When people talk about SKA St Petersburg, the main subject is often Aleksey Yashin. But the KHL team has many more stars, one of which is Maxim Afinogenov. In this interview, the 31-year old forward talks about his NHL career, about the Spengler Cup and looks into the future...
''It's because of the genes'', says Maxim Afinogenov. He cannot refrain from smiling, although it isn't the first time that he's being asked about his superior skating skills.
''My mother was a track athlete'', explains the SKA St Petersburg forward. It was probably his mother who passed the talent to run fast down to him.
Denied a Stanley Cup Win
As a small boy, quick and agile Maxim exchanged the tartan track for the ice rink. It was certainly worth it: In 1999, when he was 20 years old, he was a number 69 draft pick for the Buffalo Sabres. Back then, he had no idea that he would be wearing the Sabres jersey for nine years.
Afinogenov never managed to win the Stanley Cup - not even in his last season in North America, when he played for the Atlanta Thrashers. But he still left his mark in the world's best hockey league with 395 points in 651 games.
Return to Russia - A Matter of the Heart
''I could have stayed in the NHL, there were some offers'', says the 31-year old today. That he decided to return to Russia is also lucky for the Spengler Cup. Now the spectators get to see one of the best hockey players on the ice in Davos.
Afinogenov is feeling at home in St Petersburg - this is also obvious during training, where he keeps making jokes with his teammates. His transfer back to Russia was a matter of the heart, says Afinogenov.
''After all these years abroad, I want to give something back to my country." But it's also clear that SKA pays him a very high salary. The team's financially strong sponsor Gazprom is the main reason why stars like him and Yashin don't have to worry about their future.
Combining Fun and Concentration in Davos
Afinogenov still has a five-year contract with SKA. If he stays with the club until then, he'll be 36 years old. Already now he says: ''I think I'll finish my career in Russia." He doesn't want to look too far ahead; he rather focuses on the here and now - which means the Spengler Cup. ''It's a great tournament, the teams are very strong and the crowd in the stadium is loud - playing here makes a lot of fun.''
Outside of the rink, Afinogenov is also enjoying his stay in Switzerland and, together with his girlfriend Elena Dementyeva, a former tennis star, takes great pleasure in the beautiful surroundings of Davos.
But he still concentrates on his task as a player for St Petersburg and he would very much like to win the Spengler Cup. It remains to be seen if most of the spectators in Davos would like to see this happen. But one thing is certain: Seeing SKA's number 61 dash across the ice at breathtaking speed is a sight no hockey fan would want to miss.
