Young Hockey Player Describes his Crazy Experiences in North America after Returning Home

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TJ Tucker
July 26, 2023 (12:41)

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For the first time in his short hockey career, Pavel Gogolev has signed on in his home country of Russia for the 2023-24 season. Gogolev, now 23, came to Canada at the age of 13 to further his potential career, which included four seasons in the Ontarion Hockey League. After bouncing around between the AHL and ECHL for the last few years, he's signed on with Sibir Novosibirsk of the KHL, which marks his first time playing pro hockey at home. In an interview about his return with Sport24.ru, Gogolev was asked to describe his experiences living in, and playing hockey in Canada and the US. He decided to let it all out.

In one section, Gogolev was asked about places he was in that he wanted to get out of right away. Adirondack in New York State was his number one most-hated location.

"Top one I can definitely name. There's this team in the ECHL, the Adirondack Thunder, based in New York State. An hour or an hour and a half away from New York City itself. And it was horrible there. There's no cafes, it's just empty. Fans were spitting on us, on our bus. When we played away there in the playoffs and left for Toronto " - Pavel Gogolev."

Gogolev was playing with the Newfoundland Growlers at the time, the ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Marlies and Maple Leafs. He did spend time with the Marlies in the AHL as well. Gogolev told a story about a team captain who was afraid of ghosts in his hotel room. He was either talking about Logan Shaw of the Marlies, or James Melindy of the Growlers. It wasn't completely clear which one he was referring to.

"And also our captain refused to live in the team hotel and rented a place for his own money. Allegedly, he met some ghosts in the hotel. He told us that he woke up in the middle of the night and could not get out of bed because someone was holding him. And when he did get up, he saw a ghost in the corner. Afterward, he told his teammate, with whom he was in the room, that they were definitely not staying here."

Gogolev also referenced Norfolk, Virgina, home of the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL. He said he couldn't believe there were prisoners working at the arena.

"The whole town there is cleanly organized for the army. The locals build American ships, and they sail from there. A lot of military, and the hockey arena is made for those who are in jail. For example, there are bars behind the sector where the fans sit. The management makes it so that the prisoners are cleaning the stadium at night, and the bars are to make sure no one escapes. Policemen walk around with machine guns."

Gogolev said he did enjoy his time playing in Newfoundland, which he called unusual and beautiful. He referenced seeing icebergs and being so close to the sinking point of the Titanic, adding he took a boat tour to the site of the tragedy.

Source: Sport24.ru