IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
According to a Russian website this appears to be the starting line combinations for the Russians. Only the first 3 lines were listed, so I'm just guessing on the 4th line and of what little I know of the remaining players, I just picked the 4th line I was most familiar with...
A Zlobin (93) M Grigorenko (94) N Yakupov (93)
A Slepyshev (94) N Prokhorkin (93) K Kapustin (93)
S Tverdoxhlebov (93) V Tkachev (93) S Shmelov (93)
A Sigarev (93) P Buchnevich (95) Y Kosov (93)
M Naumenkov (93) A Sergeev (93)
A Yarulin (93) N Nesterov (93)
I Kuznetsov (93) V Sorokin (93)
A Fedorov (93)
A Vasilevski (94)
Interesting strategy putting all three CHLers on the top unit. I don't think Zlobin is a 1st line player, but he did have a good Memorial Cup. So, it will be interesting how it all pans out. Anyway, looking forward to a little high stakes summer hockey.
According to a Russian website this appears to be the starting line combinations for the Russians. Only the first 3 lines were listed, so I'm just guessing on the 4th line and of what little I know of the remaining players, I just picked the 4th line I was most familiar with...
A Zlobin (93) M Grigorenko (94) N Yakupov (93)
A Slepyshev (94) N Prokhorkin (93) K Kapustin (93)
S Tverdoxhlebov (93) V Tkachev (93) S Shmelov (93)
A Sigarev (93) P Buchnevich (95) Y Kosov (93)
M Naumenkov (93) A Sergeev (93)
A Yarulin (93) N Nesterov (93)
I Kuznetsov (93) V Sorokin (93)
A Fedorov (93)
A Vasilevski (94)
Interesting strategy putting all three CHLers on the top unit. I don't think Zlobin is a 1st line player, but he did have a good Memorial Cup. So, it will be interesting how it all pans out. Anyway, looking forward to a little high stakes summer hockey.
Hard to imagine Kosov being on the 4th line. He should be among the top 3 forwards, along with Yakupov and Grigorenko. They will want to give him plenty of ice time.
Hard to imagine Kosov being on the 4th line. He should be among the top 3 forwards, along with Yakupov and Grigorenko. They will want to give him plenty of ice time.
I'm only going by what was on the Russian website. but as they say in the military, the best war plans last as only until the first shot it fired.
I'm only going by what was on the Russian website. but as they say in the military, the best war plans last as only until the first shot it fired.
I'm not questioning your reporting of what was on the website. I saw it myself on the RHF website. I question the coaching decision to put him on anything other than the first or second line. I guess the only upside would be that Shigerev and Kosov are both physically tough forwards, which would help Buchnevich at his age to adjust to a higher level of competition.
Hard to imagine Kosov being on the 4th line. He should be among the top 3 forwards, along with Yakupov and Grigorenko. They will want to give him plenty of ice time.
I understand where the decision for Kosov came from. Bragin used him in a power forward role on previous team, and giving his size it made sense at the time. When Bragin passed on his ideas to Varnakov, it's not surprising that he saw Kosov in a 'muscle' position. Although Kosov is more than that, he can do what few others can on the Russian team, be a secret weapon on 3rd line.
I think he would fit on 1st line as well, but just like Perezhogin and Popov- we didn't think they were 1st line material either. We'll see how it goes.
I understand where the decision for Kosov came from. Bragin used him in a power forward role on previous team, and giving his size it made sense at the time. When Bragin passed on his ideas to Varnakov, it's not surprising that he saw Kosov in a 'muscle' position. Although Kosov is more than that, he can do what few others can on the Russian team, be a secret weapon on 3rd line.
I think he would fit on 1st line as well, but just like Perezhogin and Popov- we didn't think they were 1st line material either. We'll see how it goes.
Help I still don't see any channel in Russia that is showing the first two games.
It's hard to believe they won't show these games but as of right now they are not scheduled
On Russia2 or sport1 or any other channel.
Help I still don't see any channel in Russia that is showing the first two games.
