from Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic,
He ate borsht and his mom’s homemade mushroom soup.
He wore thick sweaters under lumpy winter jackets.
He hung out with friends he made when he lived there for six years as a kid.
He visited with family, including his grandfather of the same name who coached the Soviet hockey team in its prime.
Feeling at ease away from the rink enabled Coyotes forward Viktor Tikhonov to focus on his reason for joining the Kontinental Hockey League
: to prove he belonged in Phoenix with the Coyotes.“It worked out well,” Tikhonov said.
At the start of the season, Tikhonov had been in the mix for a roster spot with the Coyotes. But the coaching staff noticed a change in his style of play - particularly his skating.
Original Story:
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