Ice Hockey World Championship youth calendar. Why is everyone watching the World Youth Hockey Championship on New Year's Eve?
Hi all! On December 26, the last hockey tournament of the outgoing year starts - Ice Hockey World Youth Championship. This will be the 40th youth championship tournament under the auspices of IIHF, which will be held from December 26, 2015 to January 5, 2016 in the capital of Finland Helsinki. The third tournament, which will be held in a new format, according to which the first four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. 10 teams will take part in the tournament: eight from Europe and two of North America. national team Belarus came from the first division, the rest - from the last tournament of the TOP division. The team is divided into two groups, and will play according to the principle each with each in 1 meeting.
Group A: Denmark, Canada, USA, Sweden and Switzerland.
Group B: Belarus, Russia, Slovakia, Finland and Czech Republic.
The arenas of the tournament will be sports palaces in the capital of Finland. Hartwall Arena" And " Helsinki Yahali" . Group A will play their games in the arena " Helsinki Yahali", and group B, in which the hosts of the tournament play, will play on a more spacious " Hartwall Arena". The fight for medals is not a joke. This time, the experts do not single out any clear favorites, as, for example, in the late 2000s, when the national team Canada dominated on youth level. After the last win MFM V 2009 , the maple leaf team was able to achieve only after 5 years, which by the standards of the hockey federation Canada too long time.
First of all, I would like to talk about the prospects of the national team Russia. According to many analysts, the Russians are one of the main contenders for victory in the championship. A year ago, the Russian youth team lost in a dramatic final match to the Canadians, with a score of 4-5, although it could well equalize. This time the team Russia will try to complete the championship in his favor, and get even with the Canadian team.
The composition of the Russian team:
Goalkeepers: Ilya Samsonov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), Maxim Tretyak (Chekhov Star), Alexander Georgiev (TPS Turku);
Defenders Cast: Sergey Boykov (Drummondville Voltiger), Sergey Zborovsky (Regina Pats), Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings), Dmitry Sergeev (Kichner Rangers), Damir Sharipzyanov (Owen Sound Attack), Alexander Mikulovich (Niagara Ice Dogs), Yegor Voronkov (Vityaz) ), Egor Rykov (SKA-1946), Nikita Zhuldikov (Tractor);
forwards Cast: Vladislav Kamenev (Milwaukee Admirals), Kirill Kaprizov (Metallurg Nk), Pavel Kraskovsky (Lokomotiv), Andrey Kuzmenko (Chekhov Star), Maxim Lazarev (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles), Alexander Polunin (Lokomotiv), Andrey Svetlakov (Red Army), Evgeny Svechnikov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles), Radel Fazleev (Calgary Hitman), Artur Lauta (Omsk Hawks), Alexander Dergachev (SKA), Egor Korshkov (Lokomotiv), Denis Guryanov (Lada).
As we can see, there are 25 people, and the application for MFM has only 23 seats. According to Valeria Bragina, head coach of the national team, the final composition of the team, which will be prepared directly in Helsinki, will be known after the control match with the national team Denmark which will take place on December 24th. Team leaders in Helsinki will be the forwards who have already sniffed gunpowder and selected in the first round of the 2015 draft in the NHL Evgeny Svechnikov, Denis Guryanov, defender Ivan Provorov and goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov. Provorov which has been selected" Philadelphia Flyers"under the general seventh number, will become the cornerstone of the national team's defense Russia, as well as the main playmaker in the power play. Samsonov, chosen last summer under the general number 22 " Washington Capitals", is one of the most promising this moment young goalkeepers. At 18, he already has a solid stunt double Vasily Koshechkin in far from the weakest team KHL Magnitogorsk " Mettalurga".
The main contenders for victory are the team Canada. Last year's champions this time will bring to the tournament a not so strong line-up, but rather well-equipped and balanced. There are only 4 people left from the champion squad, and it is not known how quickly they will gain a gaming connection with new partners. But this does not make it easier for the opponents. There are Canadians in the composition of the master, who alone can decide the outcome of a particular moment.
Team Canada:
Goalkeepers: Mason McDonald (Charlottetown, QMJHL), Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts OHL), Samuel Montembo (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL).
Defenders: Joe Hicketts (Victoria Royals, WHL), Haydn Fleury (Red Deer Rebels, WHL), Thomas Chabot (Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL), Brandon Hickey (Boston Univ.), Roland McIone (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL), Travis Sanheim ( Calgary Hitmen, WHL), Travis Dermoo (Erie Otters, OHL).
forwards: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters, OHL), Brendan Perlini (Niagara IceDogs, OHL), Julien Gauthier (Val-d "Or Foreurs, QMJHL), Jake Wirtanen (Vancouver Canucks, NHL), Braden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL) , Anthony Beauvillier (Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL), Matthew Barzal (Seattle, WHL), John Quenneville (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL), Rourke Chartier (Kelowna Rockets, WHL), Mitchell Stevens (Saginaw Spirit, OHL), Mitch Marner (London Knights, OHL), Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL), Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67 "s, OHL).
