Post-quarantine training and test matches

The Russian national team left the mandatory quarantine and began full-fledged training in preparation for the World Youth Championship, which will be held from December 26 to January 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer. The head coach of the national team, Sergei Zubov, was pleased with the first lesson in Canada, and also noted that after three days in isolation it is pleasant to get out of the enclosed space.

“The guys got into the rhythm of training on the ice a little hard, but they rolled in by the middle.

A young organism - a lot of energy has accumulated, so the lesson went well.

We haven't skated for several days - it immediately makes itself felt.

First, they worked out with a physical training coach, then went out on the ice - and we did not force events.

They made them feel the ice, the correct sliding ... I have no doubt that in a couple of days they will enter the regime and will feel much lighter in this time zone, ”the press service of the FHR quotes the specialist.

We are approaching the World Youth Championship at good speed!

We will play the first match in the tournament on the night of December 27, but for now we are training intensively on the Canadian ice 🏒 # russia in my heart pic.twitter.com / u54nLHdiHV

- Hockey of Russia (@russiahockey) December 20, 2021

According to forward Dmitry Zlodeev, the players are in excellent spirits, and no one forgot about the preparation for the tournament even in isolation, since the classes were conducted via video link.

At the same time, the athlete admitted that the first training session on ice was very difficult after several days at the hotel.

“Basic exercises?

It is always useful after a break: to feel the skates, shape, new ice.

Do something simple, feel the puck.

When we switched to intense exercise, I started to breathe.

But, as I said, after the break it is important: to breathe, to drive out the oxygen.

Of course, it's very nice to be here, with all the guys and the coaching staff.

But while I'm trying to keep my emotions under control, I'm thinking about the training process, ”Zlodeev said.

According to media reports, all participants in the competition passed negative tests for coronavirus.

However, despite the absence of cases, the pandemic still affected the preparation.

Due to the complicated epidemiological situation, the control meeting with Germany scheduled for December 19 was canceled.

The friendly match with Canada was postponed from the 22nd to the 23rd (the game will start at 03:00 Moscow time on December 24).

“Of course, we considered the game with the Germans as one of the stages of preparation for the tournament: watch the troika, decide on the special teams.

But we are with the rest of the teams in the same situation, we will find methods in the training process.

Who would you like to play with?

Let's not guess.

The situation changes every day, officials are concerned about the safety of all participants.

Our task is not to choose an opponent, but to systematically prepare for the start, "Zubov said.

Without legionnaires and with ten SKA players

25 Russian players went to Canada, and the backbone of the national team was made up of SKA hockey players - the coaching staff attracted ten people from the St. Petersburg club.

Among them are the goalkeeper Yaroslav Askarov, who took part in the last two MFMs, as well as the offensive line, where the main star is 17-year-old Matvey Michkov, who has already become the youngest goal-scorer in the history of the adult team.

In the attack, club partners Nikita Chibrikov, Kirill Tankov, Fedor Svechkov and Marat Khusnutdinov, appointed as the captain for the upcoming tournament, can play in tandem with him.

“Michkov will play in one of our majority brigades.

We hope he can take advantage of his throw.

This is a special hockey player, he knows how to hide the throw, often takes opponents by surprise.

He's capable of a lot.

He has a special talent, "Zubov emphasized.

Among other clubs, Shakir Mukhamadullin and Danila Yurov from Metallurg Magnitogorsk, who often receive playing practice at Salavat Yulaev, draw attention to themselves, as well as Nikita Guslistov, who scored eight points for Severstal this season.

It is noteworthy that for the first time in 15 years, not a single player from the North American leagues was called up to the team.

Moreover, defenders Daniil Chaika, Yan Kuznetsov and striker Daniil Gushchin could apply for a place in the list.

The first two were considered by the coaching staff of the national team, and Gushchin shows high performance in the OHL for Niagara Icedogs - in 22 matches he scored 29 points.

Nevertheless, Zubov considers those who ended up on the list to be the strongest.

The mentor admitted that his choice was influenced by the fact that hockey players from Canada did not attend the training camp, unlike representatives of Russian clubs.

Also, one of the main topics for discussion was the absence of Ivan Miroshnichenko, forward of the Avangard farm club, who scored five goals and gave six assists in 23 VHL matches this season.

At the same time, Western media calls him one of the favorites in the 2022 NHL draft.

According to Zubov, the 17-year-old player has not yet gotten into shape after falling into the COVID protocol and was rolling hard into the season.

They are going to bet on him at the junior world championship.

However, Miroshnichenko himself remained upset about the non-challenge.

“I think I'm 100% ready for the MFM, but my opinion is at odds with the coaching staff.

I was told that I did not fit.

I was upset, of course, but not very much.

I have two more years to play at the MFM, but all I have to do is play - and the rest decide whether to take me or not, ”Miroshnichenko quotes“ Championship ”.

However, most of the experts remained on the side of the national team coaches.

So, commentator Sergei Gimaev Jr. is sure that Miroshnichenko was not included in the line-up on the basis of game principles.

Igor Kravchuk, the former director for the development of youth hockey of Avangard, expressed the opinion that the young striker was given the opportunity to prove himself in the Omsk team, but so far he has not taken full advantage of them.

“Ivan is a talented hockey player, his whole career is ahead - and in particular, two more youth world championships.

In my opinion, the final decision of Zubov's coaching staff can become an ideal motivation for a young player.

There is no need to be offended by anyone, on the contrary, it is necessary to accept this situation, learn from it and add to the work, "said Kravchuk.

Russia's chances at MFM-2022

Experts do not consider the Russian national team the main favorite of the competition.

According to the bookmakers' quotes, Canada and the United States should fight for gold, while Zubov's wards are only third in the list of contenders for the trophy.

At the same time, the well-known North American journalist Scott Wheeler suggests that the Russians can be eliminated in the quarterfinals.

At the last world championship, the "youth team" under the leadership of Igor Larionov took fourth place, losing in the semifinals to the Canadians with a score of 0: 5, and in the match for third place, losing to the Finns - 1: 4.

The first rival of the national team in the group stage will be Sweden (December 27, 00:30 Moscow time).

Further, Zubov's wards will fight with Switzerland (December 28, 00:30 Moscow time), Slovakia (December 30, 00:30 Moscow time) and the United States (January 1, 05:30 Moscow time).

“We will not speak loud words, we do not need populism now.

Of course, we prepared the team, we have been doing this for many years ... We are counting on winning every match.

We have a strong team in terms of psychology, the guys have experience playing in top clubs in the KHL.

We are waiting for victories in every game, we don’t want to say anything louder than this, ”said Roman Rotenberg, first vice-president of the FHR last week.