Canadian defenceman Kodie Curran is one of the most experienced players of Dynamo Minsk. The 34-year-old hockey player did not play in the NHL (he was close to it), but played in other North American leagues, in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and last season spent in Metallurg from Magnitogorsk. Kodie has fit into the Bisons' lineup with confidence and with 16 points (4+12) is the most productive defensive player for the Dynamo, and is also among the league's top players in terms of playing time and blitzing shots. Curran was interviewed by a PressBall reporter.
- The season has been going on for over two months now. Your impressions?
- We have a unique team. There are a lot of youngsters, there are also enough experienced masters. I think the potential of the team is really great. We are able to win in individual matches, make it to the playoffs and try to go a couple of rounds there.
- Which of the matches in the Dynamo squad are the most memorable for you?
- Perhaps, the home one against Ak Bars. We had several unsuccessful games before that, while Kazan were in the lead. In the course of the game we were losing, but we managed to make a comeback, and a couple of minutes before the end of the third period I managed to score the winning puck.
- Surely the games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk were special for you as well .....
- Of course, because I played for this team last season. I came to Magnitogorsk alone. The club took me under their wing, constantly helped me, and I felt like a part of the family. ‘Metallurg’ remained in my heart, and it was great to see former teammates again.
- Do you have a different role in Dynamo than in Magnitogorsk?
- In recent years, I've already become a veteran, and all teams expect me to show leadership qualities and help young guys. In this respect, nothing has changed. In terms of hockey in Metallurg, I was mainly counted on in defence. Here I'm also on the power play, helping the attack. I'm happy with my role: I spend 25 minutes on the ice. I'm grateful to the coaching staff for their trust. Although, of course, it's a serious responsibility.
- In one interview you said that you're ready to spend all the time on the ice...
- My body won't allow it, because I'm getting older. But I really love hockey. After a long season I come to my home country and after a week's rest I go out on the ice. I like the game itself and the friendly atmosphere in the locker room. I don't play 60 minutes on the ice, but I'm ready to help the team in any way I can - block shots, join the attack....
- Dynamo has enough guys from North America. Do you stick together off the ice?
- Yes, we can go out for lunch, dinner, a cup of coffee or a golf simulator. It's comfortable with them, and if there's a desire to get out somewhere, there's always company. The funny thing is that there are two of my fellow Calgarians on the team - Nick Merkley and Robert Hamilton. I knew them before, and I even coached Nick once.
- How did that happen?
- Ha, I was about sixteen and he was eight. There's a summer league in Calgary, and the boss of the league used to bring in young players to work out with the kids. We showed the younger kids technical moves, taught them how to shoot on goal and so on. And then I saw Nick from time to time. When I signed a contract with Dynamo, I talked to him, asked him about everything. The hockey world is small, and even far away from home there is a chance to meet fellow countrymen....
- When Russian speech sounds in the locker room, do you understand a lot?
- Mostly hockey terms. It's not that difficult, because we're always being told roughly the same thing. But I can't really explain myself in Russian. Some guys speak the language better - Hamilton and Merkley, Sam Enas is also trying. In general, we have a translator, and many Russian-speaking players know English well - Korobov, Volkov, Pinchuk, Shinkevich....
- Minsk as a city bears little resemblance to Magnitogorsk?
- Ha ha, I was waiting for that question. It all depends on perception. Of course, Minsk is more beautiful, there is always something to do here. Big shopping centres, restaurants, my favourite golf simulator and so on. You won't get bored in the Belarusian capital. In Magnitogorsk all this is less, but there were a couple of good restaurants, as well as bowling with billiards. So at leisure we also found something to do. I think, the main thing is not where you spend time, but with whom. The team at Metallurg was good.
- In 2020, you signed a contract with Avangard, but then cancelled it. Because you got an offer from the NHL?
- That's right. Playing in the strongest league in the world has always been a dream. Yes, at first I signed a two-year deal with a team from Omsk, but in the end I went to Anaheim. But I never made my NHL debut. In Canada, parents and friends often ask if it's upsetting. Of course I'm upset, but I don't regret anything. As it happened, so it happened - there's a reason for everything. My dream didn't come true, but I am still happy with my career.
- Were you close to your NHL debut?
