In the foot of the Great trudge

Patrik Laine, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Patrick Kane, Alex Ovechkin. Today, Superstars, earlier U-20 world Cup-top scorers, so the predecessor Philipp Kuraschews, two weeks ago in Vancouver, six hits. When he hears the so, the 19-Year-old to Smile, cool, he says, not asks, however, to forget the colleagues he have to just slide the Puck into the goal.

Even if it would be so easy: Kuraschew has done Special. A Swiss top scorer in an U-20 world Cup, which was previously only available in 2003, when Patrik Bärtschi shared the crown with three other, Ovechkin,. Who is this Philip Kuraschew? He has played in Switzerland, still no Minute in the pros, since 2016, and his goals for the Quebec Remparts in the canadian Junior League QMJHL shoots.

Philipp Kuraschew says: " ice hockey is my life – since I'm small." Photo: zvg,

Kuraschew is a little bit of the Grisons, because Davos was born. But the Bernese, since citizen was Münsingens, where he was naturalized five years ago – Münsingen is incorrectly noted in all of the hockey databases as a place of birth, but of that later.

Because Kuraschew is also the citizen of Russia: Moscow father, Konstantin, is a former player of Dynamo, came in 1998 with his wife Jelena in Switzerland, he had an offer from Davos, Arno Del Curtos assistant.

"So it all began," says Konstantin Kuraschew, the trains to the stations in Bern, Langnau and Rapperswil-Jona is now the Mysports-League-Club Chur. When Philip was born in October 1999, should find the father soon Groundbreaking: "for him There was only hockey." He never urged Philip to his Sport, assured the father. It had specifically given other gifts, "but nothing pleased him so much as volleyball-things".

"It is nowhere clearly better"

Philip confirmed it, as the somewhat shy son is enthusiastic: "football is my life – since I'm small. I never wanted to do something different. I'm always happy when I can on the ice." You should not interpret the shyness the wrong way, with lack of interest, for example, asks Kuraschew. As soon as he knew the people better, then Yes, he says and laughs at the word choice, "then I am quite normal".

The U-20 national team coach Christian Wohlwend commented: "a year Ago, took you almost no word from him – this time he's told me so much, and laughed often. Philip is extremely matured." High decent he is, the "Kura was raised, so really Russian," says Wohlwend.

This Opening up of his son, of the change, all the spent on exchange to Quebec, is convinced that Konstantin Kuraschew: "Canada has opened the horizon." Important not to be, as the father, but also the Coach speaks just that "each such a broad Knowledge of the Athlete as possible about his Sport appropriates". Philipp likes it that his father is also a coach and former professional: "This has helped me so much."

Konstantin Kuraschew is also strictly – or honest – if he says: "Okay, he doesn't shoot bad. But he is nowhere to be clearly better than many others. What makes Philipp really, what pleases me in him, is this life for football."

First the father, then Ovechkin

the father and uncle were the first idols, then it was Ovechkin and Pavel Datsyuk, the Russian Superstars, whom he emulates, different game types, you may be. Of course, Philip dreamed as a small Boy, also of the Sbornaja, reveals the father. There is no line-up came, and when Switzerland asked, was the case. Today, Philip says, in broad Bernese dialect: "I grew up in Switzerland, have played here. I am proud to now have two U-20 world Championships completed."

The duels with Russia, they are the Largest for the young Kuraschew. He rejoiced that after the test game before the world Championships in Vancouver in two duels in the tournament followed, first in the group, hare (4:7) and then in the Bronze game (2:5). "These are my most special games," he says, "because the whole family always looks and keep your fingers crossed. So I hope it at least ..."

father learns from the son

in Order to become a Swiss national team player, received the Philip Kuraschew the full support of the parents. The naturalization was only as a 14-year-old Junior of the SC Bern. The prospect of a better promotion convinced the Kuraschews. To facilitate your son's naturalisation, did it all the same, the whole family, the sister anyway, but also father and mother, says Konstantin Kuraschew.

"it was not planned. We were, of course, came for asylum in Switzerland." You have to put it that way, he says with a laugh: "thanks to Philip, we were all Swiss." Parents help your son. Also about mother Jelena is in Québec, where she lives together with Philipp.

Meanwhile, the father from the son is trying to learn. Often, he would question the methods of his new coaches in Quebec. The is no one Less than Patrick Roy, once one of the best goalkeepers in the world, as a coach, honored as NHL Coach of the year and known as an impulsive fellow. "Philip told me only a little," says the father with a shrug. Also in the Interview, the son draws the Joker, even if it the question can laugh out loud who was more intensive: Roy or Wohlwend.

of Course Roy was also intense, says Philipp Kuraschew: "He is a legend. And everyone likes to have his opinion about him, but for us, he is off the ice also a very nice person who wants to speaks a lot with us and always help you."

Many options

it will be for Kuraschew next season, another year in Quebec with Roy, it's possible, but unlikely. He was drafted in 2018 in the NHL of Chicago – the tradition, the club is likely to offer the Topskorer of Quebec in the summer, a contract. Whether Kuraschew goes back to the juniors to the AHL farm team the Rockford area or in Switzerland as a loan player, is open. Theoretically possible the direct jump into the NHL Team the Chicago Blackhawks is already.

at The Moment, Philipp Kuraschew enjoys the life in the world's craziest hockey town in terms of Junior Sport: The Remparts drew the likes of 13'000 spectators on average – this season there are at least 9000. He wanted to not look too far forward, he says. The father, however, was a premonition: "I think Philip will soon want to be with adults." (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 16.01.2019, 23:18 PM