What are the highlights of LaxCon 2023. How can coaches and officials benefit from attending. When and where will the USA Lacrosse Convention take place. What new features are being introduced this year.
LaxCon 2023: A Premier Educational Event for Lacrosse Enthusiasts
The USA Lacrosse Convention, affectionately known as LaxCon, is set to make its triumphant return in 2023. This annual gathering serves as the unofficial kickoff to the lacrosse season, bringing together coaches, officials, and enthusiasts from across the country. With a stellar lineup of speakers and innovative sessions, LaxCon 2023 promises to be an unmissable event for anyone passionate about the sport.
Star-Studded Speaker Lineup: Learn from the Best in the Game
LaxCon 2023 boasts an impressive roster of speakers, featuring some of the most influential voices in lacrosse. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from:
- Michael Sowers, elite attackman known for his explosive playing style
- Lindsay Teeters, head coach of American University’s women’s lacrosse team
- Gerry Byrne, renowned defensive guru and head men’s lacrosse coach at Harvard University
- Karen Healy-Silcott, head women’s lacrosse coach at Howard University
These speakers, along with many others yet to be announced, will share their expertise, strategies, and insights to help coaches and officials elevate their game.
Innovative “Classroom to Field” Sessions: Bridging Theory and Practice
One of the most exciting enhancements for LaxCon 2023 is the introduction of extended “classroom to field” sessions. These unique learning experiences combine classroom discussions with practical demonstrations on a live field. How do these sessions work? Coaches will first explain the theory behind specific drills and strategies in a classroom setting. Then, they’ll move to the field to demonstrate these concepts in action, providing attendees with a comprehensive understanding of how to implement these techniques effectively.
Benefits of the “Classroom to Field” Approach
- Enhanced learning through visual and practical demonstrations
- Immediate application of theoretical concepts
- Opportunity to ask questions and receive real-time feedback
- Better retention of information through multi-sensory learning
Comprehensive Educational Offerings: Nearly 100 Sessions for Coaches and Officials
LaxCon 2023 offers an extensive schedule featuring nearly 100 sessions tailored specifically for coaches and officials. These diverse offerings cover a wide range of topics, ensuring that attendees can find sessions that align with their interests and professional development needs.
Sample Session Topics
- Advanced offensive and defensive strategies
- Player development techniques
- Team building and leadership skills
- Rules interpretations and officiating best practices
- Sports medicine and athlete safety
With such a comprehensive lineup, coaches and officials of all levels can expect to gain valuable insights and practical skills to enhance their performance in the upcoming season.
Sports Medicine Symposium: Focusing on Athlete Mental Health and Wellness
In partnership with presenting sponsor MedStar Health, USA Lacrosse is hosting an in-person Sports Medicine Symposium as part of LaxCon 2023. This one-day event, scheduled for Friday, January 20, 2023, will center on the critical theme of athlete mental health and wellness.
Key Features of the Sports Medicine Symposium
- Multiple sessions led by national experts
- Comprehensive information on athlete mental health
- Strategies for promoting wellness in lacrosse programs
- Networking opportunities with healthcare professionals
This symposium underscores the growing recognition of mental health as a crucial component of athlete well-being and performance. Coaches, trainers, and medical professionals attending LaxCon will gain valuable insights into supporting their athletes’ mental health needs.
Networking and Community Building: Connecting the Lacrosse World
Beyond its educational offerings, LaxCon serves as a vital networking hub for the lacrosse community. Attendees will have numerous opportunities to connect with fellow coaches, officials, and industry professionals, fostering relationships that can lead to collaboration and growth within the sport.
Networking Opportunities at LaxCon
- Informal discussions between sessions
- Dedicated networking events
- Expo hall for meeting equipment manufacturers and service providers
- Social gatherings and receptions
These networking opportunities allow attendees to share ideas, discuss challenges, and build a supportive community that extends far beyond the convention itself.
