to sit out. The coach decided to put me in defense, and that's how it turned out.
– How do you feel about fights on the ice?
– I still have a short path in hockey, but I will say this: I will definitely not deliberately provoke an opponent. But if such a situation arises, I will not refuse a fight. When I first came to Neftekhimik, there was a match with Ufa, then Zorkin did not play very cleanly against Seleznev, I stood up for him.
– Do you keep in touch with any of your coaches, maybe from your school years?
– Not really, but sometimes I congratulate them on their victories on Vkontakte. I am happy to talk to my first youth coach, Yaroslav Viktorovich Lyuzenkov, when I meet him, and I also communicate with some of the guys.
– Which of your coaches do you consider to be significant, who imparted the most valuable knowledge?
– In fact, there were many such specialists. Velichko Andrey Aleksandrovich, Krivomazov Yuri Dmitrievich, I can list them all for a long time, each one imparted something valuable for me. At the adult level, I am very grateful to the defenders coach Oleg Olegovich Orekhovsky, he always stayed after training, spent his time. At that time I didn't fully understand why he paid so much attention to various nuances, but now I understand how important it is.
– If you hadn't gone into hockey, what would you have chosen?
– I can't even imagine. I also like tennis, I like to play in the summer. My sister is a tennis player.
– What would you like to do after finishing your hockey career?
– I would become a coach. Sometimes I think about how I could organize a training session. Something from different specialists I worked with is deposited in my head.
– Do you feel the support of the fans during games?
– Of course, it really encourages and motivates. The noise of the arena is priceless for the players. Even at away matches, when all the fans are cheering on our opponent, it gets you going in its own way.
– How are you planning to spend your vacation?
– First, I will spend some time with my friends. I also need to go to Altai, I have a tradition of vacationing there with the guys every year, we live in tents, disconnect from the outside world. And then I'll start preparing for the season. June – off–ice practice, July – on ice practice. A group is gathering in Novosibirsk, with us are Yegor Korshkov, Kostya Okulov and other guys...