Forwards are the leaders of the youth team of Canada Dylan Strom And Mitch Marner. The first was selected under the third number of the 2015 draft. Last season overall Strom became top scorer youth league Ontario, scoring 129 (45+84) points in 68 matches. After leaving for " Edmonton Oilers"his phenomenal teammate Connor McDavid, Dylan does not slow down in 25 games of the 2015-16 season for " Airy Otters"has already scored 53 points. Marner has all the attributes of a potential star NHL: fast hands, great skating and great ice vision. His connection with Strom will surely become a headache for the defense of rivals on MFM.
The chances of other teams are regarded much lower. For example, the American team is not ranked highly, after 5th place last year. The Americans will bring Helsinki well-equipped team.
Team USA line-up:
Goalkeepers Cast: Brandon Halverson (Su Greyhounds, OHL), Alex Nedeljkovic (Flint, OHL)
Defenders: Louis Belpedio (University of Miami, NCHC), Will Borgen (University of St. Cloud, NCHC), Brandon Carlo (Tri City, WHL), Brandon Fortunato (Boston University, HEA), Chad Chris (USA U18 Team, USHL) ), Charlie McAvoy (Boston University, HEA), Zach Verensky (University of Michigan, Big Ten).
forwards Cast: Anders Björk (University of Notre Dame, HEA), Brock Boser (University of North Dakota, NCHC), Alex Debrinket (Erie Otters, OHL), Ryan Doneto (Harvard University, ECAC Hockey), Christian Dvorak (London, OHL), Scott Insor (Seattle, WHL), Ryan Hitchcock (Yale University, ECAC Hockey), Auston Matthews (Zurich, Switzerland), Ryan McInnis (Kitchener, OHL), Sonny Milano (Lake Erie) , AHL), Nick Schmaltz (University of North Dakota, NCHC), Matthew Tkachuk (London, OHL), Colin White (Boston College, HEA).
In the first roles in which forwards will stand out Auston Matthews And Matthew Tkachuk, which are currently ranked first and second respectively in the leading scout rankings. To them will be added the best scorer at the moment hockey league Ontario Christian Dvorak and Sonny Milano And Zach Verensky who will try to help the team USA rehabilitate for last year's fifth place.
International chances Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, as well as other teams, even lower. Undoubtedly, the Scandinavian teams will also appear as strong opponents, with good lineups, but not yet competitive enough to fight on equal terms with the Russians or Canadians. At the moment, the composition of the Swedes is not as strong as in 2012, when they beat the Russians in the final, and the Finns are not as skilled as in 2014, when the Suomi took out the Canadians 1:5 in the semifinals.
Let's go through the quotes of the bookmakers. Looking at the line BetCity To be honest, I was extremely surprised. The odds for the victory of the Canadians are quite acceptable, but for the rest of the teams it’s complete nonsense ... Experts estimated the chances of the Americans at 4.5, the Finns were given a odds of 6, the Swedes 7, and the Russians in general 10. Based on the pre-tournament layouts, I don’t consider such estimates from bookmakers correct. The most acceptable odds I found in the office SportingBet. Team victory Canada there is rated at 2.2, national teams Russia And USA took a coefficient of 5.5, which is quite reasonable, but still the Russians were somehow underestimated. The chances of the Scandinavian teams got a coefficient of 6, and further on the rise. I won't dare to make any predictions without watching at least the match of each team, as the games of youth teams are doubly unpredictable.
rate post by Forrest73
When at Christmas and new year holidays all sport life freezes, the views of the fans are riveted by one of the most uncompromising spectacles - the World Youth Championship. Today it starts in Finland.