It's hard to believe they won't show these games but as of right now they are not scheduled
On Russia2 or sport1 or any other channel.
If anyone can find out please let me know
It doesn't appear to be the case. Still waiting to hear back from a few Moscow contacts, but I think your only hope will be if they will broadcast on the FHR's youtube channel. Start e-mailing Tretyak.
Interesting development with the Russian roster. Apparently according to the FHR website, Ivan Kuznetsov, Artem Federov and Pavel Buchnevich will not be part of the Russian team for the 4 game series. Buchnevich instead will play in the Ivan Hlinka tournament.
So that makes the Russian team on average much older than the Canadian team with 3 players born in 94 and the rest in 93. Canada I believe has 9 players born in 94 on the 28 players roster. The rest 1993 born players. It will certainly test my theory that Canada should be taking younger players to the WJHC to compensate for players not being released by their NHL teams, and not just simply selecting players based on the 19 year old theory the WJHC is a tournament for 19 year olds.
So that makes the Russian team on average much older than the Canadian team with 3 players born in 94 and the rest in 93. Canada I believe has 9 players born in 94 on the 28 players roster. The rest 1993 born players. It will certainly test my theory that Canada should be taking younger players to the WJHC to compensate for players not being released by their NHL teams, and not just simply selecting players based on the 19 year old theory the WJHC is a tournament for 19 year olds.
The Canadians might be slightly younger, but they will have more competitive experience by far than the Russian team. One of the objectives in establishing the MHL, after the 2007 Canada-Russia series, was to provide an avenue for Russian prospects to gain competitive experience to play up to their potential in such tournaments, as well as to develop greater numbers of talented players. Previously, promising kids went more or less straight from hockey schools to languishing on senior league benches. I think there is evidence that the MHL is making great strides to help develop more young talent, but there is still no real organized competition for kids younger than 17 other than the Regional tournaments that take place (there is some suggestion that a new youth league may be formed for kids younger than 17). Canadian kids start playing highly organized and well-funded hockey by the time they are 8 years old or younger. I don't see any disadvantage at all for Canada when it comes to experience.
So that makes the Russian team on average much older than the Canadian team with 3 players born in 94 and the rest in 93. Canada I believe has 9 players born in 94 on the 28 players roster. The rest 1993 born players. It will certainly test my theory that Canada should be taking younger players to the WJHC to compensate for players not being released by their NHL teams, and not just simply selecting players based on the 19 year old theory the WJHC is a tournament for 19 year olds.
The Canadians might be slightly younger, but they will have more competitive experience by far than the Russian team. One of the objectives in establishing the MHL, after the 2007 Canada-Russia series, was to provide an avenue for Russian prospects to gain competitive experience to play up to their potential in such tournaments, as well as to develop greater numbers of talented players. Previously, promising kids went more or less straight from hockey schools to languishing on senior league benches. I think there is evidence that the MHL is making great strides to help develop more young talent, but there is still no real organized competition for kids younger than 17 other than the Regional tournaments that take place (there is some suggestion that a new youth league may be formed for kids younger than 17). Canadian kids start playing highly organized and well-funded hockey by the time they are 8 years old or younger. I don't see any disadvantage at all for Canada when it comes to experience.
Again, I was just making an observation and not stating any possible disadvantage based on the age of the players. I have been for years harping on HC and it's reluctance to use younger talented players to replace those who were not released from their NHL teams; instead HC has this cookie cutter approach to the U20 tournament that it is strictly a tournament for 19 year old players. I reject this concept and believe in fact that for these 4 games, Canada should be even younger. I would have included 16 year old Mackinnon and 17 year old Drouin instead of 19 year old USHL player Kevin Roy (smells of typical Pendergast selection) and Tom Wilson who's main skill is his size. I pay attention to what Team Russia is doing only because I'm a fan of the game, I do not however spend anytime worrying about what Team Russia or the FHR is doing. I only make observations in relation to Team Canada. As for competitive balance, who has the advantage? Only missing Ryan Nugent Hopkins who isn't playing for obvious reasons (what's the point) but all of Canada's players are available and ready to go, there is no disadvantage. I wish Canada had the privilege of only missing out on one, two or 3 players every year. Who knows, perhaps Roy and Wilson will prove me wrong and will be the difference in the 4 games.
