World Junior Championship 2013

Host City: Ufa, Russia
December 26, 2012 – January 5, 2013
RESULT: BRONZE MEDAL

Expectations were very high for Russia’s team at this tournament. Not only was there extra pressure in the wake of the senior national team’s successes, but also these World Juniors were held on home soil in Ufa. New coach Mikhail Varnakov brought back nine players from the silver-medal 2012 squad, including captain Nail Yakupov, forwards Mikhail Grigorenko, Nikita Kucherov, Alexander Khokhlachev, and Yaroslav Kosov, defensive leaders Nikita Nesterov and Albert Yarullin, and the goaltending tandem of Andrei Vasilevski and Andrei Makarov. This year’s team did not dominate opponents like in 2011 or 2012. Russia was outshot in all but one game and all of its victory were only by one goal, other than a 7-0 routing of Germany. A 4-1 loss to Canada in a highly anticipated match on New Year’s Eve meant that Russia finished second in its round-robin group and faced the Swiss team in the quarterfinal. Russia was on the verge of a catastrophic finish to the tournament, losing 3-2 to Switzerland, before Kucherov tied the game 3-3 in the dying minutes of the third period. Russia then won the shootout tie-breaker. The semifinal against Sweden also went to a shootout, with Russia losing this time. Russia usually saves its best hockey for elimination games against Canada and this year was no exception. Although the stakes were bronze medals rather than gold, both teams were offensively charged and were unwilling to let the other team dominate. After opening with a 3-1 lead, Russian penalties allowed Canada to catch up. Every subsequent Russian goal was answered by Canada’s attacks. After a 5-5 finish in regulation, the game was sealed early in the second minute of overtime as 17-year old Valeri Nichushkin rushed from Russia’s end to Canada’s and buried the puck in the net to earn Russia a third-place finish. With either of Canada or Russia failing to advance to the final, and with Canada’s 15-year medal streak coming to an end, this tournament has indicated that there are no longer just two favourites at the World Juniors.

Game 1: Russia 3 (OT) – Slovakia 2
Goals: Kucherov (Grigorenko), Khokhlachev (Sigarev, Yakupov), Yarullin (Nesterov) – Matis (Mikus, Dano), Mraz R (Bires, Mraz B)
Shots: Russia 27 – Slovakia 34
Saves: Vasilevski 32 – Nagy 24
PIM: Russia 10 – Slovakia 10

Game 2: Russia 2 – United States 1
Goals: Yarullin (Nesterov, Yakupov), Tkachev (Nichushkin, Sergeev) – Trouba (Galchenyuk)
Shots: Russia 30 – United States 42
Saves: Makarov 41 – Gibson 28
PIM: Russia 18 – United States 8

Game 3: Russia 7 – Germany 0
Goals: Kucherov (Grigorenko, Slepyshev), Yakupov (Khokhlachev), Zharkov (Khokhlachev, Yakupov), Yarullin (Grigorenko, Kucherov), Kosov (Mironov), Kosov, Kosov (Shalunov)
Shots: Russia 43 – Germany 41
Saves: Vasilevski 41 – Cupper 36
PIM: Russia 6 – Germany 8

Game 4: Canada 4 – Russia 1
Goals: Hamilton (Nugent-Hopkins), Scheifele (Huberdeau, Nugent-Hopkins), Drouin (Nugent-Hopkins), Huberdeau – Kucherov
Shots: Canada 48 – Russia 22
Saves: Subban 21 – Makarov 44
PIM: Canada 4 – Russia 29

Quarterfinal: Russia 4 – Switzerland 3 (SO)
Goals: Khokhlachev (Yakupov, Nesterov), Grigorenko (Kucherov), Kucherov (Dyakov, Grigorenko) – Bertschy, Ness (Guerra, Simion), Andrighetto (Guerra)
Shots: Russia 37– Switzerland 44
Saves: Vasilevski 41– Nyffeler 33
PIM: Russia 16 – Switzerland 18