Registration and Attendance Information: Secure Your Spot at LaxCon 2023
LaxCon 2023 is scheduled to take place from January 20-22, 2023, at the Baltimore Convention Center. Early registration is highly encouraged, as it offers significant savings for attendees.
Key Registration Details
- Venue: Baltimore Convention Center
- Dates: January 20-22, 2023
- Early registration deadline: November 30, 2022
- Savings: Up to $75 for advance registration
USA Lacrosse members can take advantage of special pricing on gold, silver, and bronze level registrations. To secure the best rates and ensure your spot at this premier event, visit the official USA Lacrosse website for registration information.
Conclusion: LaxCon 2023 – Your Gateway to Lacrosse Excellence
The USA Lacrosse Convention 2023 stands as a testament to the sport’s growth and the dedication of its community. With its unparalleled educational offerings, star-studded speaker lineup, and innovative session formats, LaxCon provides an invaluable opportunity for coaches, officials, and enthusiasts to elevate their understanding and appreciation of lacrosse.
From the cutting-edge “classroom to field” sessions to the crucial focus on athlete mental health, LaxCon 2023 addresses the most pressing needs and emerging trends in the sport. By attending, participants not only gain knowledge and skills but also become part of a larger movement to advance the game of lacrosse.
As the lacrosse world eagerly anticipates this annual gathering, one thing is clear: LaxCon 2023 is poised to set a new standard for lacrosse education and community building. Whether you’re a seasoned coach, a new official, or simply passionate about the sport, LaxCon offers something for everyone. Don’t miss this chance to be part of lacrosse history in the making.
Register now and prepare to immerse yourself in three days of learning, networking, and inspiration that will shape the future of lacrosse. See you in Baltimore!
LaxCon | USA Lacrosse
Submitted by blogue
on Wed, 01/18/2023 – 16:46
Kylie Ohlmiller should have been devastated. Yet all she could do was smile.
Less than 24 hours after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the waning minutes of the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship semifinals at Towson, Ohlmiller’s U.S. teammates presented her with a black leatherbound scrapbook filled with pictures, notes and drawings — a keepsake she might not have today if it were not for the injury.
Submitted by blogue
on Mon, 01/09/2023 – 15:51
LaxCon is back to kick off the 2023 lacrosse season and the schedule, featuring nearly 100 sessions for coaches and officials, has been released. LaxCon takes place from Jan. 20-22 at the Baltimore Convention Center and attendees can save $75 by registering in advance.
Submitted by gpohanian
on Wed, 01/04/2023 – 14:43
As one of the most dynamic players in lacrosse, Michael Sowers attributes much of his speed and explosiveness to his commitment to footwork training.
This year at the USA Lacrosse Convention in Baltimore, Sowers will share some of the training secrets that have helped elevate him to elite attackman status.
LaxCon, annually the sport’s largest educational and networking event, takes place at the Baltimore Convention Center, Jan. 20-22, 2023.
Submitted by blogue
on Wed, 12/28/2022 – 13:56
American University head coach Lindsay Teeters will be among the featured speakers at the USA Lacrosse Convention from Jan. 20-22, 2023, in Baltimore. LaxCon, annually the sport’s largest educational and networking event, takes place at the Baltimore Convention Center.
LaxCon Information and Registration
Submitted by blogue
on Wed, 12/21/2022 – 09:52
“Brick by brick” and “one step at a time” — ’Tis the season for coach speak. As preview issues — including USA Lacrosse’s — and features begin to circulate, coaches focus on discussing how teams aren’t trying to get ahead of themselves, even if year-end, big-picture goals include conference and national titles.
Submitted by blogue
on Thu, 12/15/2022 – 13:43
Noted defensive guru Gerry Byrne, the head men’s lacrosse coach at Harvard University, will be among the featured speakers at the USA Lacrosse Convention from Jan. 20-22, 2023 in Baltimore. LaxCon, annually the sport’s largest educational and networking event, takes place at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Registration Link
Submitted by gpohanian
on Thu, 12/08/2022 – 15:51
USA Lacrosse, in partnership with presenting sponsor MedStar Health, is hosting an in-person Sports Medicine Symposium on Friday, January 20, 2023 at the Baltimore Convention Center. With a central theme of athlete mental health and wellness, the one-day event will feature multiple sessions with national experts providing comprehensive information on this important topic.
