Goalkeeper Konstantin Barulin, well known to Finns, told stories about Finns.
Konstantin Barulin was unable to stop the young Mikael Granlund’s aerial feats in the spring of 2011. Tuomo Tenhunen
by Mikael Granlund The air wave goal is one of the most amazing individual performances in the World Ice Hockey Championship. The Russian goalkeeper who ended up on the same stamp as the Finnish player Konstantin Barulin remembers that goal very well, which propelled the Lions to the final match, which ended 6–1, and to the second world championship.
Barulin describes Championatin in an interview, paint as one of the most amazing that he has let behind his back. Nevertheless, the setback had to be dealt with separately.
– People have done those tricks, but only at club level. Now it was a World Cup semi-final where you couldn’t hide. It was essential to get over it and not let it go. It was a great, beautiful paint. I tried to analyze it so that it wouldn’t remain in my head as a mental burden, Barulin says,
Barulin, who is still continuing his career at the age of 39, defends pucks at the Swedish third level in the city of Borås. Venäläislehti wanted to ask him about the most interesting moments of his career. Barulin mentioned other Finns in addition to Granlund.
Summanen argued
Raimo Summanen coached Omsk twice. ATTE KAJOVA
In the 2014-2015 season, Barulin played for Avangard Omsk, coached by a temperamental commander Raimo Summanen. The goalkeeper remembers moments when Summanen got angry with opponents, referees or fans and came to apologize to the players for his behavior at the end of the night.
Barulin especially remembers the moment when nothing seemed to come of the return home.
– As I remember, we lost in Nizhnekamsk. We boarded the plane. When the plane was ready for departure, Summanen got into an argument with a player. He rushed into the cockpit and demanded that the plane stop. He wanted to throw the player off.
– The assistant coaches intervened and calmed down the situation. Later we had a chat in the dressing room.
Summanen coached in Omsk on two different occasions in 2009–2012 and 2013–2015.
When asked about the most annoying opponent in his career, Barulin mentions the following Finnish name. The answer is not surprising.
– We all remember Leo Komarov, who was the league’s chief provocateur. Several times he came to poke the guards with his stick and said “Baru, Baru, mate, everything is fine”. Outside Kaukalo, we talked in a good spirit. Leo is a good guy. An interesting conversationalist and good-natured person, Barulin praises.
Komarov played in the KHL in six different seasons. Today, the experienced Lions player represents Helsinki IFK. The attacker, who has returned to Finland, will be sidelined for months due to an injury sustained in a practice match.