Larionov Defends Son After Ottenbreit Scuffle
SKA coach Igor Larionov addressed the third-period clash between his son and Shanghai's Turner Ottenbreit, promising the team has enforcers ready when needed.
SKA St Petersburg beat Shanghai Dragons 7:2 in the KHL on Wednesday, and head coach Igor Larionov was asked afterwards about a flare-up in the third period involving his son.
Shanghai defenceman Turner Ottenbreit caught SKA forward Vasily Atanasov with a hit, and Igor Larionov Jr skated over to confront him. Ottenbreit dropped his gloves and began pulling at the young forward. He was sent off for two minutes for roughing.
A reporter put it to Larionov that he had played in the NHL alongside some of the game's great tough guys, and asked why none of them had taught his son to fight.
"We said that the team next door has a good power play. I think it converts at around 40 percent. So we asked the lads to play cleanly, to avoid penalties, because we didn't want to give the opposition any chances. We have people who can drop the gloves... I don't want to get ahead of myself, but you will see it when it's necessary. That's not the main signal to the team, but on the other hand, it's very important for the opposition to know we have people who can stand up for the lads. And I think you'll see it in full. Don't rush," said Igor Larionov.
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