Vsevolod Favrichnikov: «When we made a come back from 1–4 in 15 minutes, I was the happiest man on earth at that moment»
29.03.2025
Vsevolod Favrichnikov talks about his impressions after the end of the season, his thoughts on the importance of learning from each game and working on psychological stability.
– I am still digesting the last match in Ufa. I watched the game from the bench, wanted to go out and help the team. It is a shame it did not work out. I was sitting there, already thinking about the play–in. There were a few seconds left, then we conceded by 0.7 seconds. At first I was upset, but not completely, because there was still overtime, shootouts. I hoped that the team would still win. When we lost, I was very upset for the guys, who were in their last season. We went home sad.
The next day we immediately went with the Neftekhimik–2007 team to Almetyevsk for the Volga Federal District semi–final. We won the first game, but it was very tough. For the next game, there was no strength, no emotions, nothing.
– But still, this was your first season in the JHL, it is not always possible to immediately declare yourself. If we rewind to the beginning of the season, did the expectations and reality coincide? In general, how did you enter the new league?
– It was tough to enter. Completely different levels, speed of decision–making. This is a huge difference between what it was in the children's school and in the JHL. Expectations versus reality? Well, I expected 100% that we would make it to the playoffs. Getting into the play–in was not even discussed. I thought we would 100% get through the first round.
– If we abstract from the team's result, and evaluate only your progress? At what point did you feel like you were in your element?
– My game only started to pick up in February, towards the end of the regular season. I even remember that game, on February 20th, away. We were losing 4–1, and managed to come back with a score of 4–5. In that game, I was out for two periods, then Igor Viktorovich put me on in the third period. At that moment, I felt that very sporty anger, the game went without any shaking, I went out cold-bloodedly, showed my game, which I should show. Then the coaches praised me in the locker room. I thought, I need to cling to this game. I felt that I had started to develop.
– At the same time, you had a good senior season at the Neftekhimik Hockey School level…
– I was one of the best scorers in the senior season among defensemen, in the top three in this indicator at the Volga District level. Indeed, in terms of points, it was the best season of all time. I immediately got it into my head not to put on the crown.
– What do you think is required of a young player to be at the JHL level? Is it purely a psychological moment or does physics play a bigger role, or some other key skills?
– For me, the mental side of the issue plays the biggest role. And the coaches say that I am physically prepared, I just need to get my head in order, and everything will be fine. Mentality probably has more of an effect on the fact that in a game you are afraid to let the team down, if a goal is scored because of you, then the team can lose because of it.
– How do you plan to prepare for the new season on your own during your vacation?
– I want to take a good rest for two weeks in the summer, forget about hockey altogether, and then start preparing. My older brother Egor will help me – on the ice and in the gym.
– By the way, you have an interesting family history. Your brother Egor Favrichnikov also went through this path in the JHL. And you became the successor to the hockey dynasty.
– Yes, he finished a few years ago. Unfortunately, he did not have a big hockey career. In addition, he was injured. But for me, he is now such a mentor in sports. He always watches my matches, and then we discuss them together. He really hopes that I will succeed. My brother has always been and remains my idol in hockey. I still even rewatch the games of 17–18–19, just like when I look at Ovechkin, he really stood out on the field.
– So, it turns out that you followed your brother into hockey?
– Our dad was an athlete, but he never played hockey. Egor was the first hockey player in the family, and I followed him. I started skating at the age of three, and at five I came to the Neftekhimik Youth Sports School, where I started training. My first coach was Oleg Pisarev. Amir Gizyatov and Kirill Stolyarov started out on the team with me.
– You played this season under #57. Do you have any particular preferences, what number to play under?
– My plans for the next season included playing under #25. My brother played under it, I remember him, he scored a hat-trick right away in his first season. He played well, and Reaktor won bronze. If I had the chance, I would have taken #25. He also had #72, in another season, he was a center forward, and together with Armen Khisamutdinov and Razat Timirov they tore apart the league. I also like #7, but it's assigned to me in the KHL. I played under it in the Youth Sports School.
– What was the most memorable moment for you this season? Maybe I'll assume that goal you scored or something else?
– I have many such moments that I remember well. One of the most memorable is, of course, the goal. Because at first I didn't understand, and then I saw that everyone was coming to congratulate me. It was such a relief that I scored a goal right away in the first season. Another memorable episode was when we were able to come back from 1–4 in 15 minutes. At that moment, I was the happiest person on earth. It was also nice that the team received me well, there was such warmth from the guys. We were all like brothers the whole season.
– I want to take a good rest for two weeks in the summer, forget about hockey altogether, and then start preparing. My older brother Egor will help me – on the ice and in the gym.
– By the way, you have an interesting family history. Your brother Egor Favrichnikov also went through this path in the JHL. And you became the successor to the hockey dynasty.
– Yes, he finished a few years ago. Unfortunately, he did not have a big hockey career. In addition, he was injured. But for me, he is now such a mentor in sports. He always watches my matches, and then we discuss them together. He really hopes that I will succeed. My brother has always been and remains my idol in hockey. I still even rewatch the games of 17–18–19, just like when I look at Ovechkin, he really stood out on the field.
