/

Youth world hockey championship schedule results. Why is everyone watching the World Youth Hockey Championship on New Year's Eve?

When on Christmas and New Year's holidays all sport life freezes, the views of the fans are riveted by one of the most uncompromising spectacles - the youth world championship. Today it starts in Finland.

FINLAND, YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR, December 26, 2015 - January 5, 2016

GROUP STAGE

15.00. Czech Republic - RUSSIA *

17.00. Switzerland - Sweden

19.00. Finland - Belarus

21.00. USA - Canada

17.00. Belarus - Slovakia

21.00. Denmark - Switzerland

15.00. Slovakia - Czech Republic

17.00. Sweden - USA

19.00. RUSSIA - Finland

21.00. Canada - Denmark

17.00. Belarus - RUSSIA

21.00. Switzerland - Canada

15.00. Czech Republic - Belarus

17.00. Sweden - Denmark

19.00. Slovakia - Finland

21.00. USA - Switzerland

15.00. RUSSIA - Slovakia

17.00. Denmark - USA

19.00. Finland - Czech Republic

21.00. Canada - Sweden

PLAY-OFF **

15.00. Quarterfinals

17.00. Quarterfinals

19.00. Quarterfinals

21.00. Quarterfinals

17.00. Semifinal

21.00. Semifinal

17.00. For 3rd place

21.30. The final

* - Moscow time

** - Matches for the right to remain in the elite between the fifth-placed teams in the group will be held at 13.00 on January 2, 3 and 5 (if required)

RUSSIAN YOUTH TEAM COMBINATIONS AT THE LAST TRAINING BEFORE MFM-2016 IN FINLAND

Goalkeepers: Georgiev, Samsonov, Tretyak.

"Reds": Boykov - Provorov, Lazarev - Kamenev - Svechnikov.

"White": Rykov - Voronkov, Polunin - Kraskovsky - Korshkov.

"Blue": Sergeev - Sharipzyanov, Kuzmenko - Svetlakov - Whims.

"Black": Mikulovich - Zhuldikov, Lauta - Fazleev - Dergachev.

THE FAVORITES OF THE 2016 MCHM ICE HOCKEY IN FINLAND: TALENTED FINNS, EXPERIENCED SWEDEN AND Smooth CANADIANS

TEAM FINLAND

Average age: 1 8.48 years. Average height: 187.09 cm. Average weight: 85.83 kg

Stars: z.Yuolevi ("London", OHL), N. Aho, N. Pulyujärvi (both - "Karpat"), N. Rantanen ("San Antonio", AHL), N. Laine ("Tappara"), N. Kapanen ("Toronto", AHL)

Losses: No

Composition by league: Liiga (Finland) - 13, OHL (Ontario Junior League) - 4, AHL - 2, Mestis (Finland, second division) - 2, Finnish Junior League - 2

SE rating: goalkeepers - 7, defenders - 6, forwards - 8

Medal odds: average

Medals at the last five MFM: gold (2014)

Switzerland (3: 4), USA (2: 3)

Main coach: Yukka Yalonen

Finns traditionally bet on talent. It is difficult for them to assemble a strong line-up for at least half a team of the same age, so there were nine hockey players born in 1997 and 1998 in the national team at once. Three of them - defender Juolevi and forwards Laine and Pulyujarvi - are serious candidates for high places in the 2016 NHL Draft, right up to the top five. Here lies the main problem of the Finns - can 17-year-old hockey players, even super-talented ones, achieve results at the MFM? V decisive matches experience often plays too important role... A year ago, in a similar situation, the Finnish national team failed the tournament, scoring only eight goals in five games. True, many associated this failure with the work of the ex-coach of “Cupid” Hannu Yortika - he was replaced at the helm of the team by another old friend of ours - Jukka Yalonen.

