Kuznetsov: “If we had won, it would have been unfair” (Photo © Francois Laplante)

After the 1-0 defeat to Sweden in the 2012 WJC Gold Medal Game, Evgeny Kuznetsov shared his thoughts about the game with the popular news agency RIA Novosti.

“In the first two periods we had a total of four shots on net. This speaks loud. If we won, it would have been unfair. Makarov was great, he saved the game for us, he stopped everything. So, destiny decided otherwise. So the Silver medal is good? Maybe it’s good for you. It hurts, but life goes on.

Nothing terrible, we have to know how to lose as well. We will make it through. This will temper our character.”

Kuznetsov went on talking about MVP honors: “Being the Most Valuable Player is always pleasant, but it hurts as I didn’t get the Medal I wanted.”

He also tried to analyse the reason which brought to Team Russia’s defeat: “Maybe we lost many phsycological and physical forces in the game against Canada. Team Sweden was better than us, they completely outplayed us. We started playing well during the third period, but we didn’t manage to score. And the overtime… we all made a mistake. There’s no need to blame any player, we all lost.

I wish good luck to all the players who will play in next year’s WJC.”

WJC failure: Plyuschev blames Filatov, Filatov blames Plyuschev (Photo © Getty Images)

The debate around team Russia WJC disaster goes on. Right after the team’s return in Russia many stories hit the media, the most interesting regarding Nikita Filatov and Vladimir Plyuschev relations. As we examined earlier in the Top 5 reasons why Russia failed at WJC it looks like there have been a conflict between the coach and the captain.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you the most interesting quotes from a good sum-it-up article appeared at Bleacher report.

Vladimir Plyuschev words:

The main cause of our performance was my mistake in choosing the captain. A captain should be an example of how to behave on the ice, in the locker room and outside the arena. We trusted Filatov with the captaincy hoping that his experience would help him and his teammates be successful.

Unfortunately, Filatov did not get it. He failed as a leader. After the game with Switzerland, I came to the locker room and apologized in front of the team for my choice of captain. Filatov was not worthy of wearing the C.

When I suggested Filatov as captain I was hoping for a different result, for a different approach to what we hoped to achieve. We didn’t need an exhibition of individual skill on the ice. The number of points that Nikita got in this tournament he should have had in one period against Austria. And he got a lot of ice time

I had a serious talk with Filatov after the exhibition loss to Latvia. He assured me that everything is going to be fine, but then was once again invisible in our first game against Austria. I even told him, ‘If you don’t wanna play, leave the ice.’ A captain has no right to play like that.

I do not accept any responsibility for this result. We did what we could with this squad. Our country should seriously think about youth hockey.

Nikita Filatov words:

During the first intermission of the game against Switzerland Plyushchev said that we completely bombed as a team even though we totally dominated. The Swiss mainly dumped the puck out of their zone and had only five shots on our net, and even those from the blue line. Plyushchev went on to yell at us and personally insulted particular players, including me.

The same thing was happening on the bench during our quarterfinal. In fact, I remember the coach saying anything positive only once or twice during the whole tournament. He mainly just yelled at us.

I understand that a coach can’t teach a team a lot of new things in two weeks, but we were never taught any tactics. Not how to defend in our own zone, not how to break out, not what to do on the power play. All of these things are key to being a successful team. Nothing of the sort happened.

I was very surprised that we never had any video sessions designed to correct our mistakes. Not one. The coach also did not seem to know much about our opponents and made only very general statements about them. I thought this was very strange.

I was late for practice only once, along with three other players. The stories about me always being late are nothing but blatant lies. Plyushchev also talked behind my back to my teammates saying things like, ‘Filatov is impossible to talk with. He has a crown on his head,’ while never making any attempts to discuss any issues with me directly.

For example, during the Austria game he never said to me, ‘If you don’t want to play get off the ice.’ He said that on the bench while I was actually on the ice and I only found out about it the next day from my roommate Vyacheslav Kulemin. I was very distraught by such approach.

I accept responsibility for not playing up to expectations, but I did what I could under the circumstances and really tried hard. I’m very sad at how it all turned out. Plyushchev was unable to create a good atmosphere in our squad.

