Inside the Press Box: Sergey Kocharov

Storming the Crease is conducting a series of interviews with people who cover (or work for) the Caps and the NHL. You can find a link to the series archives on the right sidebar. Today's 35th installment: Washington Capitals Director of Media Relations Sergey Kocharov.

1. How has it been transitioning from the Phoenix Coyotes to the Caps? How's your Russian?

It's been great. I joined the Caps in September, a day before training camp began. At first, it was extremely difficult saying goodbye to my friends and colleagues with the Phoenix Coyotes, who have meant so much to me and helped me immensely during my career, but I have really enjoyed my time with the Capitals. It is a wonderful organization that I'm very proud to be a part of.

Our VP of Communications, Nate Ewell, was very helpful during the first couple weeks giving me some time to get to know the players, staff and the media covering the team before assuming my role full time. The players have been very easy to work with, so the transition has been seamless.

I can speak Russian relatively well, but it is nowhere near perfect. By looking at our roster with several Russian players on the team, it seems like I'll be able to work on it a little bit.

2. Please compare the two cities in terms of hockey fandom.

Both are franchises that proved that if you put a winning product on the ice, the fans will come out and support you. Obviously, the Coyotes are going through a difficult time right now because of the ownership situation, but I'm a firm believer that when they get that resolved and with sustained success on the ice, that franchise will thrive.

I went to my first ever Caps Convention this year and it was absolutely amazing to see the amount of people that were there to support the team and how excited they were about the upcoming season. The home opener was also very entertaining. In my opinion, Verizon Center is by far the loudest building in the NHL. With the success on the ice, proactive approach in promoting the team through different media outlets and their commitment to community outreach, this organization has done a remarkable job in building the Capitals franchise into the hockey hotbed it is today.

3. How did you get into the hockey PR world?

I interned with the Coyotes while in school during the 2001-02 season with hopes of one day becoming a hockey journalist. I stayed with the team and worked closely with the PR department by writing articles for the game program, yearbook and the team's Web site for the next four seasons. Then in 2006-07, a PR position opened up and I was hired onto their staff full time.

4. What are some of your favorite hockey-related memories?

It would probably have to be when Wayne Gretzky asked me to put the goalie gear on for one of our practices during the 2008-09 season in Phoenix because he wanted to give Ilya Bryzgalov a day off. I remember him telling me that he wanted me on the ice during the power-play session. That was probably the scariest and, at the same time, most exciting moment I've had in my life. Gretzky took some shots on me to warm me up, which I don't think helped much since I became even more nervous than I was before.

5. What do you do when you're not working?

I love playing hockey, so every chance I get, I try to get on the ice. I haven't had a chance to spend a lot of time in D.C. yet, so I'm very excited to get to know the area.