Vladimir Bobylev: “To Toronto only after Spartak. Vladimir Bobylev. Through hardships to the stars “The KHL would be an interesting option”

Young Russian striker for Victoria Royals Vladimir Bobylev is now in his second season in the Canadian junior league WHL. Vladimir made his debut in the MHL at the age of 16 as a member of Atlantov, after which he had a choice - to continue his career in Russia or go to make his way into big hockey through North America. The second option seemed more attractive and promising, as a result of which the young forward ended up with the Vancouver Giants in the WHL.

In the first season overseas, the Lipetsk player got used not only to North American power hockey, but also to a new way of life, learned English and moved forward step by step. In the summer of 2015, Bobylev decided to return to Russia - try his hand at Spartak Moscow and break into. However, then he decided that a better option would be to return to Canada, especially since in the so-called WHL import draft, Vladimir was chosen by the Victoria Royals team, where there were more chances to prove himself.

And so it happened. Second season in North America truly became a breakthrough in the career of 18-year-old Bobylev. The Russian became a member of the starting five, scored 50 points in 62 matches, and Victoria itself is fighting for first place in its conference and will certainly be a formidable force in the playoffs. Canadian scouts and experts involved in youth hockey, highly appreciate the prospects of the Russian. It is not for nothing that in the preliminary ratings of the 2016 draft, Bobylev is rated, for example, higher than Andrey Svetlakov, who interacts well with Alexander Radulov in the CSKA lineup and who showed himself brilliantly in youth championship peace in Finland.

Vladimir himself states that he is afraid to trust preliminary ratings, rightly noting that the only thing he can change before the draft is his game, his performance, positively influencing the overall success of the team. The “Championship” correspondent talked with Bobylev after the away game with his Vancouver Giants, in which the hockey player upset his former team by scoring a goal and giving an assist. Victoria won 5:2. It is curious that during one of the breaks in the Vancouver arena, a flash mob took place, in which almost all the spectators in the stands took part, and the Pacific Coliseum arena was filled to capacity. We started our conversation with Vladimir from the atmosphere in the stands and the impressions from the match.

“I can try again to get into Spartak”

- Vladimir, this is not the first match of the season against your former team. However, the emotions are still fresh?
- In fact, I’m already used to playing against Vancouver, but it’s still nice to win a match with my team former team, score, give assists. Of course, this is a positive moment for me.

The spectators organized a bright flash mob, in which virtually the entire arena took part. Did you like the atmosphere in the stands?
- Yes, this often happens here. They did something similar twice last year when I was a Giants player. By the way, even more spectators came that season. You can say that I'm used to such flash mobs (smiles). It’s good that they do such holidays for people. In Victoria, our arena is not that big now, it seats about 7,000 spectators, but there are a lot of fans. 6-7 thousand viewers are quite stable.

Compared to last season, you have made serious progress this season. Five dozen points have already been scored, including a goal and an assist in this match. Are you happy with how your second year in Canada is going?
- Of course, I'm pleased. Finally, he started playing on the first and second lines and was given playing time in the majority, as a result of which he began to score points. Of course, all this cannot but please us.

Last summer you returned to Russia and tried your hand at Spartak Moscow before the start of the season in . But in the end they decided to continue their career overseas.
- To be honest, I realized that they didn’t see me in the main team, and I didn’t really want to go to the Major League. Around the same time, I was invited here to Victoria, I had two days to make a choice. I had to quickly decide whether to play in Canada or in Major League in Russia. In the end, we decided to go to the WHL for another year. At the same time, I still belong to Spartak and can try to get into the lineup again at any time.

- . Do you still adhere to this opinion or have you already changed your position?
- To be honest, I have already changed my mind. It’s really hard to answer this question, because Russia has a good level of play, so the choice was very difficult. What made you initially decide to move to Canada? I talked a lot with people who had already played in Canada, and everyone advised me to leave and not think twice if there was such an opportunity. They said that I would not lose anything in any case. I talked to my agent and decided to go. I was told that there is a team that is interested in me. Now I’m very happy that I left.

Travel to WHL is quite long, and all of it is carried out exclusively by bus, and from Victoria, which is located on the island, you also need to use water transport. Is it hard to sometimes spend 20 hours on the road?
- We have a very good bus, there are beds for every person. You're lying in full height on a bed that is designed for two passengers. There is a TV, all doors close, window light does not interfere. So the bus is excellent for long journeys. But to be honest, it’s still hard (smiles), especially when there are two or three away games in a row.