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. Hanifin ("Carolina"), N. Larkin ("Detroit"), N. Aikel ("Buffalo")

Composition by league: NCAA - 11, OHL - 6, WHL (Western Junior League) - 2, AHL - 1, NLA (Switzerland) - 1, USHL (American youth league) - 1

SE rating: goalkeepers - 7, defenders - 7, forwards - 9

Medal odds: high

gold (2013), bronze (2011)

Friendly matches before the MFM: Finland (3: 2)

Main coach: Tom Wilson

It is scary to imagine what would have happened if a troika of American NHL members had reached Helsinki - then the "Stars and Stripes" would have received one of the best teams in its history. Without Larkin & Co., the situation is similar to the Finnish one: main impact force, the first link Debrinkat - Matthews - Tkachak consists of hockey players who have just turned 18 rivals at the MFM should not become a serious obstacle for him. It is curious that the American team is very undersized: six hockey players at once do not even reach 180 cm. But there is no doubt about the team's speed qualities - 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. Medium height: 185.61 cm. Average weight: 87 kg

Stars: z.Sanheim ("Calgary", WHL), Z. Hicketts ("Victoria", WHL), N. Marner ("London", OHL), N. Strome ("Erie", OHL), N. Point ("Moose Joe", WHL), N. Virtanen ("Vancouver")

Losses: Z. Ecblood (Florida), N. McDavid (Edmonton), N. Fabbry (St. Louis), N. McCann (Vancouver), N. Bennett (Calgary)

Composition by league: OHL - 9, WHL - 7, QMJHL - 5, NHL - 1, NCAA - 1

SE rating: goalkeepers - 6, defenders - 8, forwards - 9

Medal odds: high

Medals at the last five MFM: gold (2015), silver (2011), bronze (2010)

Friendly matches before the MFM: Belarus (7: 1), Czech Republic (1: 0), Sweden (7: 6)

Main coach: Dave Lowry

The Canadian squad is so even that it is almost impossible to identify the team leader in advance, because they can be almost anyone. The only NHL player Virtanen, leading center Strome, techies Barzal, Point and Marner, power forward Krause, Gauthier's youngest player to score 29 goals in 30 games this season - you never know who will shoot. 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 above the competition. 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. And the top goalkeeper for the youth team in Canada has not been waiting for the first 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.

TEAM SWEDEN

Average age: 18.61 years old. Medium height: 186.91 cm. Average weight: 86.52 kg

Stars: S. Forsling ("Linkoping"), N. V. Nyulander ("Toronto, AHL), N. A. Nyulander (" Mississauga, OHL), N. Lindblom ("Brunes"), N. Kempe ("Ontario", AHL), n. Holmstrom ("Skelleftea")

Losses: Z. Aho ("Skellefteo")

Composition by league: SHL (Sweden) - 14, Allsvenskan (Sweden, second division) - 3, AHL - 2, NCAA - 2, OHL - 1, QMJHL - 1

SE rating: goalkeepers - 7, defenders - 8, forwards - 8

Medal odds: average

Results at the last five MFM: gold (2012), silver (2013, 2014)

Friendly matches before MFM : Denmark (5: 0), Slovakia (6: 3), Canada (3: 7)

Main coach: Ricard Grenborg.

A year ago, 11 people played against our team in the semifinals, who will come to this tournament as well. Then the very young team of Bragin's team managed to crush the aggression and high pace of the game, but now Tre Krunur has practically no weak points: Kempe and the elder Nylander break the AHL, his younger brother successfully conquers the Ontario Junior League, and most of their partners are good standing in the clubs of the native championship. Experience is now enough, and skill was in abundance a year ago - it was not possible to realize all the skills on the ice. True, the typical Swedish problems do not disappear anywhere - matches with the North American national teams do not add up to them on an ongoing basis, if there is no decent advantage in the level of hockey players ( Pavel KLIMOVITSKY)

Coach Valery Bragin once again led the Russian youth team to the final of the World Ice Hockey Championship, where the team performed a miracle, scoring in the last seconds, but eventually won only silver medals for the second time in a row. "Lenta.ru" sums up the main New Year's tournament and explains why fans shouldn't be upset.

