Smashing hits, unreal snipes and aggressive hockey – that’s all part of him. He’s a true warrior who wouldn’t shy away from anything. Pavel Krutiy talks about his hockey career, love of martial arts and what Amurskie Tigry are like right now.

- Usually it’s difficult to persuade you to talk to the media. Why is that?

- The was a story two years ago. I was invited for an interview in Stupino. I was pretty tough on a few points and the interview never got published. I’m afraid I’m going to say something I shouldn’t. I don’t know, I just get nervous.

- This season you proved to be quite a goal-scorer. You put your game where your mouth is?

- My rookie season was pretty bumpy. I was young and then I got injured and couldn’t find my stride. I played badly next season, too. I reckoned this might be my last season in the JHL and I should do my best to do well. So my coaches would be happy with me. I tried my best and worked hard… Besides, I’m playing with great linemates now. That’s where the goals come from.

- Last year you had great chemistry with Gleb Lushnikov. This year it’s with Artur Gizdatullin. Could you talk about your teammates? Who’s more interesting and comfortable to play with?

- I don’t really remember what it was like last year. There were some ups and there were some downs. I’m not going to compare them. Artur Gizdatullin is a very good hockey player. He played for Chayka [Nizhny Novgorod], made it to the finals last year, he’s a master of sports, as far as I know, too. You don’t find it on everyone’s resume. I’m glad I play with him. Certainly, sometimes not everything goes our way but it’s part of hockey – anything can happen. I enjoy to play with everybody, though. Everyone has his its own style.

- Statistics suggest that you are a pure goal-scorer. It’s got to be a nice feeling being set up for a shot?

- Every player likes being set up for a shot. But I don’t have too many assists – it’s something I want to improve. Dmitry Shaburov missed a couple of shots off my assists (laughing). Obviously, I’d like to assist just as often as I score. I need to work on that. I don’t have much time left.

 - How do you feel about the team this year?

- We got the same group of guys here as last year. Everybody who came from somewhere else knows one another. Many had even played with each other before – in Rus junior hockey school or somewhere else. We became friends with them, too. We got a good group of guys here, we’re bonded. I think our team is very well capable of winning because of our team spirit.

- What’s more important – individual or team play?

- We don’t have a lot of players who can create something with an individual effort. Of course, there are a few moments now and then. But usually we win games because we’re united and we work hard. Battle for the puck, come out on top of these battles, follow the game plan – all of it is team work.

- What is the biggest challenge ‘the Tigers’ face right now?
- Our biggest problem is that we’re not in the playoff zone. We need every point we can get to make the playoffs. It’d be nice to make the playoffs not from the last spot, too. For two straight years we barely made the playoffs. Our goal right now is to win every game.

- What is the least nice team you had to play?

- I didn’t expect a question like that… Hmm, who did we lose to by the largest margin? Was it Krasnaya Armiya [Moscow]? No, I wouldn’t say they were the least… I don’t think there is a team like that. But there are a lot of tough teams to play against – Serebryanye Lvy [St. Petersburg], SKA-1946 [St. Petersburg], Krasnaya Armiya, Loko [Yaroslavl], Almaz [Cherepovets]. But I wouldn’t say there was anything out of ordinary.

- This year the battle for the playoff is even more intense – 10 teams battle for 8 spots.

- We got a crazy playoff race going on here in the West. It’s become more interesting to play in the league. Every teams wants to win, get closer to the playoffs and battle hard. I don’t know what it’s like in the East, I never played there. However, even though it took Chayka a while to get into Western Conference hockey, they’re doing well now.

- You like physical hockey. Do you see yourself as one of the toughest players in the league?

- I try my best to play as physical as I can on every inch of the ice. It doesn’t matter who I’m facing - whether he has 50 kilos or a 100 kilos on him. In any case, I can’t just let him pass. I don’t think I’m the toughest player in the league. But on my team, I guess, I’m the tough one. It’s a nice feeling (laughing).

- Last year you had a great fight with Krasnaya Armiya’s Boris Levitsky. Do you remember the fight?