FINLAND, WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH CALENDAR, December 26, 2015 - January 5, 2016
GROUP STAGE
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15.00. Czech Republic - RUSSIA* |
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17.00. Switzerland - Sweden |
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19.00. Finland - Belarus |
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21.00. USA - Canada |
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17.00. Belarus - Slovakia |
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21.00. Denmark - Switzerland |
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15.00. Slovakia - Czech Republic |
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17.00. Sweden - USA |
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19.00. RUSSIA - Finland |
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21.00. Canada - Denmark |
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17.00. Belarus - RUSSIA |
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21.00. Switzerland - Canada |
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15.00. Czech Republic - Belarus |
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17.00. Sweden - Denmark |
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19.00. Slovakia - Finland |
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21.00. USA - Switzerland |
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15.00. RUSSIA - Slovakia |
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17.00. Denmark - USA |
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19.00. Finland - Czech Republic |
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21.00. Canada - Sweden |
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PLAY OFF** |
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15.00. Quarterfinal |
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17.00. Quarterfinal |
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19.00. Quarterfinal |
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21.00. Quarterfinal |
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17.00. semi-final |
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21.00. semi-final |
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17.00. For 3rd place |
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21.30. The final |
* - Moscow time
** - Matches for the right to remain in the elite between the teams that took fifth place in the group will be held at 13.00 on 2, 3 and 5 (if required) of January
COMBINATIONS OF THE YOUTH TEAM OF RUSSIA AT THE LAST TRAINING BEFORE MFM-2016 IN FINLAND
Goalkeepers: Georgiev, Samsonov, Tretyak.
"Reds": Boikov - Provorov, Lazarev - Kamenev - Svechnikov.
"White": Rykov - Voronkov, Polunin - Kraskovsky - Korshkov.
"Blue": Sergeev - Sharipzyanov, Kuzmenko - Svetlakov - Whims.
"Black": Mikulovich - Zhuldikov, Lauta - Fazleev - Dergachev.
FAVORITES OF MFM-2016 ON HOCKEY IN FINLAND: TALENTED FINNS, EXPERIENCED SWEDS AND SMOOTH CANADANS
FINLAND TEAM
Average age: 1 8.48 years old. Average height: 187.09 cm. Average weight: 85.83 kg
Stars: z.Yuolevi ("London", OHL), N. Aho, N. Pulyujärvi (both - "Kärpyat"), N. Rantanen ("San Antonio", AHL), N. Laine ("Tappara"), N. Kapanen ("Toronto", AHL)
Losses: No
League squad: Liiga (Finland) - 13, OHL (Ontario Junior League) - 4, AHL - 2, Mestis (Finland, second division) - 2, Finnish Junior League - 2
Grade "SE": goalkeepers - 7, defenders - 6, forwards - 8
Chances for a medal: medium
Medals at the last five MFMs: gold (2014)
Switzerland (3:4), USA (2:3)
Head coach: Jukka Jalonen
Finns traditionally bet on talent. It is difficult for them to assemble a strong line-up for at least half of the team from the same age, so there were nine hockey players born in 1997 and 1998 in the team at once. Three of them - defender Juolevi and forwards Laine and Pulujärvi - are serious candidates for high places in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, all the way to being in the top five. Here lies the main problem of the Finns - can 17-year-old hockey players, even if they are super talented, achieve results at the MFM? IN decisive matches experience is often too important. A year ago, in a similar situation, the Finnish team failed the tournament, scoring only eight goals in five games. True, many attributed this failure to the work of the ex-coach of “Cupid” Hannu Yortiki – he was replaced at the helm of the team by another of our old acquaintances – Jukka Jalonen.
TEAM USA
Average age: 18.59 years old. Average height: 183.82 cm. Average weight: 84.36 kg
Stars: Z. Verensky (University of Michigan, NCAA), N. Matthews ("Zurich"), N. Tkachak, Dvorak (both - "London, OHL), N. Debrinkat (Erie, OHL), n. Milano ("Lake Erie", AHL)
Losses: z.Khanifin ("Carolina"), n.Larkin ("Detroit"), n.Ikel ("Buffalo")
League squad: NCAA - 11, OHL - 6, WHL (Western Junior League) - 2, AHL - 1, NLA (Switzerland) - 1, USHL (American youth league) - 1
Grade "SE": goalkeepers - 7, defenders - 7, forwards - 9
Chances for a medal: high
gold (2013), bronze (2011)
Friendly matches before MFM: Finland (3:2)
Head coach: Tom Wilson
It's scary to imagine what would have happened if a trio of American Enkhaelians had reached Helsinki - then the Stars and Stripes would have received one of the best teams in its history. Without Larkin and Co., the situation is similar to the Finnish one: the main impact force, the first link Debrinkat - Matthews - Tkachak consists of hockey players who have just turned 18. True, at least some skepticism about the Zurich forward is hardly appropriate - if he easily puts opponents from the adult Swiss league on the shoulder blades, more age rivals at the MFM should not become a serious obstacle for him. It is curious that the American team is very short: six players at once do not even reach 180 cm. But there is no doubt about the speed qualities of the team - it is not a fact that there will be an opponent in the tournament who can play at the same high pace.