Submitted by blogue
on Tue, 11/22/2022 – 14:35
SPARKS, Md.
— The speaker lineup for LaxCon 2023 is beginning to take shape and it features some of the leading voices in the game to help coaches and officials get ready for the 2023 season. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The USA Lacrosse Convention takes place at the Baltimore Convention Center from Jan. 20-22, 2023 and USA Lacrosse members can save on the gold, silver and bronze levels by registering by Nov. 30, 2022.
Submitted by blogue
on Wed, 10/26/2022 – 18:04
SPARKS, Md. —
Submitted by blogue
on Thu, 01/13/2022 – 16:17
The annual ceremonial kickoff to the lacrosse season will be back in person this year with the USA Lacrosse Convention taking place from Jan. 14-16 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Here are some highlights and key pieces of info for this year’s convention:
Subscribe to LaxCon
USA Lacrosse Convention Speaker Lineup Begins to Take Shape
SPARKS, Md.
— The speaker lineup for LaxCon 2023 is beginning to take shape and it features some of the leading voices in the game to help coaches and officials get ready for the 2023 season. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The USA Lacrosse Convention takes place at the Baltimore Convention Center from Jan. 20-22, 2023 and USA Lacrosse members can save on the gold, silver and bronze levels by registering by Nov. 30, 2022.
Among the enhancements for this upcoming year’s LaxCon is extended “classroom to field” sessions where coaches combine a classroom session discussing how drills and strategies are designed to work and then demonstrate those points on the live field:
Karen Healy-Silcott, the head women’s lacrosse coach at Howard University, will lead one of those sessions with Alexis Joseph (assistant coach, Howard) and Megan Whittle (bronze medalist, England) handling breakout sessions on the offensive and defensive aspects of the presentation.
Stephy Samaras, a longtime college coach and now the director of strategic growth for ScoreBreak, will lead a classroom to field session with USA gold medalist Molly Hendrick focused on the defensive ride.
Jim Stagnitta, best known for his two Premier Lacrosse League championships with Whipsnakes LC and success as a college coach, is also a current high school coach at The Hun School (N.J.). Stagnitta will lead a classroom to field session focusing on the fundamental concepts that can make any offensive set work.
Men’s Coaching Track
One of the best to ever play the sport, Casey Powell, is among the debut speakers at LaxCon. Powell, a National Lacrosse Hall of Fame member as a player, also has a long history of coaching and teaching. He will share his passion for the game and showcase the skills, drills and thrills that make it so much fun. Another Hall of Famer and former national team star speaking is Roy Colsey (head coach, Ridgefield High School).
Among the other men’s coaching speakers confirmed are: Chris Collins (assistant coach, Redwoods LC), Greg Gurenlian (co-founder, FaceOff Academy) and Michael Sowers (player, Waterdogs LC).
Women’s Coaching Track
The women’s coaching track includes college head coaches Brittney Morris (St. Mary’s, Md.) and Lindsey Teeters (American University) alongside top high school and club coaches. One of the USA stars of the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship — Ally Mastroianni — will lead a session on explosive dodging and one of the breakout presenting stars from last year’s LaxCon, former UMass draw specialist Caitlyn Petro, is back for an encore presentation.
Box Track
The box track includes some of the biggest names in the sport, including current Buffalo Bandits head coach John Tavares who set a record as the National Lacrosse League’s all-time leading scorer. Also speaking will be two star players from the Bandits — Josh Byrne and two-time NLL MVP Dhane Smith.