Again, I was just making an observation and not stating any possible disadvantage based on the age of the players. I have been for years harping on HC and it's reluctance to use younger talented players to replace those who were not released from their NHL teams; instead HC has this cookie cutter approach to the U20 tournament that it is strictly a tournament for 19 year old players. I reject this concept and believe in fact that for these 4 games, Canada should be even younger. I would have included 16 year old Mackinnon and 17 year old Drouin instead of 19 year old USHL player Kevin Roy (smells of typical Pendergast selection) and Tom Wilson who's main skill is his size. I pay attention to what Team Russia is doing only because I'm a fan of the game, I do not however spend anytime worrying about what Team Russia or the FHR is doing. I only make observations in relation to Team Canada. As for competitive balance, who has the advantage? Only missing Ryan Nugent Hopkins who isn't playing for obvious reasons (what's the point) but all of Canada's players are available and ready to go, there is no disadvantage. I wish Canada had the privilege of only missing out on one, two or 3 players every year. Who knows, perhaps Roy and Wilson will prove me wrong and will be the difference in the 4 games.
Points well taken. Stated differently, I should have said that Russia's best chance is usually to go with older players, because the problem in the past has been lack of competitive experience among 17-year olds. I don't agree with that premise either, because a really talented and dynamic 17-year old, such as Nichushkin or Buchnevich, might add a lot more dynamism than a workmanlike but average 19-year old. Nichushkin is injured, but i was sorry to see Varnakov drop Buchnevich.
My series forecast of Canadian domination based on physical play wasn't intended to be disrespectful...but I suppose I can understand how it would yield that response. If someone predicted Canada would get pumped in this series I would get my back up too.
But it's all good, I'm not in need of approval from a few Russian HF posters. Just this past WHC I stated in threads how clearly superior the talent and play was from the Russian squad and how they should steamroll the entire tournament. I didn't have Russian supporters saying "hey now, don't be disrespectful to the other nations" in those threads. Strange.
I suspect the theory of being able to have the Russian kids mentally checked out with physical play was the point that came off as disrespectful. Not disrespectful, just part of the game that Canada can have a huge advantage in.
In a 4-game series, the physical play is the most effective way for the Canadians to assert dominance. Allowing the Russians to feel comfortable with the puck at their world class skill level is a recipe for disaster. If you establish right off the bat that touching the puck = you will get hit and hit hard, you shift the Russian instinct from making some sick play to thinking oh crap will I get steamrolled here. I seriously mean no disrespect and hope this helps clarify my thinking. This is just my analysis and for me the biggest key in this series.
We'll know in the first 10 minutes Thursday what type of series it will be. If Canada comes out banging it will be their type of game. If they don't and allow the Russians the roam freely with the puck (specifically a few highly skilled players), the Russians will make Canada pay.
Can't wait to get this series started!! Hockey in August YES!!
My series forecast of Canadian domination based on physical play wasn't intended to be disrespectful...but I suppose I can understand how it would yield that response. If someone predicted Canada would get pumped in this series I would get my back up too.
But it's all good, I'm not in need of approval from a few Russian HF posters. Just this past WHC I stated in threads how clearly superior the talent and play was from the Russian squad and how they should steamroll the entire tournament. I didn't have Russian supporters saying "hey now, don't be disrespectful to the other nations" in those threads. Strange.
I suspect the theory of being able to have the Russian kids mentally checked out with physical play was the point that came off as disrespectful. Not disrespectful, just part of the game that Canada can have a huge advantage in.
In a 4-game series, the physical play is the most effective way for the Canadians to assert dominance. Allowing the Russians to feel comfortable with the puck at their world class skill level is a recipe for disaster. If you establish right off the bat that touching the puck = you will get hit and hit hard, you shift the Russian instinct from making some sick play to thinking oh crap will I get steamrolled here. I seriously mean no disrespect and hope this helps clarify my thinking. This is just my analysis and for me the biggest key in this series.