TEAM CANADA
Average age: 18.61 years old. Average height: 185.61 cm. Average weight: 87 kg
Stars: z.Sanheim ("Calgary", WHL), Z. Hicketts ("Victoria", WHL), N. Marner ("London", OHL), n. Stroum ("Erie", OHL), n. Point ("Moose Joe", WHL), N. Virtanen ("Vancouver")
Losses: W. Ekblad ("Florida"), N. McDavid ("Edmonton"), N. Fabbri ("St. Louis"), N. McCann ("Vancouver"), N. Bennett ("Calgary")
League squad: OHL - 9, WHL - 7, QMJHL - 5, NHL - 1, NCAA - 1
Grade "SE": goalkeepers - 6, defenders - 8, forwards - 9
Chances for a medal: high
Medals at the last five MFMs: gold (2015), silver (2011), bronze (2010)
Friendly matches before MFM: Belarus (7:1), Czech Republic (1:0), Sweden (7:6)
Head coach: Dave Lowry
The Canadian line-up is so even that it is almost impossible to single out the team leader in advance, because it can be almost anyone. The only NHL player Virtanen, leading center Strome, techies Barzal, Point and Marner, power forward Krause, the youngest player on the Gauthier team, who scored 29 goals in 30 games this season - you can’t predict who will “shoot” in advance. And perhaps no one. The Canadians regained the title of world champions after five years of waiting, but last year's squad was head and shoulders stronger than their competitors. Whether the Maple Leaves will be able to confirm their status as a favorite with an average (for themselves) selection of hockey players is a big question. Yes, and the top goalkeeper for the youth team in Canada has been waiting for more than a year, but he does not appear - and even a slightly strange ban on the draft of foreign goalkeepers in the junior leagues did not correct the situation.
SWEDEN TEAM
Average age: 18.61 years old. Average height: 186.91 cm. Average weight: 86.52 kg
Stars: h. Forsling ("Linkoping"), N. V. Nylander ("Toronto, AHL), N. A. Nyulander ("Missouga, OHL), n. Lindblom ("Bryunes"), n. Kempe ("Ontario", AHL), n. Holmström ("Shellefteo")
Losses: z.Aho ("Shellefteo")
League squad: SHL (Sweden) - 14, Allsvenskan (Sweden, second division) - 3, AHL - 2, NCAA - 2, OHL - 1, QMJHL - 1
Grade "SE": goalkeepers - 7, defenders - 8, forwards - 8
Chances for a medal: medium
Results at the last five MFMs: gold (2012), silver (2013, 2014)
Friendly matches before MFM : Denmark (5:0), Slovakia (6:3), Canada (3:7)
Head coach: Richard Grönborg.
A year ago, 11 people played against our team in the semi-finals, who will come to this tournament as well. At that time, Bragin’s team managed to crush the very young team with aggression and a high pace of play, but now Tre Krunur has practically no weak points: Kempe and the elder Nylander are breaking the AHL, his younger brother is successfully conquering the Ontario Junior League, and most of their partners are in good standing in home championship clubs. There is enough experience now, and skill was in abundance even a year ago - it was not possible to realize all the skills on the ice. True, typical Swedish problems do not disappear anywhere - they do not have matches with North American teams on an ongoing basis if there is no decent advantage in the level of hockey players ( Pavel KLIMOVITSKY)
Today the Russian youth team will play the quarterfinal match at the MFM-2018. Before important game we remembered why Russian fans love and what they expect from the youth team.
MFM-2011. Quarterfinal. Russia - Finland - 4:3 OT
Everyone remembers the legendary final of the MFM-2011, but the story about it should begin with the quarterfinal game that the Russian team played with the Finnish team.
Then, in the middle of the first period, a powerful throw with a rebound from the foot of the Finnish player opened Yuri Urychev, who, together with his teammate Daniil Sobchenko died in a plane crash on September 7, 2011. We did not stay ahead for long - a few minutes later Pulkinen equalized the score with a penny. And then it was the turn for Bragin's wards to recoup. Yuntilla, shortly before the break, left our defender on the flank, got close to Shikin and outplayed him in a head-to-head duel. The second period went without goals, but in the third Joonas Donskoy turned out to be the most persistent of all in front of our gates and pushed the puck there.
1:3 17 and a half minutes before the siren is, of course, not a sentence, but it is not easy to win back two goals during this time. And the Russians succeeded! The miracle began when our players had 3 minutes and 41 seconds to go into overtime. Evgeny Kuznetsov literally buried a shell in the gates of the Finnish national team. He, in fact, organized the third goal of the Russian team. The striker left three defenders, but could not beat the goalkeeper, but Maxim Kitsyn jumped to the spot and successfully played on the rebound. And in overtime, the same Kuznetsov brought us victory, as if throwing from the face-off circle.