Men’s Officials Track
Taught by leading officials, there are numerous sessions to help men’s officials improve their skills and advance in the ranks. Among the featured presentations are Gordon Corsetti (Reverse War Stories: Adventures in Epic Failure), Kevin Forrester (Are You a Good Lacrosse Official), Michael Hyland (Seeing Fouls From a Coach’s View), David Malquist (An Assignor’s View: How to Climb the Ladder) and Sean Murphy (You Make the Call).
Women’s Officials Track
The women’s officials track includes many of the top officials in the sport. Among the featured sessions are Lynn Bowers (Mechanics and Protocols for the Collegiate Game), Barbara Martinichio (Sportsmanship: Bringing Integrity and Civility Back to the Game), Jodi Michna (Dangerous Use of the Stick: A 2023 Point of Emphasis), Colleen Spiegelhoff (A 3D Look at Shooting Space) and Mara Wager (An Assignor’s View: How to Climb the Ladder).
FanFest
LaxCon is also a time for players and fans to get involved with a one-day FanFest on Jan.
21. FanFest showcases some of the sport’s biggest stars participating in demos and clinics and offers autograph options. Get up close and personal with your favorite players and favorite gear. Advance FanFest tickets are as low as $10 for students.
FanFest Tickets
About USA Lacrosse
USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, leads the U.S. National Teams Program and establishes universal standards. With nearly 400,000 members across the country, USA Lacrosse unites the community of players, coaches, officials, parents, and program leaders. Working together, we inspire participation, enrich the athlete experience, and support the growth of the sport.
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..]Russian hockey player refused the Rangers, became the champion of Denmark and created a blockchain business – May 7, 2018
Artem Gaev
Grant Getadaryan
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Kirill Kabanov – about the main mistake in his career, Putin and the blocking of Telegram.
At the end of the 2000s, Kirill Kabanov was considered one of the most talented Russian hockey players. He made his debut in the KHL at the age of 16 years and 4 months – this record has not been broken so far.
Experts called the striker a contender for the first number of the 2010 NHL Draft, some scouts rated Kabanov higher than today’s stars of the world’s strongest league Tyler Seguin and Taylor Hall. Alas, the striker failed to build a career in North America, and after returning to Russia, Kirill spent only 13 matches in Salavat Yulaev and Neftekhimik in two seasons. After leaving the Nizhnekamsk club, Kabanov began to be forgotten in Russia, and this April it became known that the striker became the champion of Denmark as part of Aalborg. In an interview with Sport24, the hockey player spoke about the country where the World Cup is being held these days, his own business and political views.
aalborgpirates.dk
“I SOUGHT I LEARNED TO PLAY HOCKEY”
– Your last Russian club is Neftekhimik. What did not work out in Nizhnekamsk?
– When I first arrived at Neftekhimik, they told me that they see me as a player of the first or second link, they will give me time in the majority and in general I will play a lot.
In fact, none of this happened – in five matches for the team from Nizhnekamsk, I spent less than 10 minutes on the ice. Yes, in these games I did not score a single point, but what kind of statistics can we talk about with such playing time? That being said, I don’t blame anyone. It was just a completely ruined season for me. And for the team too – the coaches were constantly changing, but Neftekhimik still did not make it to the playoffs.
– What happened next?
– After saying goodbye to Neftekhimik, I waited two months for offers. They said that there would be some options, but no specifics appeared. Then I was invited to the Swedish championship, but the agent convinced me not to go there – he was preparing an option in the KHL. As a result, 5 days before the deadline, I ended up in the Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo. I worked these days with the team and they told me: “If you want, stay and train. But you won’t play.” This, of course, did not suit me.
– Were there any chances to be in the KHL club last summer?
– There was interest from Dynamo Riga – they offered me a viewing contract.
But I immediately had the feeling that I would go there, spend a certain number of games and training, after which they would explain to me that I didn’t fit in some parameters. At the same time, I know myself very well, I know what advantages I have, what benefits I can bring to the team. But after not playing for eight or nine months, I realized that in a short period of time I would not be able to show the coaches what I was capable of. This is the kind of sport we have – without game practice in hockey, nowhere. I didn’t want to waste two months just like that, and I refused Riga. I needed to find a team that would believe in me.
