Comments on: Russians finish sixth at the WJC

By: Alessandro Seren Rosso

Alessandro Seren Rosso — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:44:00 +0000

John, not to talk about Klyukin’s attempt to score in the empty net, which lead to an icing call that caused the offensive-zone faceoff that start the tying goal’s rush…

By: John

John — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:23:00 +0000

Of course, Alexander’s point is very correct! Players have to have some sense of national pride, or, if notthing else, personal pride, and be willing to fight at least as hard as the other guys to be successul. Your comments bring to mind the play that Kulikov made in the final seconds of regulation time against Canada last year. If Kulikov would have just gotten out of the way, Zhelobnyuk would have easily stopped the soft shot from outside, and Canada would have run out of time before having an opportunity to get off a shot Kulikov was only 18 years old, but still, that had to be one of the worst hockey blunders ever!

By: Alexander Zaitsev

Alexander Zaitsev — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:47:00 +0000

While I agree that Plyuschev shouldn’t coach any team at all, I think that any player that needs motivation playing for his national team is not a good player.
I stopped expecting gold medals from U-20 Russian team long time ago. Instead, I expect dumb goals allowed in the end of almost-won games. Last year in the game against Canada, this year against Switzerland.
It’s just a lack of spirit in these players. I mean look at the Canadians. Whatever coach they have they will never stop fighting. Russian juniors have a lot to learn from their Canadian colleagues.

By: John

John — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:17:00 +0000

The Russian team possessed all of the necessary skill and talent to contend for a Gold Medal, but Coach Plyuschev and his staff failed the team in the following ways: (1) the kids were not inspired to work hard, and (2) they were confused as to what to do once the other team brought the puck into their zone to attack the Russian net. There was no cohesive plan or strategy that would show the kids a way to win, and there was no spirit and competitiveness, which is so necessary in today’s hockey. For junior-aged players, the leadership has to come from the coaching staff!