“The KHL would be an interesting option”

Last year you were able to attend the Vancouver Canucks - Toronto Maple Leafs match. What emotions did you experience from what you saw?
- In terms of the show, the number of viewers, of course, it is far ahead of Russia. Organization on the highest level, what’s there to hide. What you see adds a lot of motivation to work, to try as hard as possible. It's a dream.

You've spent almost a year in Vancouver, which by many measures is considered one of the best cities in the world to live. Did you manage to feel it?
- We lived in the suburbs. It turns out that in Vancouver itself we only held games, and lived outside of it. In principle, the city is good, there is no doubt, and there are many who are called Chinese guys ( laughs). Vancouver is a beautiful place and the people are friendly. How do I feel about Victoria after Vancouver? Victoria is a real paradise compared to Vancouver! People here are a little different. This is how we have Moscow and the territory outside the Moscow Ring Road. It's difficult to explain what exactly other people are doing. Probably a little kinder. I like it here better than Vancouver.

- You are originally from Lipetsk. Did you manage to get home during the off-season?
- Yes, I went to my native Lipetsk in the summer. And now my dad and his friend came to see me. Are things bad with hockey in Lipetsk now? Oh, that's putting it mildly. Why? That's a good question ( laughs). If they allocate money there, it probably doesn’t reach them. Or maybe, in fact, they are not identified at all in the first place. Perhaps no one in our city needs this. Honestly, I dream of somehow changing the situation with hockey in my hometown, getting involved in children’s sports, and developing it.

- Dmitry Kulikov and Nikita Dvurechensky left Lipetsk hockey. Can you become third on the list?
- I really hope so ( smiling)!

In the preliminary ratings of the 2016 NHL Draft, you are ranked quite well. For example, CSKA and Russian youth team player Andrei Svetlakov is located slightly lower. How are you feeling about the draft?
- I really hope that they will draft me. I'm not too keen on this draft though. What can you do if you fail to be selected? But I still hope! And I don’t believe in preliminary drafts at all. That year I also did well according to these ratings, but the season was not a success. It all depends on how you play.

Marcel Ibragimov from Kazan also plays for the Royals. Do you manage to keep in touch with any of our guys in Canada?
- Yes, first of all, I spend a lot of time with Marcel, we also live in the same house with him. We also talked with Nikita Soshnin, who plays for Saskatoon. By the way, he is also from Lipetsk. In Regina we met with Sergei Zborovsky once. With whom else... With Elizarov from Edmonton. Of course, with Dima Osipov from Vancouver. Last year we played together on the same team and also lived in the same house. We still communicate with him, but not so closely.

Do you still intend to continue making your way through North America? Or if there is an opportunity to play, will you come back?
- would be an interesting option, of course, especially if a good opportunity presents itself. Although everything is fine here too. Oh, a very difficult question, I can’t answer it exactly yet, because a lot will depend on specific proposals. I communicate a lot with my agent, who actively helps me make decisions. Let's see!

You probably follow events in . Which team do you like and which hockey players do you watch especially closely?
- I follow Los Angeles and specifically Kopitar. I really like this striker. I also watch Detroit and Pavel Datsyuk. Well, for the Capitals, of course, where our guys play. I want Washington to win the Stanley Cup this year. Ovechkin deserved this trophy 100%.

18-year-old Spartak forward Vladimir Bobylev interesting fate: At 16, he made his debut in the MHL, and then went to Canada, where he spent a year with the Vancouver Giants club. This spring, the striker decided to return to Russia and compete for a place in the red-and-white team.

How did you make the decision to move overseas?- I consulted, first of all, with my agent, Alexander Yuryevich Chernykh. The decision began to be discussed back when I was 16 years old and playing in the MHL. So last spring I already knew that I would fly away. At first, of course, there were certain concerns. But then I talked to the guys who play there, and most of them told me: go, don’t even think about it, you won’t lose anything. I flew. The first season was not very successful for me, the coach trusted mostly the older players, but I don’t regret going. I gained a lot of experience, which will be very useful to me.

Then why didn't you stay?
- In the summer, another team chose me at the import draft, I could have left again, but I thought it would be better if I tried to get into the KHL. “Spartak” is a team that is close to me in spirit; I have been rooting for it since childhood and tried not to miss a single match.

