Wit

I remember when I met Steve first time in Detroit, I remember him from World Cup, but I came absolutely from clean sheet.

I don't know much about, I don't think much about, I was only 20, guys.

It was stressful enough to make that last step

Before the tournament, I only played two exhibition games and I decided, listen, nothing holds me.

I already decided probably not a long time ago, but a year or two before that, I'm going to try to find new life, new hockey life for myself.

And I left.

And it took me a few months to just get used to the idea that I'm in a different country.

I'm in Detroit.

But everybody was so nice, so that acclamation, or should I say, get accustomed to the new life, obviously went much smoother than I thought it would be.

But I was worried about a lot of things, especially when I

left uh soviet union team i was worried about parents no doubt thank god they were living up north away from moscow and so and so so i don't think so they got bothered too much but till this day did they did not talk about to me about anything uh i don't know maybe they they can't my father already watching over me from the

Sky, my mom's still doing well.

I don't know, man.

They're still quiet about if they have any sort of problems at the hometown up north where we were living.

Alex, we finished World Cup.

We won World Cup in Stockholm, Sweden.

And after a couple of days of partying, I think I've said this story, so no big deal.

After a couple of days at night, we were just about to sleep.

He goes, I'm going to Buffalo tomorrow.

come with me i'm like alex relax what i'm gonna do in buffalo and uh i didn't really take it seriously obviously being 19 at the time and i i said let's sleep over we'll talk tomorrow and eventually in the morning we chat and he goes i leave after lunch so um if you can walk me out or if you can send me on the way it'd be great so i really did uh