MFM-2011. Semifinal. Russia - Sweden - 4:3 B (1:0)
The achievements of the Russian squad continued in the semi-finals, where they met with the Swedes. And again, as in the game with the Finns, our guys opened the score. At the beginning of the first period, Tarasenko, throwing from a negative angle, hit the opponent's goalkeeper Robin Lehner in the back, and the puck bounced into the goal. Developed the success of the Russians Denis Golubev. Bocharov picked up an ownerless puck in the area of Sweden, drove outside the gate and gave it to the current striker “Ak Bars”, who outplayed the goalkeeper and made the score 2-0. However, the Swedes bounced back, and by the end of the third period they even took the lead. The team was saved by Sergey Kalinin, who pierced the puck into the target in a jump. Extra time did not reveal the winner, and in the shootout, Golubev's successful attempt brought us to the final.
MFM-2011. The final. Russia - Canada - 5:3
Every hockey fan has at least one game in his life that he will tell his children and grandchildren about. In Russia, for young fans of this game, the golden final in Buffalo is just one of those meetings. The plot in it was as close to Hollywood as possible: after two periods, the Canadians were 3-0, and it seemed that little could prevent their victory. But in the third game segment, ours turned the game around, scored five goals and took the main prize of the World Championship with them. Once again, we will not describe the ups and downs of that match, because it is better to see that match alone (or again) than to read about it a hundred times. So let's watch the video.
MFM-2012. Semifinal. Russia - Canada - 6:5
A year later, we again met with the Canadians, however, at the semi-final stage. And this time, the “maple” almost repeated our feat a year ago. By the 48th minute of the meeting, Bragin's team was leading with a score of 6:1. But Canadians have shown that they are not going to give up. Hamilton, Schwartz, Gallagher and Gormley with their goals not only gave their country hope, but also spent our reserves of validol. Fortunately, there was no overtime, and the Russian team reached the final, in which they lost to the Swedes.
MFM-2013. Quarterfinal. Russia - Switzerland - 4:3 B (2:1)
At the 2013 youth championship in Ufa, the Russians could well fly out already in the quarterfinals. The Swiss national team, which had already upset the Russians at a similar stage three years earlier, almost created a sensation. In the third period of the meeting, with the score 2:2, Sven Andrighetto entered the Russian zone at speed, approached Vasilevsky and struck accurate throw from a close distance. saved the day Nikita Kucherov, which, one and a half minutes before the siren, ended up in right time V right place and from the first touch sent the puck into the Swiss goal net. In overtime, the teams did not score goals, and the team turned out to be more successful in the shootout Mikhail Varnakov.
MFM-2013. Semifinal. Russia - Sweden - 2:3 B (0:1)
Quite quickly, already by the 10th minute of the semi-final match, the Swedes took the lead 2-0. Lindholm and the then captain of the youth “Tre krunur” threw pucks into the gates of Vasilevsky Philip Forsberg. But the Russian team would not be themselves if they gave up. And we evened the score. One goal closer to the middle of the match was answered by Andrey Mironov, and in the 48th minute Mikhail Grigorenko turned out to be the quickest of all in the fight in the goalkeeper's Niklas Lundström and equalized. But this story did not have a happy ending for us. In the shootout Sebastian Kollberg brought his team a ticket to the final.
MFM-2013. Match for 3rd place. Russia – Canada 6:5 OT
Our team instead of the final got to the game for third place, where they met with the Canadians. Although this match was not the main one in the tournament, but the confrontation between Russia and Canada is almost always strong and cool. So it happened at that time. Fans in the stands of "Ufa-Arena" saw 11 goals! After the end of regular time, the scoreboard showed the score 5:5, and in the second minute of overtime Valery Nichushkin made an impressive slalom pass from the right flank to the center, jumped out to a rendezvous with the goalkeeper and an accurate wrist throw brought bronze to Russia.
MFM-2016. Quarterfinal. Russia - Denmark - 4:3 OT
The quarter-finals of the tournament in Helsinki, where the Russian team met with Denmark, turned out to be very nervous for us. It is clear that there are no weak opponents in the playoffs, but before the game, many thought that the Russians should go further without special problems. It turned out differently. Egor Korshkov in the first period, he opened the scoring in the match, demonstrating a slightly modified feint by Vsevolod Bobrov. But by the middle of the match, the Danes were able not only to equalize the situation, but also to come forward. Ours answered with a goal Arthur Lauta. Until the end of the third period, the teams exchanged again abandoned washers, and Bragin's wards were saved just 44 seconds before the siren. And in extra time, the captain of our "youth team" Vladislav Kamenev worked well on the penny and brought Bragin's team to the semi-finals.