Invincible in the group

Before the start of the World Cup, few experts called the Russian team one of the favorites of the tournament. More often this role was given to the Americans and Finns, as well as to the traditionally strong Canadians and Swedes, and in terms of the composition of the Russian team it was difficult to classify it as the most talented. However, Valery Bragin, as the coach of the Russian national team, once again proved why he should coach the youth team.

As is usually the case under Bragin, the Russian national team started the tournament rather sluggishly. In the debut match with the Czechs, the Russian team managed to score only one goal from the game, and they did it already in the 50th minute. Although it was already possible to decide the outcome of the meeting in the first period, when the leader of the Czech defense Jakub Zborzhil received a penalty match for a gross foul on Yegor Korshkov. But the chance was missed, and the fourth link saved the Russian team from defeat, whose labor goal brought the game into overtime. As a result, the Russian national team snatched victory in the series of post-match shots and scored the first two points in the tournament.

In the next match of the group stage, which, as it turns out, will be a rehearsal for the final, the Russian team met with the hosts of the tournament, the Finns. The Suomi team put the strongest in the home championship for last years composition, in which two links of attack were especially distinguished. Considering the problems of the Russian national team in defense, it was a little scary for the outcome of the match, which was confirmed by the first 28 minutes. The Finnish national team organized three goals against Alexander Georgiev, and could decide the outcome of the match already to its equator, if not for the reliable play of our goalkeeper. The turning point of the meeting was Andrei Svetlakov's goal in the minority, after which the Russian national team “ran”, and the Finns, taking one puck after another out of their gates, swam. As a result - four goals in eight incomplete minutes and the second victory in the tournament.

By the will of the draw, the Russian national team has more strong rivals group stage was not - Canada, the USA and Sweden fought each other in another group, and Finland and the Czech Republic had already been defeated. It was just a matter of technique to outplay the inferior Belarusians and Slovaks in the class and, having shown a 100% result in the group stage for the first time since 2007, to get in the quarterfinals not the USA, Canada or Sweden, but Denmark.

Validol Danes and spineless Americans

Before the match, few expected that the Danish national team, left this year without two of its main stars Ehlers and Bjorkstrand, would be able to provide decent resistance to the Russian team. Nevertheless, it was in this match that the Russian team under the leadership of Valery Bragin was close to failure as never before.

Molodezhka entered the match with the right attitude and took the lead in the third minute. It is difficult to say what happened next, but the focus on the opponent's goal disappeared somewhere, and the fire in the defense began to flare up more and more often. During the break coaching staff failed to return the high engine speed of the "red car", for which the Russian team paid almost immediately. 1: 2 by the middle of the meeting were quite frightening, considering what was happening on the ice.

Valery Bragin's wards started up only in the third period, completely outplaying the opponent and throwing him 20-4. The Russian national team managed to break through the Danish goalkeeper in the 53rd minute, but soon missed the shocking third goal. The final assault of the Russian youth team was unsuccessful for a long time, until captain Vladislav Kamenev took matters into his own hands - 44 seconds before the siren, a pupil of Metallurg Magnitogorsk saved the Russian team from relegation from the World Cup, and in overtime sent the team to the semifinals.

In other quarterfinals, the Swedes and Americans left no stone unturned from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, having won 6: 0 and 7: 0. But the national teams of Finland and Canada staged a real hack, throwing 11 goals into each other's goal. As a result, the Suomi team managed to snatch the victory thanks to the brilliant play of the best three of the world championship Pullyujarvi - Aho - Laine, who scored 9 points for three in this meeting. The Canadians brought an openly weak line of defense to this tournament and, having lost all matches to direct competitors, for the third time in four years were left without medals.

After a valid match with the Danes, the team faced a much more serious rival - the US team. Before the semi-finals, US coach Ron Wilson added fuel to the confrontation by saying that he did not know any of the opponents. Continuing the pre-match attack on the Russian team, the mentor noted that our youth team was frankly lucky in the match against the Danes.