– Such a club was found in Denmark. How did you get into this non-hockey country?
– The main reason I ended up at Aalborg is head coach Brandon Reed. Russian fans should remember him, he played for CSKA, where he ended his playing career. Reed called me and said: “We have a young team, we don’t have a lot of money, but come anyway.
Play the season, declare yourself, reboot. I almost immediately replied that I was ready – in any case, than sitting at home and doing nothing special. I immediately warned Reid about the long-term absence of practice – he assured that there would be no problems because of this, I would have time to adapt and, in general, I would feel comfortable in Denmark.
– Did Reed keep his word?
– Complete. It took me a long time to get involved – in the first 13 matches I scored only one goal. But no one pulled me. The coach, despite my statistics, my removals, continued to believe in me. And this faith of the coach, the staff of the team motivated and liberated me. As a result, I scored more than 30 points in the regular season (I can’t say more precisely, I never closely followed the statistics) and another 12 in the playoffs. It’s hard to believe, but this season I began to play in the minority on a regular basis – before that, I had not been considered in such a role at all in any club.
But at Aalborg we tried and ended up at the top of the league in blocked shots. Now I’m ready to say unequivocally that coach Brandon Reed brought me back to hockey.
aalborgpirates.dk
– Were there any negative thoughts during the goalless streak at the start of the season?
– To be honest, at that moment I was thinking of hanging my skates on a nail. During the forced downtime, I tried to start my non-hockey business, everything seemed to work out well, I was interested, so I thought about quitting and doing it. The main thought at the start of the season is that I really forgot how to play hockey. In general, morally, it was very hard, but I understood that life does not end on hockey. I am very grateful to my wife, who strongly supported me at that moment – she was there all the time and additionally motivated me.
– Your contract with Aalborg has ended. Do you already have plans for next season?
– I already have offers from Austria and Sweden, but signing a contract for the sake of a contract is no longer about me.
Brandon Reid has recently signed a contract with the German Krefeld, and if there is such an opportunity, I will go to a coach who believes in me. Ask any hockey player – sitting and watching other guys play is always hard. You can still put up with that when you’re young, but then you get older and you want to get more playing time. Because you begin to understand that a career will only last 15-20 years. During this time, you need to have time to play enough and participate, that you are still a hockey player, not a spectator.
– Does the hockey player Kabanov have his own rituals? How do you prepare for matches?
– I used to try to tune myself somehow. And then with time it all went away. I just drink coffee, go stretch. I don’t do anything special.
– You have a Guns’n’Roses tattoo, where does your love for rock come from? Now hockey players are more into rap and pop music.
– I love rock, indie rock. Lately I’ve been listening to Splin, Bi-2, foreign music of the 80s a lot.
There are no comrades for the taste and color. The Killers, MGMT, Guns’n’Roses – that’s what I love.
“THE CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION WAS WILD”
– You played in the KHL, Sweden, North American leagues, there is nothing to compare with. What is the level of the Danish Championship?
– Good, fast hockey is played here, there is a lot of contact on the court. To be honest, I thought it would be much easier. There are a lot of young guys with good data in the league, I noticed that almost all of them are very technical. Of course, neither with the Swedish championship, nor with the KHL can not be compared. But there is something in common with our league. For example, the difference in the level of teams is too noticeable. This season, for the first time in 20 years, the championship was won by more than one of the three clubs – Esbjerg, Herning or Frederikshavn. Usually everything played out between them, but this year our Aalborg intervened.
Agree, it is somewhat similar to the KHL, where there are several elite teams and all the rest.
– Are there any well-known hockey players, former NHL stars, playing in the Danish league?
– I can’t say anything about the NHLers – somehow I didn’t check this information. The most popular hockey players here are the players of the Danish national team. I would single out the captain of Aalborg Julian Jacobsen – a very cool striker. It seems to be of a defensive plan, but in most cases it can also give a good bee. There is also Morten Green from Rungsted, who is also a popular player here. By the way, this season, Aalborg players have been called up to the national team noticeably more often, before this was not the case. It was said that this season the team began to play better.
