The performance of the Russian national hockey team at the first stage of the Euro Tour fans can be looked forward to. Many journalists and experts noted that the Karjal Cup is of great importance not only for the athletes themselves, but also for their mentor Ilya Vorobyov. After the Olympic Games, the former head coach of Metallurg Magnitogorsk headed the national team, but until the end of the world championship he led it in the status of acting officer. Only on June 1, he was finally approved as a helmsman and officially began work.
Thus, this de jure tournament is a debut for Vorobyov at the helm of the national team, therefore, he has again received increased attention. Especially in the light of the fact that in the previous two stages of the Euro Tour, where the team was already led by the acting mentor, she won only one victory, having suffered five defeats. The only success was accompanied by the Russian squad in the final match of the Swedish games with the Czech Republic, which by that time also lost chances for first place in the standings.
But behind the figure of the newly formed head coach one should not forget about the significantly rejuvenated composition of the national team. Vorobyov violated the hegemony of SKA and CSKA in the national team and diluted the composition with a number of players from other KHL clubs. So, several representatives of the Avtomobilist league leader, two hockey players from Avangard, Lokomotiv and Salavat Yulaev, and Andrey Pedan from Ak Bars received calls. At the same time, one of the main creators of the victory at the Olympics remained at home - Pavel Datsyuk and Nikita Gusev, whose capabilities in the coaching staff are already extremely familiar. Were not counted and Ilya Kovalchuk, again went to conquer North America in the "Los Angeles Kings".
In the opening match of the Karjala Cup, the Russian team was faced with a most difficult test in the face of the host of the Finnish tournament. Last season, the Suomi team became the winner of the Euro Hockey Tour and intended to take advantage of their ice in a fight with their opponents. But to the surprise of local fans, the first period was completely dictated by the guests. Wards Vorobiev went to a duel over-motivated, which was especially noticeable already in the fourth minute. Andrei Loktionov and Mikhail Grigorenko fled into the lead, after which the striker of CSKA easily outplayed Juha Metsola. And after only seven minutes the goalkeeper “Salavat Yulaev” again lit a red light behind the gates. The Russians succeeded in drawing the majority and increased the difference in the score after an accurate throw by Nikita Nesterov.
Yukka Yalonen really had a break and for the second 20-minute the Finns came out with a completely different attitude. They pressed the Russians to the gate and began to bombard Ilya Sorokin purposefully, but the goalkeeper of CSKA acted extremely reliably. Defense players also tried to provide all possible assistance to the young gate guard. Another hockey player of the Ufa club Teemu Hartikainen had a 100% chance of scoring, but his shot at close range was blocked by Russian defenders.
Payback followed a few minutes later. The Russians had a rare attack in the second period, but Metsola, who was pretty relaxed, missed the moment of the throw by Andrey Pedan. The debutant of the national team sent the puck to the near corner of the Finnish goal and brought the gap to a major one.
It was worth expecting that in the third period the Finns would come out as the last battle, but, to the surprise of local fans, this did not happen. The hosts looked depressed and most of the period could not create anything dangerous at the gates of Sorokin. But the Russians had a great chance to bring the score to devastating, but Alexander Elesin could not take advantage of the brilliant transfer of Cyril Kaprizov. The Lokomotiv defender rolled one on one with Metsola, but was unable to transfer the goalkeeper already on the ice.
The match could be completed in a more relaxed manner, if not for the optional removal of Ivan Telegin. Two minutes before the final siren, the striker went to the penalty box and allowed the Finns to arrange the last pile on the opponent's gate. But the Russian minority team played beyond all praise and did not allow the six hockey players of Suomi to create even a semblance of danger in the Sorokin possessions.
Russians started with victory in the Karjala Cup and showed significant progress in comparison with the previous tournament. Confirm that success in the game with Suomi was not an accident, they will be able already on November 10 in the game with Sweden. Like today, this match will be special for Ilya Vorobyov, because previously he never beat Sweden as the national team's head coach.
After the match, the success of their hockey players commented on the head coach of the Russian national team Ilya Vorobyov.
“3: 0 is a good result. All the guys have worked great, fulfilled the requirements of the coaching staff. I do not want to single out anyone, you can mark the whole team. We took the Finns with their weapons? I think it's still my own. The players did what we asked. All links had their roles, and they coped with their tasks today, ”RIA Novosti quotes Vorobyov.