Top 5 reasons why Russia failed at WJC (Photo © Reuters)

Team Russia‘s sixth place at the last WJC in Saskatchewan, Canada, was nothing short of a failure. It was the worst result of the team since 2001, when the team lead by Petr Vorobiev couldn’t get any better than the seventh place on the home soil.
That team, just like this one, wasn’t short of talent, considering that the team’s front men were the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk, Anton Volchenkov and Denis Grebeshkov. This year’s roster included many talented players as well, like Nikita Filatov, Vladimir Tarasenko, Dmitri Orlov and others, but the tournament didn’t really finish like expected and team Russia was left out of the medal round after five straight apparitions.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you top five reasons why Russia failed at WJC 2010.

Reason 5: Underestimation of the opponents

It’s not the first time a top team gets upset by the likes of Team Switzerland or any other underdog, just let’s remember how 2002 Olympics ended for the Swedes at the quarterfinals against team Belarus. Team Russia was guilty of underrating the opponents already before the tournament’s start. Plyuschev got a warning when Russia lost to Latvia in the first and only test match heading to the WJC. But the 3-2 loss didn’t work as warning sign. It continued in the very first group stage game, against Team Austria. That game was won, but team Russia didn’t put on a good performance and despite winning by a four-goals margin it was closer than one would expect. Talent mattered at the end, but it really looked like team Russia was lacking the right inspiration to play at the next level. It was early, but it was a first indication about how things were starting. It was really surprising to see the Russians being dominated that way in the round robin match against Finland, a “W” nevertheless as the goals by Khokhryakov and Filatov were unanswered, but that was yet another poor display, probably due to the fact that the players thought to easily skate past the opponents.

In the quarters against team Switzerland, team Russia was guilty of the same sin, but it was a much more dangerous situation. It started as the game approached, with the players not forechecking hard enough and thinking that probably just a couple of rushes would have switched the moment in their favor. It did happen, but it wasn’t enough. While they were thinking that the game was already conquered the Swiss did work hard to get back on track and it worked. In the overtime probably it was the same as one could have spotted some conceit and the result was a deserved defeat against the tournament’s underdogs.

Reason 4: Some puzzling roster decisions

Maybe it wouldn’t have changed too much, but Vladimir Plyuschev made some roster decisions that seemed a bit hard to decipher. The first one was leaving home Dynamo Moscow’s Alexander Avtsin. The Habs draftee was in good shape right before the WJC start as he had just scored three points in two games, including a game winning goal. Maybe this team Russia had enough talent in the top-6, but why leaving out a skilled player with great skating and a not bad physical presence? All the more, in good shape.

Other two players were surprisingly left out the WJC roster: Alexander Pechursky and Dmitry Kugryshev. If Pechursky’s selection probably would have made much of a difference since the designated goalie was Igor Bobkov anyway, but why leaving out a talented, gritty player with much experience on the small ice surface like Quebec Remparts’, Washington Capitals prospect Dmitry Kugryshev? Throughout the whole tournament most of Russian players displayed lack of small ice practice, plus the presence of two talented players like Kugryshev and Avtsin instead of journeymen like Dedunov and Gimbatov surely wouldn’t have hurt the team.

Reason 3: Lack of attention

This point isn’t strictly connected with this year’s situation but surely played his role in the 2010 fiasco. One of the biggest differences between North American and European hockey (probably Sweden is an exception here, but only in the last few years) is surely the attention paid on the respective junior programs. For example, if team USA and team Canada – these year’s finalists – can always count on pro coaches like Willie Desjardins, who won a Memorial Cup in 2003 and was honored with CHL Coach of the Year award. Last year team Canada coach was Olympic champion and multiple times Stanley Cup finalist Pat Quinn.

Team Russia could never count on such characters. If Vladimir Plyuschev did won a WJC back in the times, in the 2002, most of the latest coaches were inexperienced like Sergei Nemchinov or not well fitting in the team, like Plyuschev himself.

