Sergey Zubov Photo: HK “Sochi”
Sergejs Zubovs, the head coach of the Continental Hockey League (KHL) club Riga “Dinamo”, talked to the team representatives about the acceptance of the job offer, as well as outlined the team building process.
“I am happy and excited to take on this challenge. I am very glad that this opportunity has been given to me, as I am grateful to the management of the team and the Latvian Hockey Federation. It is probably no secret that negotiations have been going on for a long time. The main thing is to set yourself in the right direction, waiting for this job, as well as meeting with the team, hockey players and fans. It will be a new experience and, of course, there are only positive emotions. They want to get to work sooner, ”admitted Zubovs.
“Team building is a long process. At the moment, some new relationship is being formed and communication is taking place with both the coaches’ headquarters and the club’s management. At this stage, we try to resolve any issues that have arisen together. We want to have both good young hockey players and experienced players who know all the nuances of preparation and how to start and successfully complete the season. We are looking for players on both the offensive and defensive lines. It seems that we have managed to solve the problem with the goalkeepers, so the whole focus is now on building the rest of the team, ”the coach gave an insight into team building.
“Last season I didn’t work in the coaching corps, but I was associated with the Dallas” Stars “team. It can be said that the season was a success. The team gave way to a very strong opponent in the final. Overall, there are positive emotions, but at the same time the situation with Covid-19 spoiled the senses. There was a limited number of people who could be close to the club, so I decided not to renew the contract with the Dallas unit, ”the specialist looked back at the previous season.
The head coach of “Dinamo” next season will be a Russian specialist Zubov, but he will be assisted by Valery Kulibaba, Oleg Orehovsky and Edgar Lushin. Rigans have not played in the Gagarin Cup for seven consecutive seasons.
“Dinamo” currently has contracts with 14 hockey players. These are goalkeepers Matejs Mahovskis and Johans Matsons, defenders Oskars Cibuļskis, Ralfs Freibergs, Roberts Mamčics, Kristaps Sotnieks, Kristaps Zīle and Nerijus Ališauskas, as well as with forwards Gunārs Skvorcovs, Daniels Bērjens and Daniels Bērziņš, Lauris Dārziņš, Nikuris
–