Regardless of what Wilson said, the Americans have traditionally bounced off our team in the playoffs, including losses in the quarterfinals of the last two world championships. Statistics are stubborn things, therefore, despite confident victories and a large number of extremely talented performers, the US team was the favorite in this meeting only on paper. In practice, the Americans only lasted for one period in the semifinals, in which they completely outplayed the Russian national team.

Bragin's wards, thanks to the post, the crossbar, Ilya Samsonov's reliable play and the stupid deletions of the US team players, went for a break with the score 0: 1. More championship game we did not see it from the Americans that evening, or rather the Russian national team did not allow the opponent to show it. In the second game segment, the Russian youth dominated the Stars and Stripes, throwing the opponent 13-5 and hitting Alex Nedelkovich's goal twice. Both goals were scored by the Yaroslavl unit - Pavel Kraskovsky and Yegor Korshkov distinguished themselves.

At the beginning of the third period, the leaders of the US national team Auston Matthews and Zach Verensky clearly "gorged themselves" when playing in the majority, having significantly outplayed their shifts, and in the remaining time they rather helped the Russian national team with their mistakes than tried to save the meeting. In the end, a selfless game Russian team at their gates and the impenetrability of Ilya Samsonov allowed the Russian national team, traditionally under Valery Bragin, to reach the final of the youth world championship.

Superfinal

The rival of the Russian “youth team” in the final was the hosts of the tournament, the Finns, who, to the delight of their numerous fans, beat their neighbors from Sweden in a bitter struggle. For the Russian national team, the final started as well as possible. Already in the opening, the opponent was sent off and the captain Vladislav Kamenev took his team forward with a one-touch throw. The first 15 minutes Bragin's wards spent just great, not allowing the formidable opponent to practically do anything. However, then the Russian national team with their own hands returned the opponent to the game - three optional penalties in a row, and the Finns, even if they did not realize them, smelled blood.

Georgiev and company held out for exactly two periods, and at the 24th second of the third, 17-year-old Patrick Laine, who already shines in the strongest league in Finland, completed his team's lightning attack with a throw under the crossbar. Andrei Svetlakov immediately robbed the Finnish defender and again brought the Russian national team forward, but soon the first link of the Suomi team shot again - this time Aho completed the efforts of his partners.

It seemed the denouement in final match came two minutes before the siren, when the puck ricocheted from the Finnish captain Mikko Rantanen into the gates of the Russian national team, but Bragin's teams never surrender. In the last seconds of the third period, Svetlakov climbs into the thick of things on a penny, puts his stick under Provorov's throw and saves his team. All the fans of the Russian national team are throwing their hands up victoriously, but this is not yet a victory, it is only the right to overtime.

In the second minute of extra time, the first throw of the Finns made them world champions. Neither the defenders of the Russian national team, who made a gross mistake in this game episode, nor Georgiev, who was frozen at the near post, could save their goal, just watching Kasperi Kapanen bring the golden goal of this world championship into an empty corner. Bronze in the end was won by the US team, which took revenge on the Swedes for the defeat in the group stage - 8: 3.

Despite the disappointing defeat, we can safely say that the Russian national team jumped over their heads in this tournament. Silver medals this year are the undoubted success of our team, the great merit for which lies with the head coach Valeria Bragin. It remains to be hoped that the Russian Ice Hockey Federation in the spring will be able to persuade the mentor to continue working with the youth team. Gold and three silvers in four years of work is a quality mark.

Today the Russian youth team will play the quarterfinal match at the 2018 MFM. Before the important game, we remembered what Russian fans love and what they expect from the youth team.

MCHM-2011. Quarterfinals. 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, which the Russian team played with the Finnish team.