Semifinal: Sweden 3 (SO) – Russia 2
Goals: Lindholm (Rask, Molin), Forsberg (Bengtsson, Hagg) – Mironov (Yakupov, Kapustin), Grigorenko (Kucherov, Kosov)
Shots: Sweden 41 – Russia 29
Saves: Lundstrom 27 – Vasilevski 38
PIM: Sweden 2 – Russia 4

Bronze final: Russia 6 (OT) – Canada 5
Goals: Khokhlachev (Dyakov, Yarullin), Yakupov (Yarullin, Nesterov), Dyakov (Tkachev), Mozer (Shalunov), Yakupov (Kapustin), Nichushkin (Tkachev, Sergeev) – Nugent-Hopkins (Scheifele), Huberdeau (Nugent-Hopkins, Murphy), Scheifele (Nugent-Hopkins, Murphy), Murphy (Nugent-Hopkins, Huberdeau), Ritchie (Harrington)
Shots: Russia 25 – Canada 45
Saves: Makarov 40 – Binnington 2/5, Subban 17/20
PIM: Russia 10 – Canada 10

Team Stats:

Player	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
D #5 Albert Yarullin (A)	7	3	2	5	0	4
D #7 Artem Sergeev	7	0	2	2	+3	0
D #9 Nikita Nesterov (A)	7	0	4	4	+1	2
D #22 Andrei Mironov	7	1	1	2	+3	2
D #27 Kirill Dyakov	7	1	0	1	+5	4
D #28 Yaroslav Dyblenko	7	0	0	0	+5	0
D #29 Pavel Koledov	7	0	0	0	+1	6
F #8 Maxim Shalunov	6	0	2	2	+2	6
F #10 Nail Yakupov (C)	7	3	5	8	+2	0
F #11 Evgeni Mozer	7	1	0	0	0	4
F #12 Andrei Sigarev	5	0	1	1	-1	2
F #14 Vladimir Tkachev	7	1	2	3	+2	0
F #15 Valeri Nichushkin	6	1	1	2	+5	25
F #16 Nikita Kucherov	7	5	3	8	+4	4
F #17 Anton Slepyshev	7	0	1	1	+4	4
F #18 Yaroslav Kosov	7	3	1	4	+3	2
F #19 Alexander Khokhlachev	7	3	2	5	+3	4
F #21 Kirill Kapustin	7	0	2	2	-2	14
F #25 Mikhail Grigorenko	7	2	4	6	+4	2
F #26 Daniil Zharkov	7	1	0	1	-1	6
Goaltender	GP	W	L	GAA	Save %	SO
G #1 Igor Ustinski	0	0	0	0	0	0
G #20 Andrei Makarov	3	2	1	2.99	93.3	0
G #30 Andrei Vasilevski	4	2	2	1.81	95.0	1

Photo Gallery:

Yarullin (centre) celebrates his overtime goal against Slovakia in the first game

Goalie Makarov catches the puck as Dyakov and Nesterov defend against the U.S.

Yaroslav Kosov scored a hat-trick against Germany

Nikita Kucherov scores the game-winning shootout goal against Switzerland in the quarterfinal

Russia’s captain Nail Yakupov defends against Canada’s captain Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Russia rewarded its fans with a bronze medal victory against Canada

 

2012 World Championship

Host Cities: Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden
May 4-20, 2012
RESULT: GOLD MEDAL

No matter how talented a roster Russia gathers for every World Championship, there are always concerns about team chemistry, defense, and discipline. From 2007 to 2011 under coach Slava Bykov, Russia won two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze. However, Russia’s 4th place finish in 2011 was an obvious disappointment and led the Russian Hockey Federation to replace Bykov with accomplished Ak Bars Kazan coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov. The new coach brought back only seven players from the 2011 team and invited ten debutants, including Traktor star Evgeni Kuznetsov, Ak Bars defenseman Evgeni Medvedev, and Omsk winger Alexander Popov. The team was captained by veteran defenseman Ilya Nikulin and led offensively by NHL stars Evgeni Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk. Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov was tasked with the bulk of the goaltending duties and was backed by Konstantin Barulin. Russia won all of its round-robin games, including a 7-3 comeback win over Sweden after trailing 3-0. Malkin had instant chemistry with wingers Popov and Perezhogin, with the trio combining for  19 goals and 40 points. Russia’s only black mark was the suspension of defensemen Emelin and Kalinin for unsportsmanlike play in the game against Czech Republic. However, the team was strengthened by the arrival of Alexanders Ovechkin and Semin for the playoff round. The duo was centred by Datsyuk and even outshined Malkin’s line in the elimination games. Since the 1980s, Russia has never so easily and confidently cruised to a gold medal victory. The usually pesky and difficult Finns were no match for Russia in the semifinal, even on their home ice in Helsinki! Russia faced the spirited Slovaks in the final. The Slovak captain Zdeno Chara opened the scoring, but then all four of Russia’s lines contributed for a 6-2 routing. Although Malkin with his 11-goal performance won the tournament MVP award and both him and Nikulin were named to the tournament all-star team, none of Bilyaletdinov’s selections looked out of place at this tournament. The team was greeted with euphoria as they brought Russia’s third World Championship trophy in five years to Moscow.

