Ivan Demidov is one of the most intriguing prospects outside the NHL and his star is continuing to grow. The Montreal Canadiens prospect is currently playing in the KHL for SKA Saint Petersburg and is on break until December 17 due to the international games. The young forward has been called up to the Russian National team for the Channel One Cup; making his debut for the senior national team.
"This is an opportunity to spend time with the guys and stay in game shape," Demidov said in an interview with RG. "It's my first time with the Russian National team. The level of play is higher, and the food is better. But I feel on par with everyone."
On December 10, Demidov celebrated his 19th birthday, but he admitted that he couldn’t properly celebrate.
"I didn’t celebrate my birthday in any special way. It was just a regular training day. The team congratulated me, but there was no cake with candles. People also congratulated me on social media, and all the wishes were kind and pleasant in their own way."
This season in the KHL, Demidov has played 33 games scoring 20 (6+14) points, despite playing an average of 10 minutes per game. Despite the lack of playing time, the young forward remains focused on getting stronger.
Demidov has also been taking some time with the coaching staff at SKA to improve his overall game.
“Roman Rotenberg talks with me to help me perform better, but our head coach often holds them with players, and not only with young ones."
Maintaining Relationship With The Canadiens
Ivan mentioned that he is in constant contact with representatives of the Montreal Canadiens. Members of the club’s developmental staff continue to monitor his games and send him information that could help him reach new heights.
"We keep in touch with the Montreal. I get messages from team representatives after games. It’s not after every game I play, but quite often; maybe once every week or two. We discuss various things,” said Demidov.
The Canadiens even made the trip to Russia in order to meet with their young 5th overall pick. Without going too much into detail, Demidov appreciated the open dialogue with the organization; spending time to talk about his game and showing interest in his growth.
“At the end of October, representatives from the Canadiens came to St. Petersburg. We met and discussed my game."
But it isn’t just the Canadiens organization that is seemingly in love with the young forward, as fans continue to flood his social media accounts with words of encouragement and appreciation.
“Fans do write to me on social media, but they’re rarely from Russia — mostly from Montreal. Many people write to me, saying they’re waiting for me and are happy that I was chosen in the draft by the Canadiens," Demidov admitted.
Let’s just say, he’s feeling the love and it’s mutual.
Be A Pro
But being a professional hockey, player is much more than just what you do on the ice; a lot of it goes into preparation and recovery. Demidov shared that his best recovery method is a sauna; admitting that he finds time for extra training even during the season.
Demidov is a noted rink rat and spends a lot of time in the gym working on getting faster and stronger. His focus on recovery is important, given how hard he works on himself on a daily basis.
Being a professional athlete also comes with fame; a life in the public eye that will make him a recognizable figure to many hockey fans. Right now, he’s not necessarily getting the mountain of adulation and fame in Saint Petersburg that is likely awaiting him the moment he steps foot in La Belle Province.
Even former Washington Capitals’ and Carolina Hurricanes’ player Evgeny Kuznetsov, who now plays for SKA, mentioned that he goes unrecognized in Saint Petersburg.
"If Evgeny Kuznetsov isn’t recognized in St. Petersburg, then I definitely won’t be. People rarely recognize me on the streets, maybe only near the arena.”
But, judging by his social media DMs, that is likely to change very soon.
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Daria Tuboltseva