Then, in the middle of the first period, he opened the score with a powerful throw with a rebound from the foot of the Finnish player. Yuri Urychev who together with his teammate Daniil Sobchenko died in a plane crash on September 7, 2011. Ours did not stay ahead for long - a few minutes later Pulkinen equalized the score from a nickle. And then it was the turn for Bragin's charges to recoup. Shortly before the break, Juntilla left our defender on the flank, became close to Shikin and outplayed him in a full-time duel. The second period passed without goals, but in the third Joonas Donskoy turned out to be the most persistent of all in front of our goal and pushed the puck there.

1: 3 17 and a half minutes before the siren is, of course, not a verdict, but winning back two goals during this time is not easy. And the Russians did it! The miracle began when, in order to bring the game into overtime, ours had 3 minutes and 41 seconds. Evgeny Kuznetsov literally buried a shell in the gates of the Finnish national team. He, in fact, organized the third goal of the Russian national team. The forward left three defenders, but was unable to outplay the goalkeeper, but Maxim Kitsyn jumped on a patch and played successfully on finishing. And in overtime, all the same Kuznetsov brought us victory, as if throwing from a throw-in circle.

MCHM-2011. Semifinal. Russia - Sweden - 4: 3 B (1: 0)

The achievements of the Russian squad continued in the semifinals, where they met with the Swedes. And again, as in the game with the Finns, our guys opened an account. 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 Swedish zone, drove outside the goal and gave it to the current forward of “Ak Bars”, who outplayed the goalkeeper and made the score 2: 0. However, the Swedes won back, and by the end of the third period they even took the lead. The team was saved by Sergei Kalinin, who in a jump pierced the puck into the goal. Extra time did not reveal the winner, and in the shootout a successful attempt by Golubev brought us to the final.

MCHM-2011. The final. Russia - Canada - 5: 3

Everyone has it hockey fan in life there is at least one game about which he will tell his children and grandchildren. 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 leading 3: 0, and it seemed that little could prevent their victory. But in the third game segment, we turned the game upside down, scored five goals and took with them the main prize of the World Championship. We will not describe the vicissitudes of that fight once again, because it is better to see that match alone (or again) than to read about it a hundred times. Therefore, we are watching the video.

MCHM-2012. Semifinal. Russia - Canada - 6: 5

A year later, we met with the Canadians again, albeit at the semi-final stage. And this time the “maple” ones almost repeated our feat of a year ago. By the 48th minute of the meeting, Bragin's team was leading with a score of 6: 1. But the Canadians have shown that they are not going to give up. Hamilton, Schwartz, Gallagher and Gormley not only gave their country hope with their goals, but also used up our reserves of validol. Fortunately, there was no overtime, and the Russian team reached the final, in which they lost to the Swedes.

MCHM-2013. Quarterfinals. Russia - Switzerland - 4: 3 B (2: 1)

At the 2013 youth championship in Ufa, the Russians could well have taken off already in the quarterfinals. The Swiss national team, which had already grieved the Russians at a similar stage three years earlier, almost created a sensation. In the third period of the meeting, with a score of 2: 2, Sven Andrighetto entered the Russians' zone at speed, approached Vasilevsky and inflicted accurate throw at close range. Saved the situation Nikita Kucherov, which one and a half minutes before the siren was at the right time in the right place and from the first touch he sent the puck into the net of the Swiss goal. In overtime, the teams did not score goals, and in the shootout, the team turned out to be more successful Mikhail Varnakov.

MCHM-2013. Semifinal. Russia - Sweden - 2: 3 B (0: 1)

Quite quickly, by the 10th minute of the semifinal match, the Swedes took the lead 2: 0. Washers in the gates of Vasilevsky were thrown by Lindholm and the then captain of the youth “Tre Kronur” Philip Forsberg... But the Russian national team would not be themselves if they gave up. And ours evened the score. One goal closer to the middle of the match was scored by Andrei Mironov, and in the 48th minute Mikhail Grigorenko turned out to be the most agile of all in the fight in the goalkeeper Niklas Lundström and evened the score. But this story did not have a happy ending for us. Shootout Sebastian Kollberg brought his team a ticket to the final.

