Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has changed his lifestyle habits in order to maintain the privilege of playing in the National Hockey League (NHL), and above all to avoid suspensions.
On Friday evening, the Russian played his first match since the playoffs. The NHL allowed him to return to its team after a six-month punishment after the 29-year-old violated the league’s anti-doping policy for a third time.
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If he breaks the League regulations again, a one-year suspension awaits him and his reinstatement would not be assured. No choice, he had to change.
“I spent the last six months working quite a bit every day,” Nichushkin told Denver Post after the 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. “I have people in Russia that I work with and we have made a lot of progress. I changed my lifestyle and the way I train at the gym.”
It is in terms of mental health that the right winger believes he has progressed the most. “I hope it never happens again,” he said.
Acclimation wasn’t easy for Nichushkin, who finished the game against the Capitals with a -3 rating. He and Jonathan Drouin were “okay” in the eyes of head coach Jared Bednar.
The main person concerned is initially happy to find his teammates.
“It was a difficult time in my life, so I’m enjoying it now. The guys had so many good words of support from day one. It helped enormously,” he testified.
The Avalanche will return to action Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
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