- That's the thing, yes. I was promoted from the farm club to the core for a few months. More than once I participated in Anaheim's pre-match warm-ups - I had a chance to play with Vegas, San Jose, Minnesota. But at the last minute I wasn't included in the game requests. It's a shame, because if I had gone on the court, I would have been given a framed club jersey - that's the custom in the league. It would have hung in my house, but, alas, no luck. I don't hope for an invitation to the NHL anymore, I'm too old for that. The best option for me right now is to play in the KHL.
- Do your family still live in Calgary?
- Yes, this city will always be my home. It's nice there in the summer - there are mountains and lakes around. I was a big Flames fan as a kid. I wore their jersey, painted my face in the club colours during the playoffs. Went to a lot of games - my dad had season tickets.
- Who was your idol?
- If we're not talking about Calgary, but hockey in general, Mario Lemieux. I liked his style of play. His team could lose 0:3, but thanks to Lemieux they could make a comeback and win 4:3. A couple of times I got to see Mario play live. My dad was a big fan of his, and I got that from him.
- Did your dad play hockey too?
- He always loved it. But he grew up in a very poor family, so he couldn't afford to play professionally and only played at the amateur level. But Dad's been successful in a different field. He owns a company that sells refrigerators, dishwashers and other kitchen appliances.
- You went to the University of Calgary. You got a degree?
- Yeah, in communications. I went to college for five years while playing hockey. In the future, when it's time to end my playing career, I plan to work with my dad and also coach kids in my hometown.
- Did you live a real student life - parties, fun? Or because of hockey you didn't have enough time?
- Yes, I did! We usually had two games a week. We played well and had a great holiday. On Saturday night we could have a party, have a couple of beers. We didn't get too carried away, but like all students, we never missed an opportunity to have fun.
- Living on another continent now, do you miss Canada a lot?
- I miss Canada a lot. I miss my home, my family, sitting around with a cup of coffee... It's been ten years since I celebrated Christmas in my home country. I feel most comfortable and safe where I grew up. There are some food things that are missing - for example, in the province of Alberta, where Calgary is located, the best beef in Canada, and perhaps in all of North America. Or chicken wings, I love them very much.
But I like it in Minsk. And I used to know that it's one of the best cities in the KHL. The food here is delicious, including local food, though I don't remember the names. By the way, I myself love to cook, especially spaghetti and steaks. However, the food in restaurants in the Belarusian capital is so cheap that it is easier to go somewhere else.
- Do you live here with your family?
- No. During the pause for the All-Star Game we plan to meet in Amsterdam. My family didn't come here because the kids are quite big now. I don't want to pull them out of their usual school for a year or two. And my wife has a job back home, she's a nurse. All in all, it's not that easy. In the next five or six months we will live separately.
- Is Kodie your full name?
- Kodie James Curran. I can't say that the name Kodie is popular in Canada. It's usually spelled Cody, but my mum wanted me to be Kodie for some reason. I only know one namesake, and that's my sister's husband.
- You've played in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. You've become an expert on Scandinavia in that time?
- Ha, I would call myself an expert on European hockey. I have a lot of friends who play in different leagues - Germany, Austria, Switzerland and so on. Thanks to my communication with them, I have a good idea of how life is, how much they pay in different countries and so on. They often ask me for advice, write to me or call me. I've already become a kind of hockey traveller.....
- And where is the best place in Europe outside of the KHL?
- In terms of hockey, I'd put Sweden first. Salaries, attitude, talented players - everything is on the level in this country. The fans there are great, although they are still inferior to Minsk fans. Switzerland is not far behind. I played there in the Champions League and in the Spengler Cup, and last year I almost signed a contract with a club there.
As for ordinary life, Copenhagen is my favourite city. Now it's my favourite city at all. Big, noisy, it never sleeps. But with a family, it is better to settle in a quieter place - say, in Switzerland.
- Have you met people in Scandinavia who don't speak English?
- Yes, quite a few. I have lived in small towns. Many older people don't speak English - for example, the owners of coffee shops or bakeries. But most young people do.
- In Sweden, you even became the most valuable player of the season...
- In the 2019/20 season, when I played for Regle. It was a special year, then we had a baby. As for hockey, I'm very grateful to the general manager and head coach of the team for trusting me.
- You seem like a sociable person. Is that so?
- Yes. I like to joke, laugh. Both after ten consecutive victories and after ten defeats I want the guys to smile. At the same time, I demand hard work and responsibility from them. Maybe I seem like a funny guy to some, but I'm ready to do anything for my teammates. My teammates and family are the most important people in my life. I want to have a good environment.
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