MCHM-2013. Match for 3rd place. Russia - Canada 6: 5 OT

Our team, instead of the final, got to the game for the third place, where it met with the Canadians. Even if this match was not the main one in the tournament, the confrontation between Russia and Canada is almost always strong and cool. It happened that time too. The fans in the stands of the Ufa Arena saw 11 goals! After the end of normal time, the scoreboard burned 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 brought Russia bronze with an accurate wrist throw.

MFM-2016. Quarterfinals. Russia - Denmark - 4: 3 OT

The quarterfinals of the tournament in Helsinki, where the Russian national 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, demonstrating a slightly modified feint of Vsevolod Bobrov. But by the middle of the match, the Danes were able not only to equalize the situation, but also to come out ahead. Ours answered with a goal Arthur Louta... Until the end of the third period, the teams exchanged abandoned washers again, and Bragin's wards were saved just 44 seconds before the siren. And in additional time captain of our "youth team" Vladislav Kamenev worked well on a nickle and led Bragin's team to the semifinals.

MFM-2016. The final. Russia - Finland - 3: 4 OT

This game, like the finale with Canada, hardly needs additional description. We all remember how Russian hockey players having opened an account in the first period, they kept their advantage until the third twenty minutes. After that, the hosts evened the score, but Andrey Svetlakov brought us forward again. We also remember how the Finns caught up with us again, and with more than two minutes before the end, it seemed, they secured a victory for themselves. And, of course, we remember how Bragin's guys escaped with 6 seconds left and put the game into overtime. A beautiful goal Kasperi Kapanena blew up the Hartwall Arena and put 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 of the MFM, in the semifinals of which the Russian national team met with the Americans. A game in which the advantage was constantly shifting from one team to another, and Ilya Samsonov reflected shootouts and made incredible saves, we also remember the confusion in the series of post-match free throws. After three attempts from each side, the Russians were leading, but the tournament in Montreal was the first in which the teams performed five shots. And according to the results of the entire shootout, the US team won. And ours went to play for the third place with the Swedes and were content with the bronze.

In Moscow and St. Petersburg, he remembered the home tournaments in which he took part, and explained why he did not miss the hockey of the "Red Machine".

- Vladislav Alexandrovich, the home world championship starts tomorrow. Are you worried?

- (Smiling) There is always excitement, because every world championship, especially a home one, is an exam for Russian hockey... We are worried about the news about the injury of Evgeny Malkin, 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 for fans to see the brightest stars.

Bronze medals at the 2007 home world championship were recognized as a successful result. Will bronze not please us this time?

Every medal is good, but it is clear that on its own site, each team is aimed only at gold. The most important thing is for the team to fight to the end in every match, so that their eyes shine, 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 in the skill they surpassed us, but after all, not a single person will say that our guys did not fight. And if Oleg Znarka's team plays like our youth team in May, plays with heart, then I think the result will definitely come. But even if he doesn't come, none of the fans will say a bad word with such a game.

In 2007 we had a very strong team, and then the Russian national team did not lose a single match in regulation time, the only defeat the team suffered in overtime from the Finns. Then goalkeeper Kari Lehtonen actually beat us, they simply could not break him, they could not hack. I am sure we would have won the tournament if we had reached the final. But the bronze was also recognized as a successful result, after all, we rarely won medals at that time.

- You have played at home world championships twice. What are the memories of the 1973 and 1979 tournaments?

On the one hand, it was easy, because it was always easier to play on your own court, with your own fans, on the other hand, there was psychological stress. The World Cup at home is a double responsibility, because there is no way to lose at home. We dealt with this responsibility and won both tournaments. In terms of atmosphere, it was, of course, a holiday, and we must now do everything to make the home world championship a real holiday.

- In general, what is the most memorable world championship for you?

