Dmitry Zavgorodniy: "I feel a different player after competing for SKA"

Forward Dmitry Zavgorodniy:

- You made your senior ice hockey debut for SKA. How do you feel after your time in Saint Petersburg?

- I feel a different player after competing for SKA. I have gained experience of playing at senior level. Every training session and every match gave me something new, now I feel more confident. There are great coaches here, this is a top organisation with wonderful facilities.

- You made two assists on your SKA debut against Sibir Novosibirsk.

- That was one of my best games. In Kazakhstan, I also played well against Barys, the coaches trusted me to even participate in the ensuing penalty shootout. You don't have to earn points in order to produce a good performance, that particular match gave me a lot of confidence.

- SKA practically played with a youth team in a series of matches.

- It really was an interesting experience, it's not often you see youth players beat experienced senior guys! It was unforgettable. Our players were burning with desire to perform well on the ice, we competed with a lot of energy.

- What do you think of the Hockey City complex? Have you seen similar facilities in North America?

- To be honest, I was really surprised when I saw the complex for the first time. There are shooting and skating zones, everything you need to develop. Hockey City is a complex of the highest level. I have seen similar facilities in North America, but those complexes didn't have rooms to stay in and canteens. It is a fantastic complex.

- Has Valeri Bragin changed in comparison to working with the junior Russian national team?

- No, he's the same person. He is reasonable and always gives advice, it's interesting to work with him.

- What surprised you most in Russian ice hockey?

- Probably that there are so many technically-gifted players here.

- Did you take a lot of walks around Saint Petersburg?

- Yes, I visited museums and looked around all of the main streets. We want to a ballet as a team, I really enjoyed that. Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city with a special atmosphere. I want to say a big thank you to the supporters here!