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Family and patience are a virtue for the Battalion's Guskov

'It is pretty hard to live without them'
20201202 Guskov Battalion
Photo courtesy North Bay Battalion.

It has been a tough time for many Ontario Hockey League players as they wait in anticipation for a scheduled February start to the new season. 

For OHLers who live on the other side of the planet like Matvey Guskov, the delay has been tough.  

"It has been a pretty hard off-season for all of us," Guskov told BayToday via a recent Zoom Call.  

"We are just waiting for the upcoming season. Plans are always changing so we cannot know 100 per cent when it is going to start but we are hoping for good news."

See related: Guskov eager to help young Battalion

The eager Russian forward who turns 20 in late January, came over in a trade with the London Knights back on June 1.  Unable to join a pro or junior team in Russia, Guskov has focused on working hard on and off the ice. He has even decided to add boxing as a new training regiment.  

"I think it is good for your strength and everything," Matvey said.  

"It is just good to do something new. Everything is great here."

The Russian forward left home at 18 to pursue a dream of playing professional hockey and getting drafted into the National Hockey League. He was selected 42nd overall in the CHL Import Draft by the London Knights and the following summer (2019) he was taken in the fifth round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild.

At home, Guskov says he is in regular contact with the Wild staff and is even training with current Wild prospect Kirill Kaprizov on the ice in Moscow.  

"I had a chance to skate with him for a couple of weeks," said Guskov with a smile.  

"We were joking about getting chemistry for Minnesota. They are checking up on me. They want to see their prospects progress so we have done zoom calls and all that stuff so they are doing a good job."

While Guskov continues to work hard, he is not bending any rules outside the rink and he feels it is important to follow COVID-19 protocols while staying home.  

"I think everyone is understanding the situation in the whole world," he said.  

"I think in Russia it is pretty much the same as any other country. I think it is a second wave here too. 

"I go through practices and that is it. I do not go to restaurants or any big stores or malls so I am trying to stay safe. I wear a mask every day and everywhere so. It is kind of a hard time so you have to do whatever you can to help the doctors."

But what he does appreciate during the pandemic is being with family and he cherishes all the extra time he has gotten to spend with his family, including his grandparents.  

"It is pretty hard to live without them," he said.  

"I left home a couple of years ago and did not see them that often and the time change it is pretty hard as well. I can't call them any time because sometimes they are asleep or I am asleep so it is pretty hard but I am having a good time at home and I am really happy to spend time with them." 

But when the time comes, hopefully in January, Guskov does know he will have some familiar faces in North Bay.  Matvey is friends with Matvei Petrov, a fellow Russian and the first overall selection in the 2020 CHL Import draft by the Battalion last spring.   

He also has ties to the Yachmenev family as his father played pro hockey in Russia with former Centennial Vitali Yachmenev. 

"My father played with him and I am a great friend with his son Tomas when we were living in the same town when our dads were playing." 

And Guskov is hoping when the Battalion assembles, they will prove to the hockey world that they are a force to be reckoned with. 

"I think everyone is hungry for wins so we are going to do everything we can to go out there and win every game," he said.


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Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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