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Ilya Bryzgalov Picks Russia Over Having To Play In Winnipeg

Sorry Winnipeg, turns out having rabid fans might not be enough to attract Coyotes free agent goaltender, Ilya Bryzgalov. The Russian netminder joins Canadians Shane Doan and Paul Bissonette as publicly expressing no desire to play hockey for True North Entertainment, the group vying to move the team north.

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Bryz didn't pull any punches when comparing his current situation here in Phoenix with what would await him in Canada if the Glendale deal can't get done.

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"You don't want to go to Winnipeg, right?" Bryzgalov asked rhetorically. "Not many people live there, not many Russian people there. Plus it's cold."

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OK, so it's cold and there are no Russians to swap borscht recipes with.

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But then he goes on and really slams the small Manitoba town who's population of about 600,000 people is just slightly behind the four million who live in the Phoenix metro area.

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"There's no excitement except the hockey. No park, no entertaining for the families, for the kids. It's going to be tough life for your family."

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Bryzgalov said that he would rather play his hockey in the Russian KHL where at least if he has to be cold, he can speak the same language. 

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