MFM-2016. The final. Russia - Finland - 3:4 OT
This game, like the final with Canada, hardly needs any additional description. We all remember how Russian hockey players, having opened an account in the first period, kept their advantage until the third twenty minutes. After that, the hosts leveled the score, but Andrey Svetlakov brought us forward again. We also remember how the Finns caught up with us again, and more than two minutes before the end, it seemed, they secured victory for themselves. And, of course, we remember how Bragin's guys saved themselves 6 seconds before the end and turned the game into overtime. A beautiful goal Kasperi Kapanena blew up the “Hartwall Arena” and placed an unprecedented sadness and disappointment in our hearts.
MFM-2017. Semifinal. Russia - USA - 3:4 B (3:4)
And, finally, we come to the past MFM, in the semifinals of which the Russian team met with the Americans. A game in which the advantage constantly shifted from one team to another, and Ilya Samsonov saved shootouts and made incredible saves, we also remember the confusion in the series of post-match free throws. After three attempts on each side, the Russians were in the lead, but the tournament in Montreal was the first in which teams performed five throws. And according to the results of the entire shootout series, the US team won. And ours went to play for third place with the Swedes and were content with bronze.
In Moscow and St. Petersburg, he remembered the home tournaments in which he took part, and explained why he did not miss the Red Machine hockey.
- Vladislav Aleksandrovich, the home world championship starts tomorrow. Are you worried?
- (Smiling) There is always excitement, because every world championship, especially home championships, is an exam for Russian hockey. The news about the injury of Evgeni Malkin is disturbing, it is not completely clear whether Pavel Datsyuk is completely healthy, but we really want the national team to be represented at the home tournament the best players so that fans can see the brightest stars.
Bronze medals at the 2007 Home World Championships were considered a successful result. This time bronze will not please us?
Every medal is good, but it is clear that on their site each team aims only for gold. The most important thing is that the team fights to the end in every match, so that their eyes burn, like the players of our youth team at the last World Cup. Yes, the team lost to the Finns in the final, somewhere the opponent was more fortunate, somewhere they outperformed us, but no one can say that our guys didn't fight. And if the team of Oleg Znarka in May plays like our youth team, plays with soul, then I think the result will definitely come. But even if he doesn't come, with such a game, none of the fans will say a bad word.
In 2007 we had a very strong team, and then the Russian team did not lose a single match in regular time, the team suffered the only defeat in overtime from the Finns. We were then actually beaten by the goalkeeper Kari Lehtonen, they just couldn’t break through him in any way, it didn’t work out. I'm sure we would have won the tournament if we had reached the final. But bronze was also recognized as a successful result, after all, we won medals at that time infrequently.
- You have twice played at home world championships. What are your memories of the 1973 and 1979 tournaments?
On the one hand, it was easy, because it is always easier to play on our own court, with our own fans, on the other hand, there was psychological tension. The World Championship at home is a double responsibility, because there is no way to lose at home. We coped with this responsibility and won both tournaments. In terms of atmosphere, of course, it was a holiday, and we must now do everything to make the home World Cup a real holiday.
- In general, which World Cup is the most memorable for you?
Quebec-2008, of course, and the first gold in 15 years - indescribable emotions. In the player's career, the 1978 tournament, held in Prague, became the brightest. The previous two tournaments, the Czechoslovak team took gold, and at the home tournament, dedicated to the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of hockey in the country, they won the first match against us, after which, one might say, they were already trying on the crown. But in the second game we pulled out a victory and three years later we regained the title of world champions. In the Czech Republic then there was a real mourning, and we have a holiday. For that victory, we were given two orders of Lenin at once: and me. It was an exceptional case, emphasizing the significance of the victory, because before the orders were given only to one person in the team for winning the Olympic Games Oh.
"At the very beginning of my career, Brezhnev took care of me"
Thirteen gold medals of the USSR Championship, ten gold medals of the World Championship, three gold medals of the Olympic Games, the Canada Cup in 1981 ... Have you ever had a feeling of satiety with victories? How did you manage to keep your interest in the game?
Firstly, we did not always win, I already mentioned the world championships in 1976 and 1977, also in 1972 we were second. CSKA stayed with silver in 1974 and 1976. Secondly, the number of victories should not mislead anyone - they never came easily. Quite the opposite, everyone wanted to beat CSKA, the USSR national team, for each player it was an exam, in games with us everyone wanted to show themselves. Therefore, we always had to be in full combat readiness.
It was always interesting how you managed to keep your tone in matches when the opponent could not, in principle, reach the goal?