Tell us about Western hockey league. What have you managed to understand about her?
- We played in Vancouver, we had our own arena, although I don’t remember what it’s called. It could accommodate 16 thousand. 8-9 thousand people came to our matches in the regular season, and the good ones were sold out. They cheered for us and it was a pleasure to play. The Canadian Junior League is divided into three groups - OHL, QMJHL and WHL. The last one I played in is considered the most brutal league - a lot of power struggles. So many. And fights, of course. Three or four fights in a game is normal.

Did you fight too?
- Yes, I took part in three fights.

Where did you live?
- I flew to Canada and only knew father, mother, sister, brother in English. He lived in a family that was from Holland. At first I didn’t understand anything. The club hired me a teacher English language, and I worked out four times a week. Plus we had a Russian guy on our team who helped me at first. I lived in a family with a Canadian, and at first he also really helped me, explained things in simple terms, because I understood almost nothing. The club covered all expenses - food, clothing. After two and a half months I spoke English quite well.

All travel to WHL by bus?
- Yes. We usually capture several cities along the way. For example, we can drive for four hours, play, rest, sleep, and the next day we’re back on the road. Once we drove for 20 hours. All teams in this league travel by bus.

What makes Vancouver fans go to WHL games in such numbers?
- I also thought about this question. Still, tickets for some of our matches reached $100. What to say? Probably this is a huge love for hockey. Religion. Almost every child plays hockey. We played in Vancouver and lived in the suburbs. So they always recognized us there, asked us to give autographs and take pictures.

Did you have any events for fans?
- Certainly. After some matches, they came to a special room and talked with the fans there - they signed their names and took photographs. We sat for at least an hour, because people were pouring in in a huge crowd. We went to orphanages and hospitals to see seriously ill children. We talked and gave toys. Good deal. There are about 40 young teams in Vancouver, and once we acted as coaches at one of the tournaments.

A hockey player named Kirichenko played on your team.
- He seems to have ancestors from Ukraine. And so he was born in Canada and has citizenship of this country.

Have you attended NHL games?
- Once I went to the Vancouver match against Toronto. Amazing show. We have nothing even close to this. Very interesting to watch. I could go to other matches: our general manager constantly gave me tickets to the NHL. But it was not possible to combine the time. We often went with the team to various music concerts.

Were your matches broadcast?
- Yes. Dad here in Russia had the opportunity to watch. You pay about 15-20 bucks and watch the broadcast on the Internet.

Did your parents not have time to come to you?
- Expensive. At the club's expense, it was possible to transport one family member back and forth. Either I should fly for Christmas. But I didn't fly. There was no point: 24 hours one way, 24 the other, changing time zones. You'll be more exhausted. So I stayed in Canada, and a local guy invited me to his home for Christmas.

How much did you receive?
- Minimum money. Approximately $150 per two weeks. It was 300 bucks a month, sometimes 400. Ridiculous money, but I didn’t go there for the money.

Could you have been paid any bonuses?
- The bonuses were in the form of cards for the restaurant; they could reward us with some gifts. They gave iPads for Christmas. If you play well, of course.

What did you do on the weekend?
- I loved looking around. I talked to a guy from Canada, he had a car, and we went to see something. I fell in love with playing golf in Canada. I went snowboarding in the mountains. Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. You look in one direction - the ocean, in the other - snowy mountains. And outside it’s +16-18. Unforgettable impression. City of eternal spring.

Was the decision to return difficult?
- Our team didn’t make it to the playoffs, and soon I flew to Russia. My agent and parents decided that at this stage it was better to return. It was a joint decision. It seems to me that now in Russia I will have more opportunities for growth.

Are you finding the current training camp at Spartak somewhat difficult?
- I’ve never been to such a training camp before. The hardest in my career. But, as they say, through thorns to the stars. At first I was nervous because not everything worked out. I've calmed down now. The coaches encourage and advise. I'm trying my best.

Was there a moment when you had absolutely no strength to go to another training session?
- In the evening after the first day I couldn’t feel my legs. And by the evening of the second day it seemed to me that I had already been training for a month. The time lasted incredibly long. Very hard. But I managed. By the end of the second four-day cycle, I got into it and felt better. Both on ice and on land. I got into good shape. And the legs work well, and breathing is normal, and the heart muscle works. So now I feel optimal. I am sure that such work will bear fruit this season.

Do you visit Lipetsk at home?
- Yes, when possible, I come there to visit my parents. I have two more sisters - one is 11 months younger, the other is 4 years old. I always try to bring them some gifts. There are a lot of friends in Lipetsk.

