Path to stardom: Yegor Surin

KHL.ru continues telling stories of those who showcased an exceptional level of playing despite their young age with forward Yegor Surin. The Lokomotiv young sensation had a tremendous season in the juniors, and also had his debut in the KHL.

Lokomotiv forward Yegor Surin just finished his second season in the JHL, and had his debut at the KHL level this year. The Voronezh native debuted in the JHL at the age of 16. He played for both youth teams in the Yaroslavl system, but has played many more matches for Loko. In the 2022-2023 season, he scored 31 (12+19) points in 48 games and added another eight (4 goals + 4 assists) in ten playoff games. In the 2023-2024 season, the forward amassed 52 (22+30) points in 42 regular-season games, adding a goal in one game with Loko-76. In the postseason, Surin added 23 (5+18) points to his total. Surin is among the top five scorers in the JHL and has earned a call-up to the KHL team with his performance.

Differently from most of the players coming off the Yaroslavl system, Surin wasn’t born in the town or in the region. He hails from Voronezh, some 800 kms south of Yaroslavl. Players coming off Voronezh academy include Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Maxim Motorygin and CSKA’s blueliner Vladislav Provolnev. Also former Avangard’s top prospect Ivan Miroshnichenko spent time there. 

“When I was ten, I was invited to CSKA along with Ivan Okunev, who now still plays for CSKA in the JHL. I refused to move then because I was still young. But a couple of years later, I realized I needed a stronger team as Buran was facing some hard times. When I was 12, my father called Yaroslavl. Lokomotiv said they had wanted to invite me themselves. They invited me to a trial camp, liked me, and took me into their school. Later, I came for another camp – just for myself. It was a tough move. It was hard to leave the team, my parents, and also my first coaches – Vasily Komissarov and Gennady Reviny. By the way, I still keep in touch with Reviny, discussing my games and talking about hockey. When I settled in Yaroslavl, it became easier. I lived at the base for a year, then my grandmother came. My parents still live in Voronezh.”

Yegor Surin

Loko had a successful regular season, with long winning streaks. Sometimes, it’s hard even for the best players to keep up with motivation in these cases. 

“I'll be honest – there were problems around New Year. We won a lot of games, were emotionally exhausted, and wanted to rest and start playing with new energy. But I believe we found the emotions and strength because each game is different from the others. Every match provides food for thought for the next one. If you succeed at something, you want to do even better in the future. If something doesn’t work out, you’ll try to fix it in the next match. Each game offers that opportunity.”

Yegor Surin

This year, Loko changed coaches, moving on from Yaroslav Lyuzenkov and appointing Oleg Tauber. The new bench boss reacts to losses shuffling his lines 

“I noticed that too. After losses, the lines in our team change. But it seems to me this is more related to winning streaks. It’s a teaching moment for us. Those who played on the first line get moved down to the third – to keep them humble. I remember when I was taken off the first line, I asked the coach, ‘Am I not performing well?’ He replied, ‘I want to see how the other guys will play in the top unit.’ I believe losses are beneficial for our team. They provide new motivation. Tauber reacts calmly to failures. He says that at the end of the season, no one will forgive mistakes. He asks us to play more disciplined and restrained hockey.”

Yegor Surin

The two coaches, of course, are very different. 

“They are two different coaches with different methods. Starting from the preseason – the guys said that Lyuzenov focused a lot on running. Taube, instead, places more emphasis on the gym, and he consults a lot with doctors. Lyuzenov is a very strong coach, one of the best in my career. But I think he lacked communication with the team, especially in the playoffs. Tauber, instead, is closer to the team; he often jokes around.”

Yegor Surin

Talking about coaches, in the KHL, Surin of course had to play under Igor Nikitin – a demanding coach, but also a coach that the forward regards as the best he ever had. 

