Rakas harrastus on vienyt Aleksander Barkovin Floridaan yhdessä Olga-äitinsä kanssa. Arjen työnjako on selvä -- Olga pesee pyykit, tekee ruoat ja jännittää katsomossa, kun poika takoo maaleja Panthersin riveissä.
marrizurieta Sasha:When I was two years old I was put stick on the hand and skates on for the first time . Since that I have liked ice hockey a lot and have never thought about life without hockey. Mom:Daily are we, mom and dad, with him (part of hockey). Sasha:Parents have been really big part of it. They took me to practices and home, even watchingpractices. I'm really thankful because without them I would not be here (at that level). Now they don't have to drive me to practices but it's nice to come home family member waiting you, dishes done and foods ready. Mom:Human can't become pro athele alone. Always should be team with him, mom, dad, brothers, girlfriend or wife. It's so hard thing to become pro that you can't do it alone. This is food, clothes, tips, this is all (she speaks a bit rusty Finnish). I have better feeling when I'm near him and not to think from morning to night what he's doing daily. Is he eating or not eating. Pro athelets have to dress well to games. New dress shirt and tie should be ready for every game. Sasha:I can do that thing on my own Mom:Change yes but not to wash or iron clothes or..... Mom:Every game he goes I ask there (points up, means God) that it's fine if the game goes well, he makes goal, wins game but if doesn't succees fine if he doesn't injure himself. That's the most important thing for me. Sasha: This game is quite a tough, different things can happen. Every game is tough and you have to be ready to not to injure yourself. One hit could change your life forever. Mom:When every thing is fine and Sasha doesn't want to hear tips or something. If game didn't go well or had some game streak that he or team didn't do well. Of course immediately he wants to hear different opinion Sasha:Coach has twenty players he has to coach so he doesn't come to tell me after every game how I played or what to improve. Parents and brother watch my every game and I try to listen to them. It is so important thing for a player that you dare to do your own thing (dekes, passing) with self-confidence. When it goes well you dare to try it again and maybe try something new.
Tää oli kiva! Mut jotenki häiritsi se, etttä kun kauheesti on Lainetta mollattu kun sillä lähti äiti jenkkeihin mukaan laittamaan ruokaa ja pesemään pyykkiä, mutta samaahan se Barkovinkin äiti puuhailee, tai ainakin muutama vuosi sitten puuhaili.
NHL:ssä monessa joukkueessa ei alle 21 vuotiaat saa asua yksin tai pelikaverin luona. Pitää olla joku läheinen mukana tai sinut sijoitetaan johonkin perheeseen.
