Russia: Alexander Nikulin Interview
Alexander Nikulin flew under the radar until the 2003-04 season when he moved to Moscow and signed with club CSKA. Many scouts were not overly impressed with his lackluster showing at the 2003 Re/Max Canada-Russia Challenge and considered him to be too soft for North American play.
However, the tournament was just Nikulin's first experience on the smaller ice surfaces. As well, he was competing on a mediocre Russian squad against the cream of the Canadian junior leagues.
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Since then, Nikulin has enjoyed a successful `04-5 season in the Russian Super League and also played well during international tournaments, which led to his selection to represent Russia at the U20 World Junior Championship.
The native of Perm, Russia sees the ice well and has shown an ability to make precise passes from even the most difficult situations. U20 head coach Sergei Gersonsky also showed his faith in Nikulin's versatility by moving him to left wing on the squad's third line with center Grigory Shafigullin (Nsh) and Alexander Galimov (undrafted).
RP: Please tell us how things are going for you with CSKA in the Russian Super League (Russia 1).
Nikulin: I spent the preseason with CSKA and started to play for the club during the beginning of the season. Sergei Ogorodnikov (NYI) and I would skate in games after one another. Then I broke a finger, and didn't play for awhile. But then I came back and have played in all of the last 10 games.
RP: What line do you usually play on with CSKA?
Nikulin: At first I played with Sergei Mozyakin (CBJ) and Denis Parshin (Col) and we did well together and scored some goals. Then they put Nikitenko with us. I started to play on the wing with Dimitri Upper and Pronin, so things kept changing. Besides that, I am use to usually being a center – I played at that position all of last season.
RP: When did you start playing for Russia's national team?
Nikulin: I started playing for the U20 squad in St. Petersburg (a tournament during May '04). I also skated at a tournament this fall in the Czech Republic, but didn't go to Sweden.
RP: Did you expect to make the final cut for the U20 national squad?
Nikulin: Well, the competition was very high, but I was confident that I would make the team.
RP: Did the fact that you attended the Re/Max Canada-Russia Challenge tournament last season help you prepare to play the more physical, faster hockey on the smaller North American ice surfaces?
Nikulin: Well, our team there was pretty bad. I don't know. Overall, yeah, it helped, as that was the first time I experienced that kind of hockey. So, yes, it helped.
RP: What are your goals for the rest of the season in Russia?
Nikulin: To play in the Super League, which I am confident I will get a chance to do. To play, and to score.
RP: Did Parshin and Shirokov ever play together before this tournament? Maybe on CSKA's junior farm team? (Parshin and Shirokov skated on Russia's second line with Evgeny Malkin during the first preliminary game against the US)
Nikulin: No, they never played together. Shirokov hasn't played with the main squad yet (CSKA in the Super League) Parshin always played on the first line, while Shirokov always skated on the second. They didn't play together on the second squad last season.