“He is the best. I’m still impressed by interacting with him and how the team respects him as a coach. I was shocked by this person. In a good way, of course. For example, when he enters the locker room, he stands in a pose that exudes confidence. And it doesn’t matter how the game is going – he remains confident in the guys. As for me, any of his comments greatly influence my game and career. Even when he talks about some small detail, correcting or improving it gives a strong boost to the game. Psychologically, he also has a great impact on the players.

Every coach has different demands. A hockey player is like a soldier. What you’re told to do, you do. There’s no such thing as discussing the coach’s assignments. Nikitin’s demands are reasonable. You must work hard on defense – any player is obliged to do that. If you only run in offense, you are unlikely to be considered a high-level hockey player.”

Yegor Surin

The young forward had his debut this year, playing some shifts in three different regular-season games for Lokomotiv.

“I wouldn’t say he focused on the debut. He had a few questions, and I made it clear that I was ready to play. As for comments, they came every day. During the game, our coach constantly gives guidance, especially if something childish slips through. He pointed out micro-errors.”

In the Jan 3 game against Barys, however, Surin was caught with a couple of mistakes as his time on ice increased to more than twelve minutes. 

“I heard his press conference. The coach said that I played well, but that I had some childish mistakes. Yes, I had a bad turnover, and he pointed it out during the game. I think the mistake was due to the difference between the KHL and JHL levels. In the juniros, that move would have worked. Even our coach Anton But said that my thinking was correct, but in execution, it’s still at the JHL level. Nikitin also noted that I just needed to score. I had two good chances. In the KHL, everything needs to be done quickly, but you need to be calm and composed to finish. The second point is that I thought the goalie would act like in the JHL. Eddie Pasquale probably read my shot.”

Yegor Surin

Surin had his first taste of KHL hockey in the summer, when he was invited to the pro team’s training camp. 

“It was unexpected to hear about it for the first time. I was informed about it towards the end of the 2022-2023 season. After that, I prepared psychologically. I thought it would be difficult to join the senior team, but it turned out to be much easier. In Lokomotiv, there are connecting players between experienced and young players, like Maxim Beryozkin and Stepan Nikulin. They helped me a lot. I remember telling Daniil But and Dmitry Simashev that I wanted to take a photo with Alexei Marchenko and Sergei Andronov. But then I calmed down, of course.”

Yegor Surin

Stepping into a pro team’s locker room is hardly easy. Especially for the younger players like Surin, who was just 17 at the time. 

“At first, nobody even knew me. But then I started to feel more comfortable, began to communicate with the guys. After my debut in the game against SKA, they started to treat me much better. There were conversations, jokes.”

Yegor Surin

Then, Surin got his first call up to Lokomotiv for a game against Severstal. He wasn’t iced then, but Nikitin believes that being on the bench is beneficial for a young player. 

“First and foremost, I practiced my patience. This is a psychological aspect. Nikitin mentioned during preseason that every player, even the 13th forward, must constantly be in the game, supporting the team. You can’t just sit and be sad; you need to show that you are ready to play. He also said that whoever is sitting as the 13th forward should listen to the instructions of others. You listen to the coaches’ analysis and then draw conclusions.”

Yegor Surin

His experience also now includes constantly moving from one league – or one team – to another. 

“After playing in the KHL, it’s easier to play in the JHL. In the KHL, you gain experience in decision-making speed and the quickness of hand movements. In the JHL, after the pros, there’s a lot of space. The only thing I’ll note is that team coordination is harder in the juniors. Even Tauber often points out to us that sometimes four players stand still while one plays the puck. Everyone needs to be available. In the KHL, as I mentioned, everyone is moving.”

Yegor Surin

Many highlight Surin’s strong mental aspect in his game. 

“Everyone’s character develops throughout their life. Various situations influence it. It gradually takes shape. It’s not like I was born with it. It manifests differently in everyone. I try to make sure my character is my advantage.”

Yegor Surin

It looks like it sure is now, after such a strong season in the JHL and his debut with the pros. Next year, he’s posed for a strong rookie season with Lokomotiv – his first full-time in the KHL.