Colorado Avalanche Alum Valeri Kamensky Gives 1-on-1 Interview with B/R

Colorado Avalanche fans remember Valeri Kamensky very well.

Kamensky moved to Denver along with the rest of the Quebec Nordiques in 1995, winning the Stanley Cup the first year that the Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche.

Kamensky also enjoyed a great deal of success in hockey long before he was a part of the Colorado Avalanche. 

Kamensky won World Junior Championships, Olympic Gold Medals, World Championships, and winning medals in the Canada Cup while playing for the Soviet Union teams that dominated the international ice hockey scene for years.

In his first year in Denver, Kamensky quickly endeared himself to the fans, scoring 38 goals and tallying 47 assists en route to Colorado's first Stanley Cup.

Since his retirement from the game of hockey, he has remained very active, and is now on the Board of Directors of the Kontinental Hockey League, which leads to his most recent community venture.

In case you were not aware, it is Russian Heritage Month, and the KHL has partnered with the Russian American Foundation, the NY Daily News, and Group 10 Development to put on two exhibition hockey games that will take place on June 18 and 19.

Which is where our conversation began.

B/R: Could you give a brief overview of the  “Battle on Ice” exhibitions that will be occurring June 18-19?

Kamensky: There are two charity games, one with firefighters from Russia, and some from New York. Another game is Russian Legends against some NHL alumni. The games will benefit a charity for families of 9/11, because it’s 10 years old this year.

B/R: How did the KHL get involved in this benefit?

Kamensky: The KHL is a sponsor for the event.  They gave us some money.  They have like four or five other sponsors.  Including the Russian American Foundation.

B/R: Firefighters are pretty competitive guys. Do you think we’ll see a pretty physical game go on?

Kamensky: Yeah, I think it will be a great game because Russian firefighters play like machines against each other, and I think NY firefighters, I got to play a couple games against some of them in practices, they play like a similar team.

B/R: You get to play as a part of the Russian Legends team, correct?

Kamensky: Yeah, (Alexander) Yakushev is coming, myself, (Alexei) Kasatonov, (Sergei) Makarov.
They are old, but still playing.

B/R: Those older Soviet teams had some pretty amazing talent on them throughout the years, how exciting is it to be included on a Russian Hockey Legends team?

Kamensky: Great experience. We know each other and have played a couple of times together.  It’s a great time.  I think it’s a great team.  Especially to help the people who have experienced 9/11.  I think it’s great.

It'll be a great game, I think, too, because everybody’s friendly, but everybody wants to win, too.

B/R: Any predictions as to who will win the games?

Kamensky: No, we’re just here to enjoy the game and we’ll see what’s going on.

I think that everybody actually wins.  Every player, everyone, all the fans, the firefighters.  It’s a big celebration.  The Russian Consulate and New York, everybody wins.

B/R: The Stanley Cup Finals just finished up, as I’m sure you’re aware.

Kamensky: Yeah, I watched it last night after the party.

B/R: You won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche, what is that feeling like for a player?

Kamensky: It’s like you’re history.  If you win a Stanley Cup, everybody asks you, even now, how many years?  Even now, they say “Wow, he won the Stanley Cup.”  Lots of guys don’t win that, even those who play really well.  It’s an amazing achievement, an amazing accomplishment.  It’s forever.

B/R: You won your Cup after a triple overtime marathon.

Kamensky: We had a tough game to win.  Triple overtime.  Uwe Krupp shot the puck from the blue line and it went in.  After that we didn’t have any power or energy, but we had to celebrate! But we had no power to celebrate.  We came back after a couple of hours to celebrate more.

We had great group of guys. A great staff, a great organization, you know: Forsberg, Sakic, Yelle, Roy, a great group of players.

B/R: That Stanley Cup weighs 35 pounds.  After three overtimes, was it heavy when it was your turn to lift the Cup?

Kamensky: It’s like I told you, When you don’t have [the energy to lift it], sometimes you have to put it down on the ice.  But it is a really happy thing when you put the Cup over your head.

B/R: What did you do with your day with the Stanley Cup?

Kamensky: I have a house in Florida, and we had a party at my house.  I put some drinks in the Stanley Cup when I brought it there.  Some kids came over and my family came and took a picture with it. The kids played hockey, too.  It was great because they see it, they touch it, and they want to win it too.

B/R: After you win a Cup, the following season, your team has a target on its back. What’s the toughest part about the season AFTER you win a Stanley Cup?

Kamensky: It's the next season.  Everybody wants to beat you because you won the Stanley Cup.  When you go to playoffs, you wanna win again but everybody plays against you with double power.  And when you lose, it’s so upsetting.

B/R: You guys did have a good follow-up season to the Stanley Cup. You (the Avalanche) actually won the President's Trophy.

Kamensky: Yeah, we had great season, but we didn’t win the Stanley Cup.

B/R: You’ve been part of several other championship teams as well, between your time on the Russian National teams and in the NHL. What would you say was your biggest accomplishment as a player?

Kamensky: I played with lots of good players, with Forsberg, Mats Sundin, Mark Messier, and the Russian 5 and Red Army National teams.  I have lots of experience with good players.

B/R: Who is the best player that you have lined up with?

Kamensky: I think Peter Forsberg…but you know, different teams give you great experiences with great players, so it’s hard to say.

B/R: How about the most difficult player to play against?

Kamensky: Against?  Probably the Russian Detroit line, you know, Fedorov, Kozlov, Larionov.  They play like a National team with speed and great checking.

B/R: You’ve been a part of both the NHL and the KHL.  What are the big differences between the two leagues?

Kamensky: The KHL is a young league, just three seasons old. The NHL has been around for like 100 years old.  That is a big difference.  We have a great group of teams in the KHL and are really growing.  They're bringing in great players from the NHL and Russia, but the NHL is already the best league in the world. That is the biggest difference.

B/R: Who is the toughest goalie that you’ve ever had to face?

Kamensky: Patrick Roy.  I think he is an amazing goalie.

B/R: Who is your current favorite player in hockey today?

Kamensky: I like Crosby, I like Malkin, Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk.  They’re great, young, good players.

B/R: As part of a lot of championship teams, chances are pretty good you had some good coaches.  Who was the best coach that you ever played for?

Kamensky: (Laughs)  Marc Crawford and Viktor Tikhonov, because I won with them.  And they used me right.

B/R: Do you keep up on how some of your former teams are performing in the NHL?

Kamensky: A little bit with the Rangers. I played a couple of alumni games with Dallas.  And we had the big Cup party in Denver last year.

B/R: With the NHL draft coming up, we're going to be seeing a lot of younger players looking to break into the league and make a name for themselves.  What advice do you have for younger players who are trying to succeed in the NHL?

Kamensky: Work hard and believe in yourself. And in your talent.

Truly a classy guy, Valeri Kamensky was very gracious to take time out of his schedule to talk with me.

As Valeri mentioned, all the proceeds from the "Battle on the Ice" goes directly to the FDNY Widow's and Children's Fund.

Those of you interested in the games can follow the links to find out how to get tickets to this event.

The arrival of the Colorado Avalanche was something that was amazing for many people in Colorado, myself included.

I was 14 years old when the Avalanche raised the Stanley Cup for the first time, and that team opened a door in me that has not been closed since.

It was truly a pleasure and an honor for me to get to speak with Valeri Kamensky.