MFM in the Czech Republic - a good omen for Russia
It is no coincidence that the Youth World Cup is one of the favorite tournaments for many hockey fans. MFM invariably takes place on New Year's holidays and, unlike the adult championships of the planet, collects all the rising stars. Moreover, due to the young age of the participants, championships are often unpredictable and extremely emotional.
This time the championship will be held in Europe, which, of course, will be a definite plus for the Russian team, because the wards of Valery Bragin will not have to endure a difficult change of time zones. In addition, when the MFM is held in the Czech Republic, the domestic team invariably takes medals. In 2002, Vladimir Plyushchev’s team became the first in Pardubice and Hradec Kralove.
After 18 years, the team will try to repeat that achievement, especially since Russia has not taken the MFM gold since 2011. Then the “youth team” with Evgeni Kuznetsov and Artemy Panarin in the composition in the finals won the legendary victory over Canada - 5: 3.
Bragin's wards last got to the decisive match of the MFM in 2016. Then they lost to Finland and were content with silver. Last year, Russia finished in third place.
However, in 2020, the domestic team has every chance to regain gold. Bragin gathered the strongest squad under the banner of the national team. Many young hockey players regularly play for their clubs in the KHL. A good food for thought on a roster for the coaching staff was the Super Series with Canadians, the Four Nations Tournament and the World Challenge Cup.
However, before talking about the application of the Russians, it is necessary to talk about unexpected changes in the coaching staff. A month before the start of the tournament, Yuri Babenko and Vladimir Kulikov left him. Their places were taken by such iconic personalities of Russian hockey as Nikolai Khabibulin and Igor Larionov. The first will work with goalkeepers, and the second will work out the majority training and face-offs.
“Nikolai Khabibulin and Igor Larionov have a lot of experience in hockey. I think this experience will benefit both the coaching staff and the team, ”the press service of FHR quoted Bragin as saying.
FHR President Vladislav Tretyak also explained a similar personnel decision.
“These are very experienced people who have passed through many international tournaments as players. We always welcome when people of this level want to help Russia, ”Tretyak said.
Four strong links, an intriguing struggle for the title of “first number” and the trauma of Zavgorodny
As for the composition of the youth team, then, as already mentioned, it turned out to be very representative. However, the roster could come out even more impressive by name, if not for the injuries of the attackers Nikita Rozhkov and Dmitry Zavgorodniy. Particularly sensitive is the loss of the latter, who in the Super Series matches made an excellent bunch with Alexander Khovanov and Yegor Sokolov.
By age, Andrei Svechnikov could play for the national team, but there was no question of his challenge, because a Russian at the age of 19 is one of the leaders of Carolina and in the current season the NHL scored 36 points for performance (15 + 21).
But directly by the coaching decision, Pavel Rotenberg (Dynamo St. Petersburg), Shakir Muhamadullin and Rodion Amirov (both Salavat Yulaev) did not get into the roster. Especially the fans were surprised by the failure of the latter, because at the age of 18, the attacker regularly plays in the KHL. Bragin explained his decision by the low performance of the striker. This season, he has never hit the opponents' gates in the Salavat Yulaev.
“Muhamadullin scored the winning goal in the challenge Cup? So what? Two years of difference guys. He went to the Eurotour, looked at him in business. Amirov went to the Super Series. He is the player of the first two links, where can he play? Is he a scorer in the KHL, like Kirill Kaprizov scores 20 goals? Zero goals. He plays in the KHL, but has zero goals, ”Bragin told reporters.
In turn, Amirov admitted that he was disappointed when he found out about his non-appeal to the “youth team”, and emphasized that he was ready to go on ice at the MFM at any link. However, the current opportunity to play at the youth championship of the planet is clearly not the last for him.
“We did not communicate with Bragin after the Super Series, so I can’t say anything. If you put, of course, you would play in the third link, it’s nice to go out on the ice in any combination. What they told me, then I tried to do in the national team. I will work on those components that I didn’t have enough to get to the MFM, ”the hockey player summed up.
At the same time, the coaching staff in each line can count on several leaders at once. At the last frontier there will be an exciting fight between the 17-year-old hockey prodigy Yaroslav Askarov and Amir Miftakhov, who had a great Super Series.
In defense, Bragin will be able to rely on the proven duet Alexander Romanov - Daniil Zhuravlev. Both have experience playing the MFM, with Romanov being recognized as the best defender of the tournament last year. Both consistently perform in their clubs in the KHL. Danila Galenyuk (SKA) and Daniil Misyul (Lokomotiv) are not deprived of game practice.
In the line of attack, Vasily Podkolzin and the best scorer of the Russian national team at the 2019 FFM-2019 Grigory Denisenko attract attention first of all. Noticeable is the progress of Cyril Marchenko, who, on the eve of the tournament in the Czech Republic, began to regularly score points for performance in the SKA.
Friendly defeats and young stars as rivals
And in friendly matches on the eve of the World Cup, the domestic “youth team” showed their high level. First, Kazakhstan was defeated - 5: 0, while Marchenko was able to get a hat-trick.
And a few days later, Bragin's wards did not leave the slightest chance to the Slovaks, who will also play in the Czech Republic - 9: 1. The Russians showed a beautiful game, drew combinations in an alien zone and tried to bring the attacks to the true goal. All four links showed themselves vividly.
Added optimism and a great game in unequal compositions. The domestic team scored immediately three goals in the majority. It seems that the work of Larionov affects this component. At the same time, the coaching staff has yet to remove the "extra" hockey players from the application, but Bragin admitted that he had practically made his choice.
“One or two positions raise questions. We will discuss this, think about it. I would not say that a difficult choice remains to be made. It is important to analyze which players we need in the remaining positions. The rest of the composition is determined, ”the press service of the FHR quotes the specialist.
However, at the World Cup itself, the Russian team will have to be much more difficult. Bragin's wards were in group B, where they will play not only with the USA, who reached the final last year, and Canada, but also with the owners from the Czech Republic. In addition, a strong Germany will become the rival of the domestic team. The Russians will start the tournament with a match with the Czechs on December 26, and then they will consistently face off with Canadians, Americans and Germans. Perhaps you should not count on passing games.
Yes, and the composition of the opponents picked up what is needed. “Maple Leaves” will try to regain the MFM gold with the help of rising stars Cole Perfetti and Alexis Lafrenier. Both are predicted to hit the top 5 NHL draft next year, with Perfetti only 17 years old.
The coaching staff of the US national team will bring to the Czech Republic the 11th edition of the 2018 draft pick of Oliver Walström, who spent nine games for the New York Islanders in the NHL regular season this season. The 18-year-old native of Uzbekistan Arthur Kaliev, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings under the 33rd number, will also help the current vice-champions, but now he plays for Hamilton in OHL.
Finally, a host of legionnaire players drafted in the NHL will help the hosts: Yakub Lauko, Jan Zhenik, Michal Teply. And in May, one of the main stars of the team, the main goalkeeper Lukas Dostal signed a contract with Anaheim, but at the moment he stands for Finnish Ilves on loan.