– So, it turns out that you followed your brother into hockey?
– Our dad was an athlete, but he never played hockey. Egor was the first hockey player in the family, and I followed him. I started skating at the age of three, and at five I came to the Neftekhimik Youth Sports School, where I started training. My first coach was Oleg Pisarev. Amir Gizyatov and Kirill Stolyarov started out on the team with me.
– You played this season under #57. Do you have any particular preferences, what number to play under?
– My plans for the next season included playing under #25. My brother played under it, I remember him, he scored a hat-trick right away in his first season. He played well, and Reaktor won bronze. If I had the chance, I would have taken #25. He also had #72, in another season, he was a center forward, and together with Armen Khisamutdinov and Razat Timirov they tore apart the league. I also like #7, but it's assigned to me in the KHL. I played under it in the Youth Sports School.
– What was the most memorable moment for you this season? Maybe I'll assume that goal you scored or something else?
– I have many such moments that I remember well. One of the most memorable is, of course, the goal. Because at first I didn't understand, and then I saw that everyone was coming to congratulate me. It was such a relief that I scored a goal right away in the first season. Another memorable episode was when we were able to come back from 1–4 in 15 minutes. At that moment, I was the happiest person on earth. It was also nice that the team received me well, there was such warmth from the guys. We were all like brothers the whole season.
– Everyone understands that hockey is a fluid system, some leave, some come, the lineups often change. But when you know for sure that you will have to say goodbye to some of the guys, is it difficult to readjust or do you take it easier?
– Those who leave due to age, it will be very difficult to say goodbye to them, because I have already gotten very used to them. I have known Ilya Slepkov since childhood, and for the first time in all this time I ended up on the same team with him, I did not even have time to play much. It will be hard to say goodbye to Andrei Eremenko, and to everyone in general. We have experienced so many happy moments together and gone through so many difficulties.
– Do your parents come to the games?
– When I leave for the anthem, I always look for them in the stands. If there is time, my mom and dad always come, they worry about me very much. When I arrived from Ufa, late at night, I planned to just go to bed and that is it, I did not even want to see anyone. My parents came up to me right away and asked how I was doing. I said that everything was fine, nothing to worry about. The first season had just passed. In fact, in my soul it was completely different. I didn’t want to talk about hockey, because the defeat was too emotional. It’s just like in a movie, I’ve never seen anything like it.
– For you, this is also an experience, we need to evaluate it from this side, what do you think?
– For me, this is a very valuable experience, that you cannot lose your matches during the season, every game is worth its weight in gold. And I will have to show my experience next year, and I must show myself better during the matches. The most important thing is to work on my head. And everything else will follow. I always relied only on myself, I always wanted to drag the team along with me. And I hope that I will have such an opportunity next season.
– Tell me, where are you studying now?
– I study at a teacher training college in Nizhnekamsk. My mentor helps me a lot so that I can pay off my debts, because I have to miss a lot of classes. The college is good, I like it, I'm in my second year. I think I will finish it and then I will have to think about college. But I have not decided yet where I want to go.
– Do you have any free time for your hobbies, and do you have any interesting interests?
– I mostly just spend time with friends, walking. In the summer I really like to go to the village and ride a motorcycle. I like to ride, and fix things, and figure out how everything works. Probably the only hobby I like.
– Those who leave due to age, it will be very difficult to say goodbye to them, because I have already gotten very used to them. I have known Ilya Slepkov since childhood, and for the first time in all this time I ended up on the same team with him, I did not even have time to play much. It will be hard to say goodbye to Andrei Eremenko, and to everyone in general. We have experienced so many happy moments together and gone through so many difficulties.
– Do your parents come to the games?
– When I leave for the anthem, I always look for them in the stands. If there is time, my mom and dad always come, they worry about me very much. When I arrived from Ufa, late at night, I planned to just go to bed and that is it, I did not even want to see anyone. My parents came up to me right away and asked how I was doing. I said that everything was fine, nothing to worry about. The first season had just passed. In fact, in my soul it was completely different. I didn’t want to talk about hockey, because the defeat was too emotional. It’s just like in a movie, I’ve never seen anything like it.
– For you, this is also an experience, we need to evaluate it from this side, what do you think?
– For me, this is a very valuable experience, that you cannot lose your matches during the season, every game is worth its weight in gold. And I will have to show my experience next year, and I must show myself better during the matches. The most important thing is to work on my head. And everything else will follow. I always relied only on myself, I always wanted to drag the team along with me. And I hope that I will have such an opportunity next season.
– Tell me, where are you studying now?
– I study at a teacher training college in Nizhnekamsk. My mentor helps me a lot so that I can pay off my debts, because I have to miss a lot of classes. The college is good, I like it, I'm in my second year. I think I will finish it and then I will have to think about college. But I have not decided yet where I want to go.
– Do you have any free time for your hobbies, and do you have any interesting interests?
– I mostly just spend time with friends, walking. In the summer I really like to go to the village and ride a motorcycle. I like to ride, and fix things, and figure out how everything works. Probably the only hobby I like.