– Are there Russian hockey players in the league besides you?
– No, there are definitely no Russians. Ours prefer to stay in the VHL and even in lower leagues than go to Europe.
– Are there many foreigners in general? For example, in Aalborg?
– We had 9 foreign players in our team – Canadians, Swedes, Czechs and me. But one must understand that Aalborg’s opportunities are not the most serious – the club is only sixth in the league in terms of payroll. Our championship in Denmark was perceived by everyone as nonsense.
aalborgpirates.dk
– What is the city of Aalborg? Did you like it there?
– The city is small but very cozy. It’s probably the best city I’ve ever played in. Even not so – not the best, but the most comfortable. No traffic jams, no snow in winter – I was very impressed. And the most beautiful city, in my opinion, is Ufa.
– The club from Aalborg became the Danish champion for the first time in 38 years. Was the celebration wild?
– I would say wild (laughs). True, after the final match I stayed in the city for only two days – I wanted to visit my family and the club let me go.
But I managed to feel the scale of the holiday. The very next day after the final, we were received by the mayor of the city, then there was a big championship parade, and we had time to sit with the guys for a while. But as far as I know, the residents of the city continue to celebrate our victory to this day, and after all, a week and a half has already passed.
– How popular is ice hockey in Denmark? The World Cup is taking place right now in the country.
– I can give you specific numbers directly. At the beginning of the season, 3,000-3,500 people attended our matches. But for all the playoff matches, the arena was completely filled, sold out. Our palace can accommodate 5,000 fans, which is quite enough for a small town. In general, in the cup matches there were full houses in all the cities in which we played. At the same time, all arenas are very comfortable. Hockey in Denmark is now very actively developing – there is serious money, sponsors from around the world come, a lot of attention is paid to children’s sports.
For example, three hockey schools are listed under Aalborg at once.
– How popular are hockey players in Aalborg? Did you get recognized on the streets?
– The city is very hockey friendly, people get sick just fine, I’m glad that there are a lot of young people in the stands. As the season progressed, the support became steeper and more and more people came up to us on the street, said something, took autographs. I did not expect this at all.
– How do people get sick in Denmark?
– I think it’s the same everywhere in Europe. There is a fan sector – these are standing places and there are the most active fans. People go to hockey, people drink at hockey (laughs). But everything is within reason. For the whole season, people were taken out of the stands a couple of times, but no more.
– Have you made any progress in learning Danish in a year?
– I understand Swedish a little, and they are similar to Danish, but I decided not to bother with learning the language.
If I had signed a contract for several years, it would be another matter, but it didn’t make much sense. But I was surprised that all Danes speak English as their mother tongue. It is spoken in schools, in social institutions, and even any documents in English are enough to be notarized and not translated into Danish – this is very convenient.
– Hockey players who move to another country are first taught by partners to swear in the local language. Have you been taught?
– No, I don’t even know such words (smiles). The whole team, all the staff, all the management of Aalborg – everyone communicates in English. It turns out that it is almost impossible to hear Danish in the locker room.
– What is your main motivation in hockey today?
– First of all, I want stability. There is a desire to find a team again where they will trust me. Of course, I want it to be an elite division club, no matter what country I find myself in.
Like any hockey player, I have a desire to play in the best leagues. But the most important thing is to play, not sit.
“Didn’t even consider the Rangers offer”
– If you look back now, were there any things in your hockey life that you regret today?
– There is one such situation. My wife and I went to the USA, the New York Rangers first gave me a viewing contract, and then offered to sign a two-way contract. Then I thought that this was not the best option – I would have to play in the AHL, and at that moment I was actively invited to Ufa. I wanted to play in the KHL, in a good league, against good players and get good money. So I didn’t even seriously consider the Rangers offer. I asked for time to think a little, but the very next day I went to the general manager and said that I was returning to Russia. This is the only time I should have done otherwise. As for the rest, I wouldn’t want to change anything. I have a cool family, two sons – this is the most important thing.