It also speaks a lot the fact that the federation hasn’t really said anything, was this a bad result or if Plyuschev is still entrusted as coach. The Olympics are approaching, but a strong program emphasizes not only the senior team, but also the junior one, trying to get the best coach possible and definitely more attentions.

Reason 2: Lack of spirit among the players

This point might be tied with the underestimation of the opponents as it usually leads to lack of spirit. Determination is much more important in junior hockey and it looked like players didn’t have any throughout the whole tournament. Simply there wasn’t leadership and the top players underperformed. Especially Nikita Filatov, who scored only one goal and had a particularly poor performance against team Switzerland, despite assisting on Kirill Petrov’s goal. But giving all the fault to one player is surely wrong as the whole team didn’t look a true team during the tournament.

But not only they didn’t show any particularly good combination, team play or joint effort, they also showed no spirit. In the infamous match against the Swiss, they never looked in control of the game, not even during the third period when the team was up on the scoreboard. Arguably the coaching was poor, but if that’s the case the leaders should step up on ice and fight hard. Russia really liked this approach to the game, especially in the medal round.

Reason 1: Poor coaching by Vladimir Plyuschev

As already hinted in the third and in the second point WJC team Russia once again lacked good coaching. In junior hockey the leadership must come from the training staff and Vladimir Plyuschev didn’t really have a good job in this department, nor in the tactical area too. There was no team game and all this joined with the players’ lack of winning spirit meant the overall, disappointing, sixth place.

But not only Plyuschev didn’t manage to inject the right spirit into players, he also heat a conflict with team’s captain Nikita Filatov, guilty – according to the same Plyuschev – of not playing like a captain and thus being stripped off the “C” on the chest for the fifth place match. This was a true locker room war and Plyuschev didn’t always played it clean, mostly back talking with Filatov’s partners, probably not increasing his popularity among the team. It was obvious that Plyuschev lost the hand on the team and without it a short tournament like the WJC can only end with a failure.

Russians finish sixth at the WJC (Photo © Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Losing 4-3 against team Finland in the fifth place deciding game, Plyuschev’s team Russia got their second straight defeat and finished the World Junior Championships at a very disappointing sixth place, the worst result since 2001.

This year’s team Russia performed badly throughout the whole tournament, and the match against Finland was no different. Ramis Sadikov started between the pipes, with Igor Bobkov being iced after twenty-sixth minutes.

The first period counted three goals: Maxim Trunev opened the score, while Teemu Eronen made it 1-1 with the man advantage at the sixteenth. All the four Finn goals will be scored while on the powerplay. With only twenty-three seconds to play, Alexander Burmistrov scored the go-ahead goal for the Russians.

During the second period Plyuschev subbed Sadikov with Bobkov, which allowed a goal to the Finns ninety seconds to the second horn.

The third period decided the game. With a double man advantage Jyri Niemi made it 3-2, but Burmistrov scored his second goal of the game to tie it up once again. At the fifty second minute team Russia was caught with too many men on the ice and the Finns spoiled the chance getting the game winning goal with Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Teemu Hartikainen.

In the dying seconds Plyuschev recalled Bobkov on the bench for the extra-attacker, but the desperation move didn’t work and thus the Finns could celebrate a well deserved win.

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Team Russia to face Switzerland in WJC quarterfinals (Photo © fhr.ru)

After finishing the group stage with nine points in four games, Team Russia earned the second seed of the B Group and thus is going to face in the World Junior Championships quarterfinals the third seed of the A group, team Switzerland, who managed to skate past Slovakia 4-1 despite being without their top two defensemen, Luca Sbisa and Roman Josi.

The game is scheduled for Saturday, January 2nd at 4 PM local time.

In the last two group stage games Team Russia faced Team Sweden and Team Czech Republic. The match against Tre Kronor wasn’t good for Plyuschev’s guys, as they were down 2-0 already after the first period. During the second period Team Russia tried to react and scored a goal with Kirill Petrov, but it wasn’t enough as Team Sweden added a further marker in any period to finish the match 4-1.

