Photo: @Galixon
After a two month absence, former Washington Capital and Hershey Bear, Stan Galiev, returned to social media on Saturday, posting a photo of himself traversing a wooden sky bridge in Russia. Galiev is currently playing for the Russian Olympic Team, which is participating in the Sochi Hockey Open this weekend in Sochi, Russia.
Galiev has been fairly quiet and nearly invisibile since the Hershey Bears season came to an end in May. In that time, Galiev has moved on from Hershey and signed a two-year deal with Ak Bars in the KHL.
Galiev was recently interviewed by Russian media, and asked about the differences between the KHL with the AHL. “The speeds here (KHL) are just as high, the level is just as high, but the playground (rink) is bigger. You have more space, you can combine more and get less fuss (battle) at the sides (along the boards). That is, you should use your skills more, your skating.”
“Speed and good hands, of course, will be needed (in the AHL), but here (in the KHL) it is more necessary to search for space. If you find it, there are high-level players here, and they will definitely give you a good pass.”
Galiev was asked about the AHL and the junior leagues of North America. “There are a lot of young prospective players in the AHL who work every day. There, if you go out on the ice, you realize that it will not be easy. There are no passing matches, the level there is good.”
If you compare it with the KHL? “There is less force struggle here, because again there are big grounds (ice) here.”
By Jon Sorensen
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Good to see Stan’s smiling face again.
Hope he does well in the KHL
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