From the personal archive of Kirill Kabanov
– It’s time to talk about the family. Where and how did you meet your wife?
– It was in New York. I was at a friend’s birthday party, went outside, saw a beautiful girl and decided to get acquainted – that’s how it all started. She is from Ukraine, from the city of Chernihiv, in New York she worked as a model. Both of us had a fairly busy schedule, for some time we had to live in two, even three countries. Already in the course of the next season, I proposed to her, we got married, a year later our son Timothy was born, and two more years later, Luka.
– Does your eldest son have a taste for hockey?
– So far it’s hard to judge, the child is only two years old, but I can say that he spends a lot of time with a stick in his hands, and in general the guy is active – it can be very difficult to keep track of him.
– Your wife is from Ukraine. Does the family discuss the tense political situation between our countries?
– Let the politicians discuss it – we are very far from it.
I believe that people who are far from politics, do not understand it, should not speak out on such serious topics. I, as a Russian, will always support our country. But there is absolutely no desire to get involved in any discussions. I will not touch religion and politics. I can only say that I support the current president of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
– Do you follow the activities of the Russian opposition, for example, Alexei Navalny?
– No, I’m far from it. From time to time something pops up on Youtube, but I was not particularly interested.
– One of the most discussed events of recent weeks in Russia is the blocking of the Telegram messenger. Isn’t this a kink?
– I agree that this is wrong and that people should not be deprived of freedom of speech and communication. But in my understanding, our state resorts to such measures solely for security purposes. It is clear that personal correspondence should remain private, as far as I know, this is even confirmed by international conventions.
But in the case of Russia and Telegram, I would not consider everything as an attempt to interfere in personal life. Rather, it is a way to protect citizens of the Russian Federation, for example, from threats of terrorist attacks – we all remember Nord-Ost and Domodedovo. Another question is if the state, when blocking a popular messenger, pursues some other goals. To avoid such suspicions, it is necessary to identify specific departments that will monitor private correspondence, but also establish control over them – these departments will have to deal exclusively with anti-terrorist issues. If so, I’ll be all for it.
– You mentioned your own business. I want details.
– Initially, I became interested in cryptocurrency. I met interesting people from the IT-sphere, and we can say that they very quickly lured me to their side. It became very interesting for me, I studied how blockchain technology works, how data is created and transferred. It is clear that I did not learn programming languages, but I still tried to figure it out to the maximum.
I hired people, now we are launching our website – it will be a platform for letting and renting housing, real estate, vehicles and providing services. The name of the platform will be “Jumper”, in Russian “Prygun”, because it is intended for travelers, people who are constantly jumping from place to place.
– What are the main differences between your project and others similar to it?
– Everything will be connected to artificial intelligence technologies – this will ensure the processing of user data without the participation of third parties. Absolutely all the data that our system will collect will not be available to people. They will be “digested” by artificial intelligence. This data will be stored on the blockchain, where each user will have their own personal key. Thanks to all this, we will be able to guarantee the user the quality and reliability of the services provided, as well as their objective assessment.
Let me give you an example.
I am coming to another country with children and want to use babysitting services. But I can’t trust those sites that provide such a service now, because the ratings and comments on these resources are mostly paid. On our platform, all information about a person offering their services can be found by real comments and objective ratings. Because all this will be monitored not by people, but by artificial intelligence.
– What about the project budget?
– We have signed an agreement with a very serious company, until I can voice its name. Plus, several large Russian businessmen are involved in the project, the search for new investors is also ongoing, and I myself am investing. I invest because I believe in it, I believe in blockchain technology and I believe that in the coming years it will replace the concept of a centralized Internet, make it completely decentralized, accessible to even more people. Our platform will be available next year, but so far without the introduction of artificial intelligence, that is, at the first stage, people who trust us will join us.
And already in 2020, we will fully automate everything and make money to the fullest.