In the very last group stage match Team Russia downed Team Czech Republic. The game’s breaker was Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored a double and added one assist in Plyuschev’s squad 5-2 victory. Tarasenko himself opened the score in the first period after a beautiful combination between Maxim Trunev and Alexander Burmistrov. Kirill Petrov doubled the advantage for Team Russia in the second period, who allowed a powerplay breakaway to Jan Kana at the thirty-sixth minute that meant the 2-1. The third period was quite until the 54th minute mark, when Stepan Novotny tied up the match.

But less than one minute later Vladimir Tarasenko took control of a loose puck in the neutral zone, launched Maxim Kitsyn, who returned him the puck seconds later. After a couple of strides Tarasenko shoot the puck in and scored with an eye-catching wrist shot.

Team Russia added a couple of goals later, first with Maxim Chudinov and then with Alexander Burmistrov.

The winner of the quarterfinal match will face Team Canada in the semifinals on January 3rd.

Igor Bobkov slams the door, Russia skates past Finland in WJC’s second match (Photo © The Canadian Press)

With a phenomenal performance and 46 saves, goalkeeper Igor Bobkov left no way out to Finland as they couldn’t score for the whole game despite a complete control of the match for more than two periods. Finland’s inability to convert chances into goals costed them the game as Team Russia walked away with a comfortable 2-0 win in World Junior Championships‘ second match. Plyuschev team’s now tops Group B ranking, sharing the lead with Sweden, with six points in two matches.

In spite of Bobkov’s one-man show, Nikita Filatov has been elected as player of the game for Team Russia. He did play a great game, assisting on Petr Khokhryakov’s first goal of the night and scoring himself the second one with a rocket-like shot from the blue line.

Team Russia’s start was quite good as they got the go-ahead goal after six minutes only, when Petr Khokhryakov deflected in a superb pass from Nikita Filatov after a quick counterattack sparkled by Kirill Petrov. After this goal they held back and Finland started controlling the game rather easily, but without getting the puck past Bobkov. The referees were busy tonight as they whistled a combined total of 50 penalty minutes and this spoiled the flow of the game especially on the second and third periods.

Midway through the game Nikita Filatov, with the man advantage, made it a 2-0 game with a great blue line shot after a pass by Maxim Chudinov.

The rest of the match was pretty much a Finland vs Bobkov show, with the latter getting the victory, stealing the match for his team with a huge 46 saves performances.

Team Russia’s next game is scheduled for tomorrow against Team Sweden.

Kuznetsov scores two, Russia downs Austria 6-2 in WJC opener (Photo © La Presse Canadienne)

2010 eligible Evgeny Kuznetsov scored two goals, Kirill Petrov, Vladimir Tarasenko, Maxim Chudinov and Maxim Trunev contributed with one goal each as Russia downed Austria 6-2 in WJC first game for both teams. The match was pretty much decided after the first period as Russia was up 4-1 after the goals scored by Trunev, Chudinov, Kuznetsov, Tarasenko, this last one was particularly eye-catching. Team’s captain Nikita Filatov has been silent and left out the score sheet.

Plyuschev’s team didn’t had their best game even if they controlled the flow of the game with relative ease thanks to its forward’s superior skating, probably they tried to save energy for the upcoming matches. Goalkeeper Igor Bobkov stopped 14 shots, but he wasn’t really responsible in any of the goals he allowed.

The defense’s game wasn’t really spot-on, but Washington Capitals’ prospect Dmitry Orlov had two assists, Maxim Chudinov scored two points (one goal and one assist) and both players logged big minutes and were the most noticeable among blue liners.

Read Russianprospects.com’s article for a complete game report and scouting notes.

Team Russia’s next match will be played on Monday against Team Finland.

WJC Final roster released (Photo © fhr.ru)

On December 25th, Russian national junior team head coach Vladimir Plyuschev named the final roster for the World Junior Championships. He took some drastic decisions as he decided not to call goalkeeper Alexander Pechursky, defenseman Kirill Yuriev, forwards Mikhail Fisenko and Dmitry Kugryshev.

