"It was a real sports war": what did they say after the victory of the Russian national hockey team at the Channel One Cup

"For the match with Finland, the hockey that we want to see began to look through"

The Russian national team has completed the Channel One Ice Hockey Cup on a positive note.

In the last match of the tournament, the hosts defeated Finland (5: 1) and for the ninth time became the triumphs of the home stage of the Eurotour.

Last year, Sweden unexpectedly got the trophy. 

This competition was also special for Valery Bragin.

In three games under the leadership of the new head coach, the national team won three victories with a total score of 13: 5.

The Russians experienced problems only in the first meeting with Sweden, which dragged on until the shootout.

With the Czech Republic and Finland, the hosts acted from a position of strength.

And Bragin himself was pleased with the game performed by the charges.

“This is a home tournament, so the responsibility was felt.

I know almost all hockey players, the team has a good working atmosphere, they are very pleased with the victory.

We looked at our candidates in the case.

Most of the players were satisfied.

The guys had a rest, prepared, trained.

For the match with Finland, the hockey that we want to see performed by our team began to appear.

It turned out to be a good aggressive game ", - quotes the words of the expert" Championship ".

At the same time, Bragin admitted: he wants the Russian national team under his leadership to show aggressive attacking hockey. 

“Not everyone rebuilt at once, but in the third match we did a lot in most moments.

Excitement was present, but there was no tremor.

After all, I have accumulated a wealth of experience.

I just wanted to win, the adrenaline was beating, and we are glad that we achieved victory, ”added Bragin.

He also explained the reasons for the absence of some hockey players in the application for the match with Finland.

According to him, Vladimir Tkachev and Igor Ozhiganov were given rest, and Anton Burdasov was slightly injured.

The specialist also answered the question of why Alexander Samonov again took the place at the last line, who was eventually recognized as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. 

“This is, perhaps, the last stage before the World Cup, other goalkeepers had no experience, we are pleased that Samonov played three games at a good level,” explained Bragin.

Finally, the former head coach of the youth national team of Russia admitted that he was in touch with the current steering team Igor Larionov. 

“I wish good luck to our youth team, they have a good chance of winning the world championship this year.

I repeat, we are constantly in touch, we have a lot of communication and discussion, ”concluded Bragin.

"It was the best match for the Russian national team in the tournament"

In turn, the President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation Vladislav Tretyak called the match with Finland the best for the Russian national team in the tournament.

At the same time, the functionary urged not to over-praise Bragin ahead of time.

“I think it was the best match of the national team in the tournament: both in shots and in movement, especially against the background of fatigue.

It’s a pity that we didn’t manage to throw in the majority - this is the component where you can add.

As for the victory ... You know, sport is sport.

Sometimes we give in too, like last year, for example.

We will evaluate Bragin when we win the World Championship, "R-Sport quotes Tretyak.

Tretyak was also delighted with the fact that the Moscow stage of the Eurotour helped the coaching staff of the Russian national team to decide on the main goalkeepers.

“It turns out that Samonov and Yaroslav Askarov are two goalkeepers who played three matches at the stages of the Eurotour.

Previously, there was a headache because of the goalkeepers, but now we can state that the situation has returned to normal.

At this tournament Samonov showed that we have a reserve, ”added Tretyak.

In turn, the first vice-president of the FHR and the head of the Russian national team, Roman Rotenberg, was also pleased with the game performed by the domestic team.

“In every match we go out on the ice to win.

We went from meeting to meeting.

We have one system, we always try to play in accordance with Soviet traditions and a modern approach, "Rotenberg noted.

The functionary also shared his plans for the future.

He announced that only those hockey players whose teams will not make it to the KHL playoffs will go to the next stages of the Eurotour.

“Taking into account everything that is happening in the world, we do not know whether the tournament will take place in the Czech Republic before the World Cup or not.

This season we have six matches and six wins so far.

We checked a huge number of players, ”added Rotenberg.

The head of the Russian national team also answered the question about the goalkeeper's position.

According to him, the competition at the last frontier continues despite the fact that Samonov played all three matches of the Channel One Cup at a decent level.

“We are not changing our winning approach.

We have a modern scouting system, a huge collegial work has been done to monitor hockey players.

Bragin gave everything he could for these three matches.

Do you think the opponents didn't want to beat us?

They gave everything, there was a real sports war.

We are happy with where we are today.

Gathering a team in a short period of time is a difficult process.

At the same Olympic Games, one match can decide the fate of the entire tournament.

Everyone gets together at the same time, they work.

Everyone fought for each other, ”Rotenberg emphasized.

Finally, the first vice-president of the FHR spoke about the preparation of the Russian youth team for the World Cup. 

Living in a bubble is a challenge.

The coaching staff sends the children a training program, but nothing can replace human communication.

Everything is in order, there are no positive tests, everything is fine.

Remember how our young team beat men at the Karjala Cup.

They performed heroically and laid the foundation for this victory.

We wish our guys the best of luck in Edmonton.

The foundation that we laid at the Olympics in South Korea is our foundation for the future, ”summed up Rotenberg.

"The guys worked, so the result came."

After the end of the tournament, the Russian hockey players were also in a good mood.

And Andrey Kuzmenko had a double reason for joy.

He not only scored on the puck in each of the Channel One Cup matches, but was also recognized as the best striker. 

“While I am good at completing, my partners are giving good passes.

For me, this is an impetus to work and progress further.

All of us guys are leaders, there is no such thing that someone else takes over the game.

All four links are working to win, ”said Kuzmenko.

The secret of victory over the Finns, according to him, was in a reliable game in defense and Samonov's saves.

“I think the first game with Sweden turned out to be the brightest in terms of intensity.

There were a lot of emotions, and my father also celebrated his birthday, I really wanted to score.

I don’t think about what will happen tomorrow.

I don’t think about the World Championship yet.

You need to work and progress.

It's too early to think about May or June, "Kuzmenko added.

In turn, defender Maxim Mamin emphasized that at the home stage of the Eurotour, the Russian national team succeeded "practically everything", although he admitted that the hockey players had a hard time in the match with the Finns.

“The guys worked, so the result came.

It's great that our team managed to score today.

I liked playing with Dmitry Voronkov, he is a hard-working guy.

He works great in front of the gate, I think Dima has everything ahead.

Pavel Karnaukhov and Pavel Karnaukhov congratulated him on the first goals for the national team, ”Mamin said.