[gvitaly]

20:00 Dinamo Minsk in Sharangovich’s career

- Okay, let's recap. After you left the AHL during that season, you practiced, met Dasha. In general, you worked at the gym, skated in Minsk, waited for the AHL to resume its season. Eventually you ended up in Dynamo Minsk. That's the 2nd time you suited up for Dynamo Minsk. The first was in the 17-18 season, under Woodcroft. Then you returned to the team. How easy of a decision was it for you?

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

My first season was under Gordie Dwyer.

- The first season was under Gordie Dwyer, this was your 2nd stint with the team in 2020. Did you have an option to go back to the AHL, or did you know that they won't be resuming the season?

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

We didn't really know anything. There were a bunch of rumors. We didn't know if and when the AHL season would resume. In June, or maybe even late May, I was in constant communication with Dan, and I asked him to come to an agreement with NJ about me starting the season in the KHL. So that I could have a good preseason, and start playing with them[in the KHL]. So that I would return once the AHL/NHL training camps start. As a result, I left in February.

- I think it was in January.

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

No you're right. It was at the end of December. The new year was right around the corner, and it was just before Christmas.

- You probably had your first game in the beginning of January. So you were the one that initiated playing for Dynamo. You wanted a full preseason, a team, meaningful hockey, and go from there.

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

Yes, because when you sit at home, it's boring. You want to practice. It would've been difficult just watching guys in the KHL play while I just sit at home and workout. It's much better to start playing than just stick to off ice workouts. Even if I would've made it into only a couple of preseason games, it would've still been better than sitting from March until January without hockey.

23:15 Draft to New Jersey (preparing to go to Toronto)

- Do you remember your pre-draft conversations? Now we're going to have another draft with Artem Levshunov, that's going to be a high pick this year. We get a lot of news about the strange questions the teams ask from players, how was it for you? What calls, or video calls did you get, before the draft?

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

First of all, I was a bit old for the draft. You can say that I was late by 2 years. That year, they were drafting players born in 2000, while I was born in 1998. I didn't get any calls. Dan was the one talking to teams. I knew that I had the highest chance to get drafted by Toronto. With the pick, that was 2 spots after NJ. Dan and I knew that I would probably go in rounds 4-6. A bit of a late pick, because I didn't have that great of a season with Dynamo. I didn't put up that many points. We even opened a Canadian visa, because we thought that I would go to Toronto for development camp. As a result I was sitting at home, watching the draft on TV, I've been sitting there for a while, and the moment before I got drafted the TV cut out to commercial. After the commercial ended, I just saw my name higher on the draft board.

- So you didn't get to feel the moment of being drafted?

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

Yeah, I didn't get to hear the moment my name was called.

- How did you feel about it?

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

I was very happy to get drafted. Because my first goal was to get drafted. Those were unforgettable feelings, I immediately called my parents, Dan called me, congratulated me for being drafted. It was an amazing feeling.

- You signed your ELC very quickly

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

Yes.

- So they drafted you with the intent of you playing games, and not just to get your rights.

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

I think it had to do with the fact that I was already 20 at the time, 19 or 20. That's why they gave me the ELC, so that I would move to NA right away. They asked me right away if I was willing to come over? Which I immediately agreed to.

26:22 Friendship with Kulakov

- Let's get back to your 17-18 season with Dynamo. What memories do you have from that season about the locker room and friendships you made.

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

17-18 was quite the season. At first, I felt uncomfortable entering the locker room, because I was 18 surrounded by men. I didn't know if I should refer to them with a formal or more casual speech. In the dressing room it was always nice with Kulak, there were 2 people Kulakov and Stepanov, that kept things light, and maintained a positive atmosphere in the dressing room. You can say that they'd never shut up, always joking around, keeping things fun. With Sasha Kulakov we're still in touch, we talk to each other a lot. In fact, I'm even driving Kulakov's car right now.

- That's right, you drove here using Kulakov's car, while he's with his family on vacation. What's your relationship like? How often do you talk to each other when you're abroad? Do you hang out often when you're in Belarus?

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

With Sasha, we stay in touch from the time I was in Dynamo. We'd meet pretty frequently. Now we get together with our families. Last year we drove to their place out of town for a barbecue. No, last year they came to our place.

- But you weren't barbecuing Kebabs at your place

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

Why?

- Kulak told me

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

I did, he's just giving me a hard time.

- Yes, he's just a Kebab master

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

Yes, he makes very good Kebabs. You can't compare them to mine. It's probably why he told you I didn't make anything.

- Is it true, that while you're in a bit of a scoring drought, you message Kulakov

Originally Posted by Sharangovich

I think that was a bit more of a coincidence. That said, he thinks that if I'm in a goal scoring drought and I send him a text, or call him, then I'm going to score in the next game. It happened quite frequently that way, actually. He even told me that he might start charging me royalties

- I understand he just attributes his wizardry to your scoring.