This is how the final roster looks like:

Goalkeepers
Igor Bobkov, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, 1991
Ramis Sadikov, Erie Otters, OHL, 1991

Defensemen
Anton Klementyev, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, AHL, 1990
Dmitry Orlov, Metallurg Novokuznetsk, 1991
Maxim Chudinov, Severstal Cherepovets, 1990
Dmitry Kostromitin, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, QMJHL, 1990
Nikita Zaitsev, Sibir Novosibirsk, 1991
Nikita Pivtsakin, Avangard Omsk, 1991
Alexander Tarasov, HC MVD, 1990

Forwards
Nikita Filatov, CSKA Moscow, 1990
Alexander Burmistrov, Barrie Colts, OHL, 1991
Vladimir Tarasenko, Sibir Novosibirsk, 1991
Pavel Dedunov, Amur Khabarovsk, 1990
Ivan Telegin, Saginaw Spirit, OHL, 1992
Maxim Kitsyn, Metallurg Novokuznetsk, 1991
Maxim Trunev, Severstal Cherepovets, 1990
Evgeny Kuznetsov, Traktor Chelyabinsk, 1992
Evgeny Timkin, Avangard Omsk, 1990
Vyacheslav Kulemin, CSKA Moscow, 1990
Kirill Petrov, Ak Bars Kazan, 1990
Magomed Gimbatov, SKA St. Petersburg, 1990
Petr Khokhryakov, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, 1990

Team Russia’s first match will be played on Boxing Day against Team Austria.

Mikhail Fisenko added to WJC roster (Photo © Vancouver Giants)

19 years old center Mikhail Fisenko has been added today to the World Junior Championships Team Russia roster.

The native of Magnitogorsk, Russia, grabbed a silver medal at the 2008 Under-18 WJC held in Russia, and the following summer moved to the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, where he scored 28 points in his first season.

This year, after moving to the Calgary Hitmen, the two-way center added three goals and twelve assists in 24 matches, with 19 PIMs. Fisenko, who is undrafted in the NHL, is probably going to be played as third line center.

Alexander Burmistrov: “This time Russia will win the Gold” (Photo © Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

Blue-chip prospect Alexander Burmistrov, in this interview with Andrei Osadchenko of allhockey.ru talks about his experience in the OHL, analyzes his chances in the upcoming WJC and tries to anticipate the tournament’s outcome.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation:

Q. Recently many talks were about the fact that some guys weren’t released for the WJC. Did you have any talk with the Barrie Colts?
Burmistrov: “I didn’t have a single problem. They were willing to release me already on December 5th to join the camp in Novogorsk and they even bought me the ticket and all was set, but then, three days to the depart, the CHL unexpectedly took the decision not to release me.

Did this affect your preparation in any way?
Burmistrov: “I don’t think so. I prepared in Canada. There was enough time. Now I train a lot with my team and even alone. Generally speaking, I go running in order to increase my endurance.”

How did they greet you while leaving from Barrie?
Burmistrov: (Smiles) “Not long ago we had a team dinner. And there the president of the team said that Della Rovere already left the team and now it’s Burmistrov’s turn to go. He’s going to lose against the Canadians at the WJC. The whole team started laughing. I said that this time it will be the opposite, Russia will beat Canada. They don’t believe in our success. And let them not believe further.”

Team Canada can beat their own record if they will win this year too. This would be their sixth consecutive win. Knowing their preparation process for young players, what do you think it’s the reason of their success?
Burmistrov: “First of all they have a lot of players. They could ice even three teams to any world championship. In Russia simply there is a little number of players. Almost every player plays in the KHL and they said me that the MHL level leaves much to be desired.”

In the OHL you scored 39 points in 31 matches. Is it easy to adapt to this league?
Burmistrov: “It’s not easy at all. I can’t really say that I completed the adaptation period so far. There are these differences: the game is quicker, you need to think faster and there is a lot of physical play. You don’t have that in Russia. But I like playing here. I remember when I was in London last year for the World Junior Under 17 tournament, we attended the December 31st match. The game gave me a big impression and I wanted to play in the OHL. This is why when I got the offer to play here I accepted with pleasure.”