It was incredibly difficult. That is why, if I enjoyed playing with the Canadians, then I suffered in the matches against the Czechs. Any goalkeeper will tell you that when he is in the game, when there are shots, he does not think about anything. When there are no shots, thoughts constantly come into my head: "What if I miss? What if we lose?" I had to drive them away, special autogenic training use. But the excitement was constantly present, because we usually played with the Czechs in the finals, and one of their accurate throws could leave our team without gold medals. Therefore, the matches with the Czechs were the most difficult, after all, field players take turns, sit on the bench, drink water, communicate, and the goalkeeper is constantly in suspense, he must control every puck. Through work, I managed to do this, I managed to keep myself.
- And from partners who helped you? You were the youngest player in the national team for a long time.
I have always been treated well by my older comrades, yet they always try to protect goalkeepers, these are special people. After mistakes, they always supported me, I myself always understood that with such partners as Boris Mikhailov, I always have the right to make one mistake in the game, because they will score two goals against any opponent. In general, experienced players helped me in the national team - Viktor Kuzkin, Alexander Ragulin, and in CSKA at the very beginning of my career, defender Vladimir Brezhnev took care of me.
- How did your relationship develop with other goalkeepers?
Of course, they had a certain unpleasant attitude, because I, it turns out, did not let them play. But it's not my fault, it's the coach's decision. To be honest, sometimes I myself was very tired and wanted to rest, but the coaches always put me on. But I never had any problems with anyone, neither with Viktor Konovalenko, nor with Alexander Pashkov, nor with Viktor Krivolapov, nor with Vladimir Myshkin, nor with Alexander Sidelnikov - we all communicated well.
Hockey "Red Machine" just never get bored
It is known that the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Leonid Brezhnev attended all the matches of the USSR national team at the home world championships in 1973 and 1979. Could you compare the attention paid to hockey by the state then and now?
I would say the attitude is the same. The only thing is that before the situation itself was different, silver medals were considered a shame, but today the sport has changed, it is very difficult to give a result every year - and the leadership of our country understands this.
The main thing is that the leadership will not forgive a weak-willed game, such as the team showed at the 2000 home World Cup. That's where the shame was, the lack of fire in the eyes and disrespect for rivals led to 11th place, there were stars in that team, but there was no team. Then, of course, all this led to great displeasure on the part of the President.
Is there any tournament that would be even more unpleasant for you to remember than the 2000 World Cup, where you worked as a goalkeeping coach for the Russian national team?
Only if the Olympics in Lake Placid and the 1977 World Cup in Vienna. We then had to win one of the three recent matches to win gold medals. We lost all three.
- Why?
Firstly, we relaxed, thought - what, we won’t win one of the three matches? Unfortunately, this is typical of our nature: we go, we go, we do, and in the end we relax. Secondly, when there was one match left before the victory, we started going to some demonstrations - that is, there was also a coaching miscalculation. We played amazingly at that tournament, the Canadians were torn apart 11:1, and in the end they took and lost two matches to the Swedes, lost to the Czechs. So I don't like to remember this tournament either.
- Recently, veterans admit that they miss the Red Machine hockey? Are you bored?
- (Smiling) I have no time to be bored, there is simply no time to be bored - the schedule is so tight. Yes, there was a time, but it has passed. It passed very quickly, unfortunately, as one moment flew by. You know, when I speak to young players, I always say: “Guys, hockey life is very short. God gave you talent, skill, take advantage of this opportunity. bit by bit you will make a name for yourself, which will later help you in life. Play hockey, and then hockey will play for you. "
- As for the schedule, now the family probably sees you at home even almost less often than during your career?
It turns out that way, yes. There are constant events, and I try to cover as much as possible, visit as many regions as possible through the Russian Ice Hockey Federation. It’s just that whenever I visit, I have meetings with governors, mayors, and I know what they need to say to which pain points specify. And this gives impetus, I see results: new stadiums, boxes appear, interest in hockey is growing. Plus, of course, there is enough work on deputy cases. It's hard for me to imagine myself outside of work.
- Are you going to the Duma again in September?
Yes, I plan to take part in the elections to the State Duma of the 7th convocation. I have very good relations with the governor of the Ulyanovsk region, Sergei Morozov. We have a big program for the development of hockey, for the development of sports in the region. And a lot has already been done. If five years ago the Ulyanovsk region was one of the most backward in terms of sports infrastructure, today it has reached high level. I would like to continue this work, and, in principle, the status of a deputy helps a lot in the work to popularize hockey.
Ice Hockey World Youth Championship 2017, which will be held in the homeland of hockey, in the Canadian cities of Toronto and Montreal, starts on December 26, 2016. The final match of the World Championship among youth teams 2017, where hockey players under 20 years old participate, will be held on the final day of the tournament - January 5, 2017. Let's hope that the Russian youth hockey team, coached by Valery Bragin, will be able to reach the final.
