"I hope the sporting principle will soon be not only in words"

The second "Match of the Year" between the star Russian hockey players of the NHL and KHL took place in Moscow at the end of last week. Among the representatives of the KHL, one of the most high-profile players was defender of Magnitogorsk Metallurg Egor Yakovlev. As a member of the Russian national team, he won the 2014 World Championships in Minsk, gold at the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and silver at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. In addition, he has two Gagarin Cup wins to his credit — in 2017 with SKA St. Petersburg and in 2024 with Metallurg.

In an interview with Izvestia, Yegor Yakovlev shared his opinion on the ongoing suspension of the Russian national team from international competitions, spoke about the newcomers of Metallurg, life in Magnitogorsk and spoke about the emotions of the "Match of the Year".

— What are your impressions of participating in the "Match of the Year"?

— Everything is cool! For the second year in a row, I've been enjoying the match to the maximum, from how well the guys — Mikhail Sergachev and Artemy Panarin — did, that they organized everything so well. Everything is organized at the highest level. Everything has been done for the fans to see all the best Russian hockey players who play at the highest level. It was all the more important to see those guys who play abroad, because now there are no games for the Russian national team at the world Championships and the Olympic Games. And people can't see our players playing in the NHL. And the "Match of the Year" is a great opportunity to watch all the guys from overseas live. And we can see how people are interested in this — the excitement is intense, all the tickets flew out in a couple of hours. This is a very cool event — really the Match of the Year. Only positive emotions.

— Usually, the result at such exhibition events is not very seriously considered, but the way the NHL team defeated yours (15:3) makes an impression ...

— That's why people go to this match — there are no giveaways here. Everyone is playing at full strength. Our country has the best goaltending line for a reason — there are a lot of guys in the world top. And it played a role in the last match — the goalies from the NHL played great. We couldn't score any goals for Igor Shesterkin at all, and Sergey Bobrovsky also performed well — it was no coincidence that he won the Stanley Cup with Florida for the second time in a row this year. The Russian goalie line is the best in the world. Ilya Nabokov is also growing up at Magnitogorsk. However, he did not help our KHL team in the "Match of the Year", but he will leave his skills for the future (smiles).

— Does this mean that it's too early for him to go to the NHL, which has been a lot of talk this year?

— He went there to the Colorado location, apparently, returned after that with certain emotions and excitement. It's been grounded a little bit now (laughs). But it's for the best for him.

— Did this happen to many young Metallurg players who won the Gagarin Cup with you a year ago, but had a tough time in the regular season and were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by Avangard?

— We knew from the very beginning that the season would be difficult. It always happens after winning trophies. And so it turned out. I must say that we have come across a serious opponent in the person of Omsk Avangard. We played with him on equal terms, but something was missing. I think we've done the work on the mistakes and are preparing for the new season.

— Are you satisfied with the recent strengthening of Magnitogorsk in the person of Sergey Tolchinsky and Ruslan Iskhakov?

— Yes, absolutely! They are good guys, good strikers. Small, technical. They fit our system. I've already talked to both of them, offered to help them find a place to live, and so on. They are already in our team chat. Therefore, everything is fine — we are waiting for them to arrive at the club's location by the beginning of the pre-season, and we will work together.

— As a native of Magnitogorsk, what would you recommend for both of them to adapt to the city? After all, both are native Muscovites, and only Tolchinsky has played in Russia outside the capital - in Balashikha and St. Petersburg.

— I don't think there will be any difficulties. Many Metallurg players stayed in Magnitogorsk, not being native residents of the city. Take the same Sergey Mozyakin. We have all the conditions for life and work. The city is developing, and very fast. And the Park of Attraction has been built, and much more is being done in terms of landscaping — the squares have been renovated, there are enough restaurants, and children's centers. The conditions for life are as good as possible. So the guys will arrive soon, adapt, and everything will be great.

— Is it time for people from other cities and regions to stop associating Magnitogorsk only with the metallurgical plant?

— The plant is, of course, the main facility in our city. City-forming. There would probably be no city without him. Not probably, but definitely. Because half of the population works there. And there would be no hockey club, since the combine is our main owner and sponsor. But yes, that's the main thing. However, he does his best for the city and the club. And first of all, for the air, so that the ecology is at the level of an ordinary average city. Due to gas pollution, a lot is invested in wastewater treatment systems, so Magnitogorsk should by no means be afraid.

— How did you react to the story of Vityaz's disappearance from the KHL?

— Of course, there are certain moments when teams leave. And it's a pity when this happens. It was a shame when Metallurg Novokuznetsk left the KHL — the forge of our many young talents, from where there are a lot of star pupils who play significant roles in both the NHL and the KHL. And not just playing, but winning trophies — take the same Bobrovsky. And Vityaz also produced a lot of strong hockey players. I would like to have as few such unpleasant stories as possible. I hope that such teams will be able to revive and play at a high level. But for now we have what we have.

— At the beginning of the interview, you mentioned that Russian viewers currently have no opportunity except for the "Match of the Year" to see our NHL stars live, since the Russian national team does not participate in major competitions. In three and a half years of ban, have you got used to the idea that we are not at the World Championships and the Olympic Games?

— It's hard to get used to it or accept it. Sport should be outside politics — we have already said this more than once and we can repeat it again. It's a pity for the guys who haven't been able to feel the atmosphere of such major tournaments yet. It's a shame especially for the young guys who were left without the youth and junior World championships. And it's also a pity for adult hockey players that they can't play at the Olympics and other tournaments right now, which they can only have once in a lifetime. They don't miss it because of the sporting principle. Of course, this is unfair. I hope that soon the sporting principle will be not only in words, but also in deeds. And sports will be out of politics.

— You are 33 years old. Do you believe that you will be able to play until the moment when we are disbanded and you will have a chance to go to the World Cup or the Olympics again?

— I want to play as much as my health allows. I have no doubt that I will play again and will try to stay in hockey as long as possible. And then we'll see if it helps me to go with the national team to a major tournament or not.