Do you think that the OHL lever is higher than the MHL one?
Burmistrov: “I think yes. Look at the Subway Super Series results. Team Russia was made up mostly of guys from the Russian High League and the MHL. And the Canadians were constantly up. We could have won one math against the OHL selects, but we lacked a bit of luck.”

In what aspect of the game do you think you are improved in during your six months stint in Canada?
Burmistrov: “Speed, fights for the puck and generally in physical play.”

Your team mate Stefan Della Rovere will play in the WJC for Canada. Did you talk with him about the tournament?
Burmistrov: (Smiles) “He’s not simply a team mate, he’s my line mate. I’ll say talking to them about it it’s useless. They will only reply that no one can beat them and that they’ll win whatever will happen.”

But Stefan surely remembers last year’s semifinals, when they beaten Russia only after the shoot-outs.
Burmistrov: “He says that hockey is like that, this year we have no chances. I said him: “Let’s see on January 5th”.”

During the Super Series you did play against him. Is it hard to play against a club mate?
Burmistrov: “Well, no. I’ve “met” him already on the second shift. Then in the locker rooms we laughed about it. And the day after, back with the team, everyone was teasing me.”

In this WJC it looks like Russia won’t have many leaders. Do you think that Grachev’s and Loktionov’s absence weakens the team?
Burmistrov: “Both players are important for the team. Of course we’ll miss them. But we have other players. We’ll see. Maybe we’ll play even better without them.”

It looks like Canada’s leader this year will be Taylor Hall. You know him not only by hearsay. Can you tell us your opinion about this player?
Burmistrov: “I think that their leader isn’t Hall, but Nazem Kadri. Hall has very good partners. They play together with their club and now they’ll play together with the national team too. I’m talking about forwards Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz. They have very good mutual understanding, it’s the second season they play together. They bring a lot of points to their team. Hall is of course a good player, I can’t say anything different. But I think that team Canada’s leader will be Kadri.”

Why do you think that Kadri will be their player to watch?
Burmistrov: “It’s evident. He doesn’t depend on anyone.”

Hall gets on the score sheet every game. What can you suggest to team Russia’s defensemen?
Burmistrov: “Good question. And I don’t know how to reply. Players need to play their way, without thinking that they are facing stars. All the Canadians think they are stars.”

In the Super Series’ third match you reunited with Maxim Kitsyn and paired with him you two created one of the series’ finest goals. Did you sharpen your mutual understanding?
Burmistrov: “Simply we managed to train our mutual understanding during last year’s U18 WJC. During the Super Series we showed our kind of hockey – Russian style. Like when you do multiple passes to find a team mate who’ll score in the empty net. Canadians usually score what they call “ugly goals”, garbage goals.”

You can potentially play in the same line. With Maxim Kitsyn and Evgeny Kuznetsov up front and Nikita Pivtsakin and Nikita Zaitsev on the blue line. Would you like to play in such a unit?
Burmistrov: “Why not? They are excellent partners. All these four guys are true professionals. As far as now I got to know that I’ll play with Vladimir Tarasenko.”

Did you talk about this with Vladimir Plyuschev? Which role is he planning for you in this national team?
Burmistrov: “I think I’ll be among the leaders. It’s needed to lead the team on ice, to give examples. Russia is tired of waiting for a gold medal in this tournament. I really want to win this year. And I’m not alone. I talked some days ago with Nikita Filatov about this and he said the same words.”

The WJC will be played in one of Canada’s colder provinces, Saskatchewan, where the temperatures can get even to -30. Aren’t you scared to freeze?
Burmistrov: (Laughs) “Well, I was born in Russia! In Kazan -30 is a normal temperature in winter.”

The group stage’s last game is scheduled for December 31st, and the next game will be played on January 2nd in another city. Do you think you’ll manage to celebrate the new year?
Burmistrov: “I think that in the national team there will be true professionals. No one will celebrate, everyone will be gearing up for the following game. It’s better to celebrate later, after the WJC. Hopefully with a gold medal around the neck.”

Will you give a present to some of your team mates?
Burmistrov: (Smiles) “If so, only assists for the empty netter!”