Fucale: “The KHL is a fantastic league, and I’m happy to play here”
Zach Fucale, in an interview with KHL.ru, shared his impressions of playing in the KHL and in Russia, explained why Benoit Groulx is the perfect fit for Traktor, and spoke about his goal of winning the Gagarin Cup.
After Traktor’s deep playoff run, Zach Fucale had his time to rest. “Spending so much time at home was fantastic,” the goalie admits. “The last two summers were very short for me, but this time I was able to spend a lot of time with my wife, kids, parents, sister, and friends. So, it was great. Having my family far was hard, but I hope that they can come to Chelyabinsk. We are working on it right now.”
The goalie missed his team, but also tried to disconnect. “It was interesting to follow the transfers, but during that time, I tried to switch off and spend as much time as possible with my family. When the time came, I was happy to return to Traktor and get back to work.”
During his time at home in North America, Fucale took part in a podcast and praised the KHL quite a lot. “My experience in the KHL last year was fantastic,” he says. “Everything is well-organized in Chelyabinsk: the arena and fans are great, the treatment of players is top-notch, and the food is excellent. I’m not sugarcoating anything, just saying it as it is. The KHL is a fantastic league, and I’m happy to play here. I’ve had the chance to play in the ECHL, AHL, a bit in the NHL, and in tournaments in Switzerland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic, and now I’m playing in Russia, and it’s been an interesting experience for me.”
The goalie is also happy with living in Chelyabinsk. “I can only say good things about Chelyabinsk. I live in a fantastic apartment, we go to great restaurants, and the service is excellent everywhere. Wherever we go, we are treated very well, and Traktor fans are everywhere.”
Chelyabinsk is a real hockey city, it seems to the Canadian netminder. “We have a great arena and a training rink. It’s clear how much attention is paid to hockey here, to developing players and the team. Players feel a special attitude towards them, and the support and energy from the fans help us play better. When it comes to a ‘hockey city,’ for me, it's less about how it looks and more about what I feel in the arena during a game.”
However, he also had a chance to visit several other Russian cities. “Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, where the seafood is excellent, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod,” he said when asked about what other cities caught his attention. “I might be forgetting some, but Russia is a very large country with a unique culture. For me, it’s a great opportunity to see different cities. If there’s a little free time in the schedule, I try to explore each city we visit.”
Remembering Traktor’s playoffs run last season, Fucale knows what was the key to the team’s success: “Unity,” he firmly says. “The most important thing is not talent or the best players, but the team. Throughout the entire season, we fight to make it to the playoffs, and when we get there, it’s crucial to play for each other, to battle for every inch on the ice, for every shot, for every goal, for every save. We managed to do that last season. This year, our goals are crystal clear: not only to reach the same level but to achieve more. We want to win and go all the way from start to finish. Last season, we realized we could achieve that and compete with the top teams. That was an important step, but we need to go even further. And I’m confident that we are capable of it.”
Traktor, however, had then to surrender to Lokomotiv, a series where Fucale picked up an injury after a collision with Yaroslavl’s forward Maxim Shalunov. “I was upset that I couldn’t contribute to the game,” he says. “But everyone on our team played their best, it’s just that Lokomotiv was stronger. Of course, there was disappointment because I wanted to go all the way. But we gained valuable experience. I don’t believe in bad luck or things like that. Hockey is a tough and fast sport, so injuries happen. Right now, my body is in good shape, and I’m entering the new season with positivity and optimism.”
Moreover, the goalie doesn’t hold a grudge against Shalunov. “I don’t believe that he did it intentionally, stepping onto the ice with the goal of injuring someone. I don’t think he’s that kind of person. In general, I always try to see the good in people. I have no negativity towards him. What happened, happened, and it’s all in the past. When we meet, I think we’ll say ‘hello’ to each other and continue competing on the ice.”
It can be said that Fucale performed even better in the elimination stage than in the regular season. “For me, consistent progress is important. If I reach a certain level in the regular season, I want to achieve a new one in the playoffs,” he explains. “And after the season ends, I want to be even better in the next one. Proper preparation, developing good habits, and understanding my abilities come to the forefront. No one is immune to ups and downs during the season, and no hockey player in the world plays every game perfectly. I’m not focused on game number 8, 23, or 64. What matters to me is consistent progress so that I’m ready for the most important part of the season. And I think I’m doing everything right. After ten years of a professional career, I’ve developed an understanding of how everything works. The most important thing is to win the last game of the season. I’ve played in the playoffs in many leagues, and it’s the best time of the year, and I try to show my best game during that time.”
This summer, despite last year’s success, Traktor changed head coach as Alexei Zavarukhin’s contract expired and Benoit Groulx was hired at the helm of the team. “As I said, during my vacation, I tried to spend as much time as possible with my family and not think about anything else. We spoke with Ben over the phone since we knew each other from before, but I wasn’t involved in the negotiations in any way. That was Ben’s personal decision.” Fucale, however, did say some good things about Traktor and Chelyabinsk. “He asked what I thought about the team and the city. And I told him the same thing I tell everyone: my experience has been simply incredible. I love the city, and I enjoy playing for this team.”
He enjoys working under his new coach, who led Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2015 WJC and with whom he already worked in the past. “He’s a very experienced coach, having worked at a high level for many years, including internationally,” the goalie recognizes. “I played under his leadership for a short time in Syracuse, and I can say he’s a very demanding coach who pays great attention to detail. I think he’s a perfect fit for Traktor. He’s now implementing his system, and it will make it difficult for any opponent to play against us. Some players have never experienced this style of play, so it will take a bit of time. Yes, there will be mistakes, but hockey is never perfect, and we will all adapt to the system and develop good habits in training. For many, it's something new, and it's still tough to get used to the system. But with each day, the players are beginning to understand more and more what the coach wants from them. There’s always a period of adaptation, and that’s normal.”
As the new season has just started, Fucale is determined to show his best hockey and help his team fly even higher. “We must reach the level we achieved last season, go even further, and make it all the way to the end. Of course, there will be challenges and bad games, ups and downs. But the most important thing is to keep progressing, to respond correctly to difficulties, and to be well-prepared for the most crucial games. Playing in the playoffs is a privilege for any hockey player. We want to win the Gagarin Cup, and we have to be ready for immense pressure and the toughest challenges. I truly believe that our team is capable of going down this path.”
KHL.ru dossier
Zach Fucale
Born on May 28, 1995
Career: 2011–15 — Halifax (QMJHL), 2015 — Quebec (QMJHL), 2015–17 — St. John (AHL), 2017/2018 — Brampton (ECHL), Laval (AHL), 2018/2019 — Chicago (AHL), Fort Wayne (ECHL), 2019 — Syracuse (AHL), 2019/2020 — Orlando (ECHL), 2020–2021 — South Carolina (ECHL), 2020–23 — Hershey (AHL), Washington Capitals, since 2023 — Traktor.
Achievements: Memorial Cup winner (2013), Calder Cup winner (2023), World Junior Championship winner (2015), KHL bronze medalist (2024); Raymond Lagace Trophy (2012), Paul Dumont Trophy (2014), Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy (2014), Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Trophy (2021), Best Goalie at the World Junior Championship (2015), QMJHL All-Star Game participant (2013).
