Russian fans shout against countrymen in NHL
Published: 14 April, 2009, 17:01
Ilya Kovalchuk (Dave Sandford / Getty Images / AFP)
Fans in Russia closely followed the final days of the NHL season, which finished on the weekend, to find out which of their hockey heroes will join the national team at the upcoming World Championships in Switzerland.
The Atlanta Thrashers failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup, which allowed star-forward Ilya Kovalchuk to start preparations for the championships together with the Russian team.
Russia has won the previous World Championships in Canada, overtaking the hosts 5-4 in one of the most dramatic finals in tournament’s history, and it was Kovalchuk who scored the winner in overtime.
The other NHL players who will join coach Vyacheslav Bykov in Switzerland after missing the playoffs in the US are: goalkeeper Ilya Bryzgalov from Anaheim, Dmitry Kalinin from Buffalo, Ottawa’s Anton Volchenko, Dmitry Kalinin from Buffalo as well as Alexander Frolov and Denis Grebeshkov, who both play for the Los Angeles Kings.
The players are expected to arrive in the Russian camp on April 16-17 and team up with their colleagues from the KHL.
“We’ll closely follow some of the pairs in playoffs: the Russian trio from Washington takes on Rangers, where Nikolay Zherdev plays. Fedor Tyutin of Columbus will face with Pavel Datsyuk from Detroit. And of course the pair of Pittsburgh with Philadelphia,” Vyacheslav Bykov said.
All the Russian fans and the media now hope Rangers are successful in the first round playoffs in the hope of seeing Aleksandr Ovechkin, Sergey Fedorov and Alexandr Semin at the World Championships. The winner of the Art Ross Trophy, Evgeny Malkin, will also be welcomed.
The 73rd championship will be held between April 24 and May 10 2009 in Zürich and Berne.
Hosts Switzerland, France and Germany will accompany Vyacheslav Bykov’s men in Group B.
Also on the agenda for Russia is the final round of the European Hockey tour to be held in Czech Republic on April 16-19.
09.04.2009, 17:00
Celine Dion may buy CanadiensCanadian pop star Celine Dion has emerged as a potential bidder for the storied Montreal Canadiens NHL team. |
17.04.2009, 17:56
Jagr helps Russia win Euro Hockey Tour titleA brilliant performance by Czech Jaromir Jagr lifted his team past Sweden in the European Hockey Tour clash against Sweden and helped Russia win the title for the second consecutive year. |
