"I was a pig in a poke." - First Russian player drafted by the PWHL, Ilona Markova, talks about post-draft challenges and hockey dreams.

Ilona Markova is an excellent example of a modern hockey player: fitness, healthy food choices, social media activity, and a successful career on the ice. It is no wonder she became the first Russian-born female player drafted by the PWHL. The "Agidel Ufa" forward began her athletic path in gymnastics and figure skating. 

The recent WHL (ZHL, Women's Hockey League) season became a new challenge for Markova after the PWHL draft, but brought her fourth championship as part of the Agidel. The 23-year-old hockey player has overall 283 matches and 211 (90 + 121) points under her belt for the Ufa club and Nizhny Novgorod's SKIF. 

In a new Hockey on the Beach episode, Ilona Markova shares her story with the podcast host, Daria Mironova, after facing backlash. She is stronger, wiser, and ready to continue achieving her hockey dreams.

Daria: Ilona, ​​how did you celebrate your new championship?

Ilona: I lost consciousness literally on my last shift and was taken to a hospital. But I'm fine now. There were just a lot of dirty plays and some injuries. Everything I went through last summer and during the season accumulated into fatigue. Later, I joined the team. We were happy. We had girls who won the cup for the first time.

Daria: Is it possible to get used to winning? You already have four WHL trophies. And you are still very young.

Ilona: Well, I don't think I am a young player. Let's put it this way: when we last spoke during the Olympics in China, which I missed, you told me then that I was still very young and everything was ahead. I understand that in the current circumstances, with the world in a very unstable situation, I may not even go to the Olympics. So, I need to do everything to the maximum right now.

Daria: We will return to the international arena, but you will have a new role as a leader. You are already a semi-veteran.

Ilona: Getting used to winning… I want to interpret my thoughts correctly, but this is my norm. This is my standard—I must be a leader, not that I consider myself one. When something does not work out, I get agitated. And when I achieve something, I always think about how I could have done much better. I don't believe I have accomplished anything yet. That's it.

Daria: You said that the season was difficult. To sum it up, apart from the championship, what lessons did you learn?

Ilona: There were a lot of events. I was without a team for half a season. I practiced independently and understood what it is like when no one needs you. You are responsible for yourself, your body, and your preparation. I trained on my own and planned to play in America. I matured a lot, about two years, because of this. Plus, I became very close to my family. I realized that my only close friends and circle are my sister and mother. This is the main lesson. A lot of unnecessary things were cut out. When I returned to Russia, I had to rebuild quickly. Again, a lot of hate fell on me.

Daria: How did you cope with it?

Ilona: I did not have time to be sad and upset, and the fans in Ufa wouldn't understand it. I had no options. The main thing was to fit in and do my job. Some will say that I was overrated, but I understood that I had reached another level and needed to match my efforts. So, there was no time even to get upset.

Daria: I understand what you're talking about, but I couldn't find you on any roster at a certain point. On the other hand, I didn't want to get into your soul.

Ilona: Yes, I closed myself off in that situation. It was much easier that way. If we're talking about the training period, there were many unpleasant moments related to journalists. But I don't mean you. I understood that people weren't interested in me as an athlete. It was just a news pitch for them. I isolated myself to focus on season preparation fully. I lived in Boston for a month. Many things happened. It was obvious that when I returned, some people were negative. That's how it works. If you achieve something, everyone says, "She's ours, she's Russian." But as soon as you fail, everything goes in the opposite direction.

Daria: Let's discuss a more positive moment—the draft itself. I was happy when the Boston Fleet chose you; I knew you wanted to play in North America. What were your first emotions?

Ilona: Well, I read some forecasts. They put me much higher than it turned out. I didn't count on it, objectively understanding that there are many factors, such as visas, etc. For them, I was like "a pig in a poke." I hadn't played on the international stage for a long time, and it wasn't easy to assess my level. I hoped someone would take a chance on me. I cried; I didn't sleep all night because I was chosen last. I was just in shock. I had ambitions and dreams. I wasn't afraid to take a risk. I was happy to know that there is potential, and I can count on its development in the future.

Daria: There is potential. Any situation is a lesson. We are only getting stronger. What do you think went wrong?

Ilona: I try not to blame others. It wasn't my time yet. I needed to step back, work on myself more, and improve. I was ready functionally. There were no questions or concerns from anyone. I worked hard all this time and learned the language. I came to Boston and absorbed everything like a sponge. I did everything they told me. There were problems with visas. I got an American one, and everything was fine. Once there, I needed to get a Canadian guest visa, but we didn't make it on time. I couldn't prove myself because I didn't fly to Montreal for the games. A player cannot be evaluated only by training processes. But it turned out that way. Other teams didn't look at me either. I was a pig in a poke, and I remained one. It was a new experience for the league, the team, and me. The club needed to move forward. They had no time to deal with bureaucracy.

Daria: And what was it like inside the team? Hilary Knight was there!

Ilona: I was very interested in seeing a real-world leader. Hilary is truly the strongest player at the moment. She just recently broke another record. But she was so easy-going. She has a professional demeanor on-ice and off-ice and sets her boundaries straight. But she is ambitious and knows what she wants and how to achieve it.

Daria: I agree. Thanks to our Iya Gavrilova, I met Hilary Knight in Tampa. I was pleasantly surprised by her openness. She is a superstar. Hilary even played with some children at the arena after the exhibition games.

Ilona: People with leadership qualities should be like that. Otherwise, they will fade away. Plus, Hilary plays great and consistently.

Daria: Women's hockey is like that. There is no time to have a star attitude. You have to prove something all the time.

Ilona: It doesn't apply to everyone. At the early stage of my career, I met different people, leaders, and scorers, but not everyone behaved, so to speak, in a clear-cut manner. So it doesn't always work like that. North American hockey is highly competitive. Every player understands that you must work hard and prove yourself daily. This is how business and sports work. While your body can do it, you do it; you're idolized. When you stop playing, the same force can push you down. One of the goals for professional athletes is to build a personal brand that will help after retirement.

Daria: I'm sure that during the summer, you will traditionally work hard and train extensively. What are your vacation plans?

Ilona: I will spend time with my family. We have become very close, and I realized how important it is to keep in touch with them. I am not going to relax too much this year. My goal is to get ready for the best season.

You can listen to Ilona Markov's full interview in Russian on all major audio platforms. She talks about her childhood and first steps in hockey.