‘I’d love to create a Kuzbass line with Kaprizov!’

The FONBET 2020 All-Star Week began in Moscow on Saturday with the Challenge Cup for the top players in the Junior Hockey League. Team East earned a 5-3 victory over the West, closing the gap on a Western Conference team that has historically had the upper hand in this rivalry. After the game, four players were invited to return next weekend and join in the KHL All-Star Game.

Nikita Goncharov, forward, Russkiye Vityazi and Team West

"It’s a great feeling. Of course, losing the game slightly dampened the excitement of being at the Challenge Cup. But I’m delighted to be invited to go to the KHL All-Star Game. It doesn’t matter to me who I get to play with, I’ll be happy with any team-mates. Today we had a really lively start but we got stung on some counter attacks early on. There were a lot of goals in the first period. Sometimes, it just goes that way."

Yegor Anisimov, forward, Dynamo St. Petersburg and Team West

"It’s always an honor to get a call-up to the All-Star Game. But right now, it’s hard to get over the loss in the Challenge Cup. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do what our coaches asked of us, even though we got on top of the opposition at times. At the KHL All-Star Game I’d love to play on the same line as Kirill Kaprizov. We’re both from the same town, Novokuznetsk, so we could create a Kuzbass line!"

Yegor Chinakhov, Omskiye Yastreby and Team East

"From the start we were determined to break with tradition and get a win over the West. We all played as one team. It’s great to get the call to the KHL All-Star Game. You get players like Mozyakin, Zaripov and for us youngsters, it’s very exciting. It would be nice to get on Team Chernyshev, where there are already players from Avangard, but I’d also enjoy getting on a line with Vadim Shipachyov because he gives so many great assists."

German Shaporev, forward, Altai and Team East

"Winning the game feels great, it’s a good way to start the year. Hopefully at Altai we can add to this and go win the Kharlamov Cup. Stas Petrosyan said we needed to come here and represent the East and win the game. I’m thrilled to get the call-up to the KHL All-Star Game. It’s going to be pretty special to share a locker room with those guys. To be honest, my New Year wish was to get to the KHL All-Stars and now it’s come true! It really doesn’t matter which team I play with."