Quebec 2008, of course, and the first gold in 15 years are indescribable emotions. In the player's career, the brightest tournament was in 1978, held in Prague. In the previous two tournaments, the Czechoslovak national team took gold, and at the home tournament, timed to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of hockey in the country, they won our first match, after which, one might say, they already tried on the crown. But in the second game we snatched 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 to me. This was an exceptional case, emphasizing the importance of victory, because previously the medals were given only to one person in a team for a victory on 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 1981 Canada Cup ... 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 1976 and 1977 world championships, and in 1972 we were second. CSKA remained with silver in 1974 and 1976. Secondly, the number of victories should not mislead anyone - they were never easy. Quite the opposite, everyone wanted to beat CSKA, the USSR national team, it was an exam for each player, everyone wanted to show themselves in games with us. Therefore, we always had to be on full alert.

It was always interesting how you managed to maintain 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, 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 throws, thoughts constantly creep into my head: "What if I miss? What if we lose?" I had to drive them away, special autogenous training use. But the excitement was constantly present, because we usually played with the Czechs in the finals, and one of their precise throw could leave our team without gold medals. Therefore, the matches with the Czechs were the most difficult, because the field players take turns, sit on the bench, drink water, communicate, and the goalkeeper is constantly in suspense, each puck must control. Through work I succeeded, I managed to keep myself.

- And who among the partners helped you? After all, you were the youngest player in the national team for a long time.

My older comrades have always treated me well, nevertheless they always try to protect goalkeepers, these are special people. After mistakes they always supported me, I myself always understood that with partners like Boris Mikhailov, I always have the right to make one mistake in the game, because they will score two goals to 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 this is not my fault, this is 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.

There is simply no time to miss the hockey of the "Red Machine"

It is known that the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Leonid Brezhnev attended all the matches of the USSR national team at the 1973 and 1979 home world championships. Could you compare the state's attention to hockey then and now?

I would say the attitude is the same. The only thing is that the situation itself was different before, silver medals were considered a shame, but today the sport has changed, it is very difficult to give results every year - and the leadership of our country understands this.

The main thing is that the management will not forgive a weak-willed game, such as the team showed at home championship world in 2000. That's where the shame was, the lack of fire in the eyes and disrespect for the rivals led to 11th place, in that team there were stars, but there was no team. Then, of course, all this led to great displeasure on the part of the president.

Is there a tournament in general that would be even more unpleasant for you to remember than the 2000 World Cup, where you worked as the coach of the goalkeepers of the Russian national team?

Only if the Olympics in Lake Placid and the 1977 World Cup in Vienna. We then needed to win one of the last three matches in order to win gold medals. We lost all three.

- Why?

Firstly, we relaxed, we thought - what, we won’t win one of three matches? Unfortunately, this is inherent in our character: we go, we go, we do, and in the end we relax. Secondly, when there was only one match left to win, we started going to some demonstrations - that is, there was a coach's miscalculation. We played amazingly at that tournament, the Canadians were torn apart 11: 1, and in the end we took and lost two matches to the Swedes, the Czechs lost. So I don't like to remember this tournament either.

- V recent times veterans admit they miss the Red Machine hockey? Are you bored?

- (Smiles) I have no time to get bored, there is simply no time to get bored - the schedule is so tight. Yes, there was a time, but it has passed. Very quickly passed, 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 this opportunity. Work, do not give yourself indulgences, prove every day that you are the best, and then bit by bit, you will make a name for yourself, which will then 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 the years of your career?

It turns out that way, yes. There are constant events, and I try to cover the maximum, visit the maximum regions through the Russian Ice Hockey Federation. It's just that whenever I come, I have meetings with governors, mayors, and I know what they need to say, to which pain points indicate. And this gives an impulse, I see the fruits: new stadiums, boxes appear, interest in hockey is growing. Plus, of course, there is enough work on parliamentary affairs. 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 VII convocation. I have a very good relationship with the Governor of the Ulyanovsk Region, Sergei Morozov. We have a large 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 greatly helps in the work to popularize hockey.

Share this