“THE ROAD TO KUCHEROV IS OPEN FOR GUSEV”
– Are you interested in the Continental Hockey League? Do you watch matches?
– Of course. I liked Ak Bars – a cool team. CSKA played well, especially Kirill Kaprizov – a fast, nimble, good thrower, hungry guy before the game. SKA is understandable, also in order, Nikita Gusev is a handsome man. I would like to congratulate all the guys on their victory at the Olympic Games. We are proud of them.
– Did you watch the final of the Olympics?
– Yes, of course. Someone then wrote to me then – without Gus they would not have won. Hello, well done guys! I am especially happy for the young – the same Kaprizov and Gusev. They are the new stars of hockey, it’s nice to watch how they play.
– Can one of our guys shoot in the NHL in the near future?
– Nikita Gusev has definitely matured.
He is a professional, Olympic champion. I think that the road to Tampa Bay, to Nikita Kucherov, is open to him.
– Do you have a feeling that hockey in Europe is developing faster than in Russia? The same Germany pulled itself up.
– Hockey in Europe is moving by leaps and bounds. Forgive me, but we need to cut the budgets of the clubs and make them more or less the same. Roughly speaking, it is necessary to develop our sport, not Chinese. Be sure to invest in the development of young hockey players and set the flow of salaries in the KHL. This is the only way to bring clubs to a new level. I would like the conditional match between SKA and Ugra to be interesting to watch, for Lada to return to the league, for other teams to appear that are really interesting for the fans. The more high-quality arenas there are in Russia, the more pupils from our own schools are attracted, the faster hockey will develop – both as a business and as a spectacle. I would like to raise not only a new generation of hockey players, but also a new generation of fans who would support their club from childhood.
This is my understanding, even though I am not a functionary.
– Doesn’t it sound crazy from Europe that most KHL clubs are funded from the state or regional budget?
– Again, I am not a functionary yet, although, perhaps, with time I will get more involved in this, study these issues. But in Europe, a lot really depends on sponsors. When I played for the Swedish Skelleftea, there were 1700 sponsors and they all owned shares in the club. In Russia, the majority of people interested in hockey are people who occupy some high positions in the country and regions, but there is practically no small-scale sponsorship in our sport. Take SKA for example. They did a great job in terms of marketing, made the club popular, but other teams do not have such a budget, so it is much more difficult for them to get people interested, to attract them to the stands. The money is spent on signing more or less quality players – the only way to be at least a little competitive against the background of the same Peter.
But funds for work with fans often do not remain.
aalborgpirates.dk
– What is your prediction – how will the Russian team perform at the hockey world championship?
– The team has a new head coach – very good, young ambitious, he has something to prove at the international level. He has already shown himself in the KHL. Vorobyov knows how to build a championship team, so I don’t think he will have any problems in the national team. So the forecast is the most optimistic. Even if many players did not make it to the national team, ours remain the favorites of the World Cup.
– The World Championship takes place in two cities – Copenhagen and Herning. What can you say about the arenas where the best teams in the world play?
– The arena in Copenhagen is not intended for hockey matches. Her main specialization is concerts, handball tournaments. When we played there, the ice was very soft, the palace itself is not designed to support normal ice.
I don’t know if it was possible to solve this problem for the World Cup, but I’m sure that professionals work there and they figured everything out. In Denmark, there is a lot of excitement around the tournament, people are buying tickets in batches. In general, hockey in this country is successfully doing business – you have to pay for everything. The cheapest ticket for national championship matches costs $15. You come to the arena, you need to buy a hot dog, beer, a cap – again, income for the club. People are trying to make money on hockey, but it only makes the fans feel better, the quality of services is growing. The World Championship in Denmark will also be held at the highest level – I have no doubt.
More hockey interviews on Sport24:
“Znarok said goodbye to each SKA player personally.” Hockey player who did not go to the NHL for the Olympics
“The KHL should give me a discount card to pay fines.” Russia’s toughest defender
“Pyeongchang would give a car to my parents for gold.
