Russia U18 forward Ruslan Iskhakov: "My main qualities are my patience and work ethic"

Russia U18 forward Ruslan Iskhakov:

- I can't describe my emotions when I receive a call-up to the Russian national team. It's amazing when you make your debut and score your first goals.

As I have grown older, I have started to be more critical with myself. In the past, my father and coach used to tell me where I went wrong, but now I do that. When I was young, I used to get offended when someone criticised me. My main qualities are my patience and work ethic.

- How did you start playing ice hockey?

- My parents started renting a flat not far away from the Planernaya metro station in Moscow. We walked past an ice rink called Istra, and my mother suggested that I start skating. I decided to begin skating, and it all started from there.

When I was six years old, I joined the CSKA Moscow ice hockey school. When I started out in their academy, I still had trouble skating. Nevertheless, I started progressing well, and my father decided to dedicate his life to my ice hockey career. He even left his job. At the same time, I was playing tennis. It helped me with hand to eye coordination. Athletics also assisted me with my physical development

- Your appearance is rather unusual.

- Yes, I agree. In Slovakia and the Czech Republic, players around 16 years old change the colour of their hair. I was told to do the same, because I don't have a beard. At the start of a training camp, I spoke with Renat Ravilevich and he told me to he told me to keep my hair the same if I keep scoring. As you can see, nothing has changed yet.

- At school, which topics were your favourite?

- Maths, probably. My teachers always told me that I was good at maths. If I enjoyed a topic, I was do well. I liked physics and biology too.

I don't have that much free time, because I am always at training. However, when there is an opportunity, I like to go out with my friends to the cinema. I listen to different types of music, I like the piano. 

Russian Ice Hockey Federation