Alex Kovalev on acting, playing in Montreal, and living life to the fullest

03/25/21 • 57 min

1 Listener

The Alumni Lounge: A Montreal Canadiens Podcast

0:00 Introduction

7:20 Beginning of interview

7:33 Kovy on his many nicknames

8:51 Living in Moscow

9:20 Transition to coaching

11:58 Turning to acting after retiring

14:54 Racing around the tracks with Breezer

17:00 Being a pilot

18:15 Being traded to Montreal

24:37 Favorite memories of being a Habs

29:45 Leaving home at age 14

34:43 Style of play inspired by different players

39:30 Playing with Lemieux, Gretzky and Messier

40:07 Being a leader no matter what role he plays

41:45 Famous 7-minute shift with the Rangers

47:33 Bob Gainey’s role in reviving Kovy’s season in 2009

51:35 Disappointing end to NHL career

54:51 Importance of saving money

56:12 Living life to the fullest

0:00 Introduction

7:20 Beginning of interview

7:33 Kovy on his many nicknames

8:51 Living in Moscow

9:20 Transition to coaching

11:58 Turning to acting after retiring

14:54 Racing around the tracks with Breezer

17:00 Being a pilot

18:15 Being traded to Montreal

24:37 Favorite memories of being a Habs

29:45 Leaving home at age 14

34:43 Style of play inspired by different players

39:30 Playing with Lemieux, Gretzky and Messier

40:07 Being a leader no matter what role he plays

41:45 Famous 7-minute shift with the Rangers

47:33 Bob Gainey’s role in reviving Kovy’s season in 2009

51:35 Disappointing end to NHL career

54:51 Importance of saving money

56:12 Living life to the fullest

Previous Episode

Sheldon Souray on regrets, Habs fans, and life after hockey

0:00 Intro
3:15 Breezer on playing in two separate eras in Montreal
4:11 Boos and ovations from the Bell Centre crowd
7:20 Guy Carbonneau as a roommate
9:35 Sheldon Souray interview begins
11:39 Post-hockey life
14:48 Being traded to Montreal
17:20 Habs veterans lending a helping hand
19:17 Changing the course of his career and getting on the PP
21:33 Practice like you play
22:14 How scouts accidentally made Sheldon a power play threat
24:05 Saku Koivu's return from cancer
28:40 A difficult transition to retirement
33:52 Struggling with addiction and his road to recovery
43:30 Alex Kovalev
46:15 Buying a car with a bag of cash
49:00 Advice for young players

Next Episode

Tomas Plekanec on turtlenecks, being a Hab and playing in the Czech Republic

0:00 Introduction
7:47 Plekanec on his turtlenecks
9:43 Raising his daughter
11:00 His sons love sports
12:39 Plekanec loses to partner and former WTA superstar Lucie Safarova on the tennis court
14:06 Living with a retired pro athlete
14:48 Playing hockey during the pandemic
16:12 Missing fans
16:30 Thoughts on playing pro hockey next season
16:58 Taking it one year at a time
17:20 Brisebois on Plekanec’s rookie camp
18:37 Plekanec developed his work ethic in North America
19:50 Waiting for an NHL call up
21:15 Transition from Europe to North America
22:55 Learning English from Seinfeld
23:33 Thoughts on a career in coaching
24:21 Plekanec on his time in Montreal
24:50 Staying in touch with players and staff in Montreal
26:00 How his role as a center evolved over his NHL career
27:20 Alex Kovalev and Mike Cammalleri are the best players he’s played with
27:56 Hard time playing against Ryan Kesler, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin
29:35 Being paired with struggling players
30:08 Challenge of playing with different line mates
32:00 Memories with teammates
32:35 Brisebois praises Plekanec
35:02 Plekanec loved the pressure of playing in Montreal
36:18 Coaching style
37:10 Being traded to Toronto
38:28 Desire to return to Montreal
39:07 Battling injuries
39:52 Finishing his career as a Hab
41:00 Playing his 1,000th game
42:10 Favorite memories as a Hab: 2010 Playoffs
43:35 First big purchase: a computer
44:10 Life advice
44:51 Playing for Guy Carbonneau, Doug Jarvis, Claude Julien and Michel Therrien
46:00 Alain Vigneault was Breezer’s favorite coach
46:25 Breezer’s impressed by Plekanec’s work ethic
48:54 Message to the fans
49:33 Conclusion