Ice Hockey World Youth Championship: schedule
We have already answered the questions - when and where will the Youth Ice Hockey World Championship take place. Now let's talk about the participants and structure of the tournament. 10 teams divided into two subgroups will take part in the Youth Ice Hockey World Championship 2017. The youth team of Russia will play in group B, where, in addition to it, there are teams from Canada, the USA, Slovakia and Latvia. In turn, the five teams of Group A will be the national teams of Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Switzerland. 4 teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, and then the playoff system will go on.
Now, more about the schedule of the youth ice hockey world championship 2017, compiled according to Moscow time. On the first day of the tournament, December 26, two matches will take place: Sweden and Denmark will play at 21:00 Moscow time, and the USA and Latvia will play at 23:30.
On December 27, at one in the morning, the Czechs and Finns will meet, and then, at four in the morning Moscow time, the Russian team will starting match MFM-2017 will play with the hosts of the championship, the Canadians. During the same day, on December 27, the Czechs will again take to the ice: at 21:00 they are scheduled to meet with the Swiss.
On the night of December 27-28, exactly at midnight, the Russian team will start its second match against the Latvians. At 01:30 on December 28, the Finns will play with the Danes, and at 04:00 the Canadians will examine the Slovaks.
Four fights are scheduled for Thursday, December 29th. At 01:00 the meeting of the Swedes with the Swiss will begin, at 03:30 - the Slovaks will play with the Americans, at 21:00 the Danes will cross sticks with the Czechs, and at 23:30 the Russian team will converge with the US team. Stars and Stripes, as you can see, will have to hold two meetings within 20 hours.
On Friday, December 30, there will be two matches: Finland - Sweden (01:30) and Latvia - Canada (04.00).
The last day of the outgoing year at the MFM will turn out to be eventful. On December 31, the ice will be played by: Switzerland - Denmark (01:00), Slovakia - Latvia (03.30), Sweden - Czech Republic (21:00) and the USA - Canada (23:30).
On New Year's Eve, January 1, the group stage will end with two games: Finland - Switzerland (01:30) and Russia - Slovakia (04:00). Note that all matches group stage The Russian team will play in Toronto, at the Air Canada Center arena.
The quarter-finals will be held on January 2-3. On January 2, two matches will take place: at 21:00 the winner of group A will play with the team that took 4th place in group B, and at 23:30 the winner of group A will face the fourth team of group A. Earlier, at 19:00, there will be a repechage match for 9th place between outsiders.
On Tuesday, January 3, two more matches of the 1/4 finals will take place. At 01:30 the second team of group A will play with the third team of group B, and at 04:00 the second team of group B will meet with the third team of group A.
The semi-finals of the MFM-2017 are scheduled for January 4-5. On January 4 at 23:00, the winner of the quarter-finals A1-B4 will play with the winner of the B2-A3 pair, and on January 5, at 03:30, the teams from the quarter-final pairs B1-A4 and A2-B3 will play.
On the evening of January 5, at 23:30, the match for 3rd place will take place, and on the night of January 5-6, at 04:00, the final match will begin in Montreal.
Youth Ice Hockey World Championship 2017: where to watch
All matches of the youth team of Russia on hockey with the MFM-2017 in live TV channel "Match TV". The start of live broadcasts coincides with the start of the meetings indicated above. Taking into account the fact that the games take place at a time that is not the most convenient for viewing in Russia (at night), the next morning, Match TV will re-show the matches of the Russian national team in a recording.
The composition of the Russian team for the youth world championship 2017
In conclusion - about Russian youth team for the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The head coach of the Russian youth team Valery Bragin called 23 hockey players to the tournament in Canada.
Goalkeepers: Anton Krasotkin (Loko), Vladislav Sukhachev (Chelmet), Ilya Samsonov (Metallurg Mg).
Defenders: Vadim Kudako (Severstal), Mikhail Sidorov (Ak Bars), Sergei Zborovsky (Regina), Egor Voronkov (Vityaz), Grigory Dronov (Metallurg Mg), Mikhail Sergachev (Windsor) ), Egor Rykov (SKA), Artem Volkov (Dynamo BSH).
Forwards: Kirill Kaprizov (Salavat Yulaev), Kirill Urakov (Torpedo NN), Danila Kvartalnov (CSKA), Alexander Polunin (Lokomotiv), Kirill Belyaev (Ugra), German Rubtsov (Vityaz), Pavel Karnaukhov (CSKA), Denis Alekseev (Admiral), Danil Yurtaikin (Ryazan), Mikhail Vorobyov (Salavat Yulaev), Yakov Trenin (Gatineau), Denis Guryanov (Texas).