We'll know in the first 10 minutes Thursday what type of series it will be. If Canada comes out banging it will be their type of game. If they don't and allow the Russians the roam freely with the puck (specifically a few highly skilled players), the Russians will make Canada pay.
Can't wait to get this series started!! Hockey in August YES!!
Canada's problem is that Russia has adapted to Canada's physical tactics.
I can't think of a single game (or series) over the past few years where a Russia club was physically taken out of the game. This includes WJC, U18, Subway SuperSeries, etc.
Now, I'm not saying it can't (or won't) happen in any single game or series...but the days of Canadians being able to systematically intimidate Russian teams is long gone.
Agreed! Canada has not physically taken Russia out of games recently. I am incredibly interested to see if it is a focus of Canada in the first 10 minutes on Thursday. It damn well should be.
Chesnokov reports via Twitter that Yakupov will wear the 'C' for Russia. Interesting choice. Russia usually seems to go with those who play club hockey in the homeland no?
So that makes the Russian team on average much older than the Canadian team with 3 players born in 94 and the rest in 93. Canada I believe has 9 players born in 94 on the 28 players roster. The rest 1993 born players. It will certainly test my theory that Canada should be taking younger players to the WJHC to compensate for players not being released by their NHL teams, and not just simply selecting players based on the 19 year old theory the WJHC is a tournament for 19 year olds.
I don't think age plays too much a factor at U20 level unless a player is U18 age.
The WJC is a 19 yo. tourney, but the better 18 yo's can easily compete without difficulty.
But, generally speaking, only the rare 17 yo talent has shown the ability to compete at u20 level.
Canada's problem is that Russia has adapted to Canada's physical tactics.
I can't think of a single game (or series) over the past few years where a Russia club was physically taken out of the game. This includes WJC, U18, Subway SuperSeries, etc.
Now, I'm not saying it can't (or won't) happen in any single game or series...but the days of Canadians being able to systematically intimidate Russian teams is long gone.
I agree. I can't say it (being "run out of the rink" by physical play) won't happen, because we don't yet know what kind of chemistry the Russian team will have, but I'll be very surprised if it does. These Russian kids are much more accustomed to a physical style than they used to be, and they know exactly what Canada will try to do from the outset. Coach Varnakov's finest hour as a player was the 1979 Canada Cup, where the Soviets turned the tables by taking the physical play to the NHL All-Stars. In response to SH 15, I would say that if the Russians allow themselves to be intimidated, then the Canadians will undoubtedly win. But if the play is more similar to the last 5 meetings between Canada and Russia in the WJC, physical play won't be a factor, and Russia will have a chance if they play with intensity.
Agreed! Canada has not physically taken Russia out of games recently. I am incredibly interested to see if it is a focus of Canada in the first 10 minutes on Thursday. It damn well should be.
Chesnokov reports via Twitter that Yakupov will wear the 'C' for Russia. Interesting choice. Russia usually seems to go with those who play club hockey in the homeland no?
Yakupov has always been a kind of gung ho guy who battles hard to win. I think he has the best leadership qualities of the group. Also, because he is a CHL player, it hopefully shows that Varnakov won't be applying any political BS, and will only focus on winning.
I don't think intimidating anybody with physical play is Canada's intent in Yaroslavl, as really only Jenner will get a lot of ice time there. Canada doesn't have a whole lot of heavy hitters other than Sutter and Wilson who I'm betting won't even dress in Russia. Other than those 3 Canada is not an overly big team and our biggest hitter Dumba (make no mistake, he's a hunter killer) he's only 185 lbs. but he can deliver a big hit. So, I don't think Canada will try to run anybody out of the rink. Now, in Halifax? All bets are off...
P.S. apparently the Canadian coach is a little peeved at Russia video-taping Canada's practice. Oh the games we play.
Looking forward to this event. Россия
