December 26, 2001
Under-20 Russian Team
December 25-January 4, 2002
Junior World Championships, Czech Republic
The
head coach of Under-20 Team Russia Vladimir Plyuschev has invited 30
players (3 goaltenders+10 defensemen+ 17 forwards) to the training camp
who will prepare for the JWC. Five players defensemen Volchenkov,
Grebeshkov and three forwards Chistov, Svitov, Nepryajev are the veterans
of Under-20 Team Russia which failed its home WJC in Moscow last year.
Anton Volchenkov has been honoured to wear captancy. There are only four
players who are not drafted yet by any NHL team on the Russian roster.
Vladimir Plyuschev has been taking risks when he invited Svitov and
Chistov, the players who have been suposedely no in shape or at least not
having enough ice practice for the last couple of months because of their
obligations to serve in the Russian Army. The situation still smells like
a great skandal in Russian hockey and be sure it will continue even after
the WJC. Vladimir Plyuschev comments on the situation with both players,
“I know how good Svitov and Chistov can play. They’ve been both the
contenders for the spots on the russian team since the start of the
season. Something strange has been going on with them all this last time.
We couldn’t call-up them from Omsk to Moscow then vice versa. That time
their status has not been determined whether they are military men or just
a players of Russian Hockey Superleague. Now I think they will be an
essential part of our team. They realize the importance of playing for
Team Russia. Now they are the soldiers of the Russian armed forces. Their
task is to defend their country. So why not to let them do it onto the
ice?”
On
December 20, 2001 Under-20 Team Russia has been playing with Spartak
Moscow of the Superleague. It’s been its last exhibition game before the
WJC.
Spartak
Moscow- Under-20 Team Russia 3:6 (1:4, 1:0, 1:2) Upper, Volkov, Arekajev-
Nepryajev-2, Svitov, Peregozhin, Golovin, Kondratyev.
Medvedev
(Mylnikov, 20:00, Klyuchnikov, 40:00)
Knyazev-Tyurin
Chistov-Svitov-Trubachev
Korsunov-Kondratyev
Grigorenko-Taratukhin-Perezhogin
Grebeshkov-Nikulin
Frolov-Nepryajev-Polushin
Zabolotnev-Sapozhnikov
Zainullin-Soin-Suglobov
Golovin-Vostrikov-Gorbunov
Volchenkov
ill, Gusev injured.
