Russian National Hockey Team News

Jan222010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Kovalev, Frolov, Zubov and Kulemin added to Olympics squad

Kovalev, Frolov, Zubov and Kulemin added to Olympics squad (Photo © vancouver2010.com) Alexei Kovalev, Alexander Frolov, Sergei Zubov and Nikolai Kulemin are going to the Olympic Games in Vancouver as substitutes for the Russian team. It is not officially announced yet but according to Russian site infox.ru Kovalev, Frolov, Zubov and Kulemin have received the Olympics equipment as well as other players from the official Team Russia roster. It means they are going to the Olympics in the status of substitute players. Overall Russia will have 9 substitute players, three from the NHL and six from the KHL. The list of Russian Olympics substitute players NHL 1. Alexei Kovalev, Ottawa Senators 2. Alexander Frolov, Los Angeles Kings 3. Nikolai Kulemin, Toronto Maple Leafs KH...

Jan132010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Sergei Gonchar: “Would like to be paired with Andrei Markov at Olympics”

Russian National Hockey Team News

Sergei Gonchar: "Would like to be paired with Andrei Markov at Olympics" (Photo © Getty Images) Russian defenceman Sergei Gonchar of the Pittsburgh Penguins, whose inclusion in Russia's Olympics roster came as no surprise, talked about playing on one line with Andrei Markov of the Canadiens at the Olympics in Vancouver, main rivals of Team Russia, compared the Stanley Cup and the Olympic Games and said that he expected European referees to give more penalties. RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of Gonchar's interview to Alexander Chekhov of Sport-Express. Q. What do you expect from the Olympic Games in Vancouver? Gonchar: "Just have a look at our roster and you will see what I expect. We have a great team and there is no other aim except the gold medals." Who would you like to...

Jan122010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

KHL player to carry Russian flag at Olympics opening ceremony

Russian National Hockey Team News

KHL player to carry Russian flag at Olympics opening ceremony (Photo © vancouver2010.com) The Vice President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Vladimir Vasin in an interview to Russian newspaper Sovetskiy Sport claimed that a KHL player will most likely carry the Russian flag at the Vancouver Olympics' opening ceremony. Vasin: "The opening ceremony will take place on the 12th of February. Our hockey players will arrive in Vancouver one day before and will play only on the 16th, so it is quite logical to choose the standard-bearer from the hockey players. This player will be from the KHL." Q. Maybe you should choose Sergei Fedorov, the most experienced player? Vasin: "Why not." 9 out of 23 players in the Russian Team will represent the KHL, they are: defencemen Ilya Nikulin, Dmitriy Kalini...

Dec252009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Russian Olympics roster released

Russian National Hockey Team News

Russian Olympics roster released (Photo © vancouver2010.com) The official Russian Hockey Federation site has released Team Russia's roster for the Olympics in Vancouver. Goalkeepers Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks, NHL Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix Coyotes, NHL Semyon Varlamov, Washington Capitals, NHL Defencemen Andrei Markov, Montreal Canadiens, NHL Ilya Nikulin, Ak Bars, KHL, Dmitriy Kalinin, Salavat Yulaev, KHL Konstantin Korneev, CSKA, KHL, Denis Grebeshkov, Edmonton Oilers, NHL Fedor Tyutin, Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL Sergei Gonchar, Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL Anton Volchenkov, Ottawa Senators, NHL Forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings, NHL Sergei Fedorov, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers, NHL Maxim Afinogenov, Atlanta...

Dec192009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Vyacheslav Bykov: “Yashin lacks the energy we want”

Russian National Hockey Team News

Vyacheslav Bykov: "Yashin lacks the energy we want" (Photo © khl.ru) Team Russia head coach Vyacheslav Bykov in an interview to Sport-Express explained why he didn't invite Alexei Yashin to the national team. Bykov: "Why didn't we include Yashin in our Olympics' candidate list? We need different energy from the one he displayed in the Eurotour, where he disappointed us. We have no conflicts with Alexei. I know that it made him feel bad but that's life." Most likely Yashin won't play at the Olympics in Vancouver. Translated by RussianHockeyFans.com

Dec172009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Team Russia » Vyacheslav Bykov: “Olympic silver would be a failure”

Russian National Hockey Team News

Vyacheslav Bykov: "Olympic silver would be a failure" (Photo © Sports.ru) Team Russia head coach Vyacheslav Bykov had an interview with Sport-Express in which he discussed many things about the Olympics and the Russian national team. RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the most important parts: - I think that among the top teams only Finland has little pressure. The Americans will try hard to show that they aren't inferior to Canada and thus they'll do all the possible to disappoint their neighbors. Pressure on the Canadians is heavy, since they play at home and they got to the last two WC finals. It's heavy also on Sweden, because they the reigning Olympic champions. Czech Repubblic will have to deal with pressure too, they didn't manage to repeat their Nagano triumph and ...

Dec22009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Igor Zakharkin: “Starting goalie will be known only in February”

Russian National Hockey Team News

Igor Zakharkin: "Starting goalie will be known only in February" (Photo © Sportdaily.ru) After stating that the Olympic starter should be Evgeny Nabokov, team Russia assistant coach Igor Zakharkin makes an u-turn and says that the first goalie will be known in February only. Russian Hockey Fans offers you a translation of an interview with Sovietskiy Sport interview in with Zakharkin speaks about goalies' chances and about Ovechkin's need not to change his style. - The other morning i turned on the computer and I got shocked when I read the news about Ovechkin's injury. We are already thinking seriously about the Olympics. At any moment an injury can arrive. I don't know which diagnosis Sasha got, but you can't joke with knees. This is already Ovechkin's second injury of the season. I und...

Dec22009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Olympics » Igor Zakharkin: “Evgeny Nabokov should be the Olympics’ starter”

Russian National Hockey Team News

Igor Zakharkin: "Evgeny Nabokov should be the Olympics' starter" (Photo © Associated Press) In this interview with Sovietskiy Sport, Team Russia's assistant coach Igor Zakharkin stated that Evgeny Nabokov will most likely be the starting goalkeeper in Vancouver. He also indicated that they plan to reunite the famous ZZM (Zaripov, Zinoviev, Morozov) line. - Did you have talks with Evgeny Nabokov and Ilya Bryzgalov? Did you talk with Evgeny Nabokov and Ilya Bryzgalov? Who of them will have to be a backup goalie and resign himself to this decision? - There can't be two first goalies in a game and there is no doubt that Evgeny Nabokov should be the starter. He's a great goalkeeper with undeniable qualities. He excellently commands the defense. He’s a player with a winning soul who can turn u...

Nov212009 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Ed Fraser: Russians favorite to take home gold

Russian National Hockey Team News

Ed Fraser: Russians favorite to take home gold (Photo © tospors.ca) "The Russians will enter the tournament with the two best players in the world (or two of the top three, at worst, if you wish to include Sidney Crosby in the mix with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin). And it's a known fact that Ovechkin jersey brings luck to team Russia. In addition to Alex the Great and Geno, Team Russia also features two other all-world goal-scorers in Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Semin. Both are a danger to find the back of the net every shift and are superior to any one pure-sniper option Canada has to offer. It’s not as though the Russian squad will be top heavy, either. Beyond the aforementioned four, there are plenty of players both in the NHL (Alexei Kovalev, Alexander Frolov, Slava Kozlov, Maxim...