MMXIII

The Sporting News, September 15, 2008: Roommate Confidential

Thrashers forward Colby Armstrong spent 2/2 seasons in Pittsburgh before being traded to Atlanta in February, and during that time he got to know Penguins phenom Sidney Crosby pretty well. Armstrong shares tales from the road, including what it’s like to bunk with the brightest star in the game. Who's the best roommate you've had? I'd say Crosby. He’s pretty focused on hockey. When you're on the road, we got ready for the games the whole time. We like to relax, watch TV and hang out. It's pretty easygoing. He doesn't want to tunaround town. What was it like rooming with someone so famous? Depending on the city we were in, we'd make dinner reservations in the same spot. They knew we were coming every time. We'd let them know Sid was coming to make sure (distractions) are taken care of. What makes a good roommate? You have to be on the same page. The one thing with me and Sid, nothing really bothered him, He was a heavy, heavy sleeper. Plus, I snore alittle bit. It doesn't bother him. If Crosby is the best roommate, who’s the worst? My brother (Sharks forward Riley Armstrong). He's just annoying. He doesn't pick up after himself. He’s a little too comfortable around me. I haven't beat him up i na few years, so maybe one is on the way.

SV: I still have this everyday scene in front of my eyes. The Malkin family lived about 500 or 700 metres from the rink in Magnitogorsk. Every morning, the father walked out front, holding Zhenya's hand. His mother walked behind them, holding Denis’s hand. By the time I started working with Zhenya, they'd already left the gear in the locker room instead of hauling it home.

Vladimir: the hockey school was still in its early stages when Zhenya was young. Back then equipment wasn’t provided the way it is for kids today. His mother had re-stitch the gear so many times because it kept tearing. Most of the time they wouldn’t fully dry between practices. The leg guards and padding were patched over and over.

Natalia: Our Zhenya didn't get any C's at all. Only when he moved to another school in the eighth grade so that he could devote more attention to hockey, he got into a computer science class which they didn't teach at his previous school - that was his only C. Other than that, he got all A's and B's. His behavior had always been fine, too. All other kids are running around the school like crazy, but our son left all of his energy in hockey. Practices always started very early, so (by afternoon) he was pretty exhausted.