The International Ice Hockey Federation Council suspended all Russian and Belarusian national and club teams from IIHF competitions and events “until further notice” due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The IIHF also announced that Russia will be stripped of hosting the 2023 World Junior Championship in Novosibirsk.
By Chris Cerullo 1 year ago
According to TSN’s Gord Miller, there is “wide support” for the immediate removal of Russian teams from all IIHF events for the rest of 2022 due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Those events include the World Championship and the World Junior Championships scheduled for August and December as well as moving the 2023 WJC out of Russia.
TSN’s Darren Dreger also reports that the International Ice Hockey Federation will have a council meeting tomorrow where those topics will be discussed.
The meeting was called by the IIHF Council for the direct purpose of “reviewing and considering the implications” of the invasion on IIHF events.
By Chris Cerullo 1 year ago
The Russian Hockey Federation announced Monday that Washington Capitals skaters Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Dmitry Orlov will join the Russian National Team on Tuesday.
The three star Russians were invited to the team after the Capitals lost Game Seven to the Hurricanes late last week and all accepted invitations to play.
The team is currently training in Novogorsk, which is near Moscow.
Photo: @kuzy092
On Monday, Evgeny Kuznetsov did a Russian language interview with Sport FM radio host Vladimir Dekhtyarev. Kuznetsov gabbed about his season to date and explained what it has been like playing under Barry Trotz.
“His plan was easy to understand,” Kuznetsov said, as translated by Fedor Fedin. “It was hard though to do all the little things that he demands, everything, even what side to place the stick on. Nothing escapes his attention. He watches very carefully and it was tough to change early on.”
The interview even features a cameo by Dmitry Orlov who started talking while in the car. Check it out.
On Thursday, Washington Capitals forwards Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Dmitry Orlov all played in a hockey game for the first time since the Caps’ dreadful season ended two weeks ago.
The three Russian Caps suited up for Russia’s national team in what was basically a glorified exhibition against Germany to warm up for the World Championships. Team Russia won 4-2 and scored three of their four goals in 1:38. None of the Caps players scored or tallied a point.
One interesting fact we can take from the game is that Ovechkin was captain of Team Russia. It’s the first time he’s led the national team since 2005, when he was the 19-year-old captain of Russia during the World Junior Championships. Though his captain patch totally looks velcroed on.
“Russian Machine flex for the ladies.” (Photo credit: sportbox.ru)
On Sunday, Alex Ovechkin and the Russian National Team defeated Finland 3-1 to take the 2012 Channel One Cup. During the three-game tournament, Russia dominated, outscoring their opponents 14-2. Ovechkin, who mostly played on the team’s third line, had two points in three games — a goal and an assist. Team Sweden, who saw Nicklas Backstrom score three points and Marcus Johansson record his first national team goal and points, was the runner-up.
Below the jump, we have a few more photos from Russia’s post-game celebration.
Photo credit: championat.com
During the early afternoon in Moscow, the Russian National Team played their second game of the Channel One Cup, taking on the Czech Republic. And boy was it a beatdown.
Pavel Datsyuk had a hat trick and Alex Ovechkin followed up his goal Thursday with a sick assist on Sergei Mozyakin’s power play tally. Russia would cruise to victory, 6-0.
Now let’s see this helper!
Photo credit: Russian Hockey Federation
While the NHL announced next year’s Winter Classic between Detroit and Toronto, Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov participated in his own Outdoor Game Thursdsay, as Team Russia took on the Finnish National Team. Kuznetsov finished with a goal and an assist, his tally coming on a jaw-dropping 1-on-4 semi-breakaway that not only looked good, but closed out the game 2-0.
Soviet Sport’s Pavel Lysenkov caught up with Kuznetsov after the game to talk about his goal, though characteristically Kuznetsov was more interested in talking about the team’s victory than his own “super” effort. Below the jump, RMNB’s Igor Kleyner translates their conversation.
By Igor Kleyner 11 years ago
Kuznetsov lunges and scores! (Photo credit: YLE.fi)
In the first game of the Oddset Hockey Games tournament, the Russian National Team took on Finland outside at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium. Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov, who was sporting a maroon hoodie to cope with the 1-degree temperature at puck drop (minus-5 wind chill), centered Russia’s first line. Kuznetsov proved to be Russia’s best player notching a goal and an assist in Russia’s 2-0 win.
In the first period, Kuznetsov brought the puck into the offensive zone. After battling several players along the boards, he managed to shovel the puck to Nikolai Zherdev who then attempted a wraparound. Finnish goalie Ari Ahonen was able to make the initial save, but Stanislav Chistov was first to the rebound and batted it home. 1-0 Russia.
By 11 years ago
Russia’s Captain, Ilya Nikulin, holds the Karjala Cup; Kuznetsov gets mugged in front of the net.
Evgeny Kuznetsov, the Russian National Team’s youngest player at 19, once again proved his mettle and how lucky-a**ed (Kuzya called himself that during last year’s WJC) he can be in clutch situations. With ten seconds left and Russia stuck in a 1-1 tie with the Czech Republic, Kuznetsov — currently leading the KHL in game-winners this season — potted his only goal of the tournament. Not only did the tally give Russia the win in their final tournament game, it also clinched them the 2011 Karjala Cup.
Video of his goal can be seen below the jump.
By 11 years ago