Things are bad with hockey there now once again.
- Very disappointing. What can I do? Nobody wants to help hockey and invest money. They were supposed to build a large palace, but this construction was also frozen. A gimmick that is incomprehensible to me. I played in Lipetsk until I was 12 years old, then I was forced to leave. My parents paid for everything: for uniforms, for travel, for everything. Or maybe they are allocating money now, but it just doesn’t reach the team, I don’t know.

Do many hockey players from Lipetsk play at a high level?
- Nikita Dvurechensky in “Torpedo”. Dmitry Kulikov in Florida. That's probably all. It turns out I have a chance to become the third in this company.

Lipetsk hockey student Vladimir Bobylev, selected in the NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, gave an interview to championat.com, in which he said that he would spend the next year or two in Russia.

In the 2015/16 season, Vladimir scored 67 points at the end of the regular season, and his utility indicator turned out to be impressive - “+45”. The start of the playoffs also went well for both the player and the Victoria Royals, but then an injury occurred that affected the performance of Victoria, who failed to make it to the WHL finals.

- What emotions did you experience when you were selected by Toronto in the NHL draft? Has your dream come true?

It was funny because I was running to the store at that time - I was at home in Russia. Then I come and see hundreds of messages with congratulations (laughs). I didn’t immediately understand what had happened. I went online and saw that they had been drafted, and ran to see who had what number. We talked quite a lot with representatives of Toronto over the past season, as well as with some other clubs. To be honest, I really wanted to play in Canada and continue my career here.

- When last time Have you been in contact with Toronto before the draft?

At the very end of the WHL season. It was already during the playoff series, where we made it with Victoria. I also received a rather unpleasant injury there, and at about the same time, people from “Maple Leaves” contacted me. And after the draft, we contacted them again, I was invited to the club’s training camp, which will be held from July 3 to July 10 in Toronto (the conversation took place on July 2 - Ed.).

- You know that Toronto drafted two more Russians. What are your thoughts on this?

Yes, I know Kolya Chebykin from the HC MVD quite well. Plus I know Nikita Soshnikov, with whom we crossed paths at a very young age. Of course, availability large number Russian guys will help me, I’m glad that there will be an opportunity to talk in my native language. There is a feeling that Russians are treated well here; it is no coincidence that so many of our guys were chosen by the organization for last years. I don't know anyone else from Toronto's main roster. Leonid Komarov, in fact, is also half of us, but it is clear that I had nowhere to intersect with him. I only saw him play on TV.

- The training camp in Canada will last a week. What are your plans for the rest of pre-season?

I’ll work in Toronto for a week, and then I’ll immediately go to Prague, where I’ll join Spartak Moscow at the training camp. I decided to spend the next year or two in Russia, especially since Spartak was interested in signing me. I will try to get into the main team and play in the KHL. And then I hope to return to Toronto and pursue my dream in the NHL. There will be a rather heavy training camp in Prague, aimed largely at physical training, and only then in Finland we will go on the ice. Such work is always very exhausting, but absolutely necessary in order to enter the season well.

Why did you decide to return to Russia and try your hand here? Was there something you weren't happy with in North America?

Not at all, I like it in North America, I gradually settled in and got used to local life. And it was great to play hockey there. Victoria is a beautiful city near Vancouver, where both nature and the standard of living are visible. Of course, I will miss Canada, but it’s always nice to perform at home, my family and friends are close here. Russia also has its advantages, and at this stage of my career, my agent and I decided that this was a priority option.

Newcomer "Salavat Yulaev" Vladimir Bobylev commented on the transition to the Ufa club, and also talked about his first conversation with Erkka Westerlund.

– I was happy when the exchange took place, because I wanted to play, I trained for four months. I was without gaming practice, I already missed games.

– You are already conducting your second training session. How is the situation in the team?

- It’s good, everyone is friendly. I knew several guys from the team: Elizarova, he played in Canada. I know a couple of young guys, Zhenya Bodrova.

– Have you already talked to Westerlund?

– Salavat hockey players say that he asks: “What kind of player do you see yourself on the team?”

“He asked me what happened, why I didn’t play. We talked to him, he is a good person, friendly. Everything was calm. So far there has been no talk about how to play.

– So why didn’t you manage to answer Westerlund?

“Maybe I wasn’t ready, or there wasn’t enough space.” I don't know myself.

– There is also a lot of competition in Salavat...

– I need to follow the coaching instructions, give my all in every game and fight for the team. Play harder in defense, I think attack should now be in second place.