Game 1: Russia 5 – Latvia 2
Goals: Nikulin (Perezhogin, Malkin), Malkin (Nikulin), Malkin (Popov), Popov (Perezhogin, Kalinin), Kuznetsov (Kulemin) – Indrasis (Galvins, Sprukts), Daugavins (Pujacs, Bartulis)
Shots: Russia 40 – Latvia 26
Saves: Varlamov 24 – Masalskis 35
PIM: Russia 8 – Latvia 6

Game 2: Russia 4 – Norway 2
Goals: Datsyuk (Kalinin, Emelin), Denisov (Medvedev, Kuznetsov), Kulemin (Malkin), Perezhogin (Malkin) – Ask (Holos, Thoresen), Holtet (Skroder, Holos)
Shots: Russia 46 – Norway 21
Saves: Varlamov 19 – Volden 42
PIM: Russia 8 – Norway 10

Game 3: Russia 2 – Germany 0
Goals: Zherdev (Medvedev, Malkin), Tereshchenko (Shirokov, Zherdev)
Shots: Russia 26 – Germany 30
Saves: Varlamov 30 – Kotschnew 24
PIM: Russia 10 – Germany 10

Game 4: Russia 3 – Denmark 1
Goals: Medvedev (Shirokov, Zherdev), Malkin (Perezhogin, Nikulin), Kalinin (Kuznetsov, Shirokov) – Eller
Shots: Russia 52 – Denmark 36
Saves: Barulin 35 – Nielsen 49
PIM: Russia 2 – Denmark 6

Game 5: Russia 7 – Sweden 3
Goals: Popov (Malkin), Malkin (Biryukov, Kuznetsov), Emelin (Datsyuk, Kalinin), Perezhogin (Medvedev), Malkin (Popov), Malkin (Popov), Denisov (Malkin, Popov) – Karlsson (Stalberg, Alfredsson), Zetterberg (Alfredsson, Eriksson), Franzen (Eriksson, Zetterberg)
Shots: Russia 36 – Sweden 46
Saves: Varlamov 43 – Fasth 29
PIM: Russia 37 – Sweden 10

Game 6: Russia 2 – Czech Republic 0
Goals: Perezhogin (Nikulin), Malkin (Popov)
Shots: Russia 23 – Czech Republic 30
Saves: Barulin 30 – Kovar 21
PIM: Russia 8 – Czech Republic 8

Game 7: Russia 4 – Italy 0
Goals: Datsyuk (Kuznetsov), Kuznetsov (Kulemin, Nikitin), Biryukov (Malkin, Perezhogin), Popov (Perezhogin)
Shots: Russia 40 – Italy 29
Saves: Varlamov 21/21, Barulin 8/8 – Tragust 36
PIM: Russia 2 – Italy 4

Quarterfinal: Russia 5 – Norway 2
Goals: Ovechkin (Semin), Popov (Emelin, Ryasenski), Emelin (Datsyuk, Semin), Zherdev (Biryukov, Tereshchenko), Nikulin, Malkin – Skroder (Hansen, Thoresen), Thoresen (Ask, Holos)
Shots: Russia 45 – Norway 21
Saves: Varlamov 19 – Haugen 40
PIM: Russia 2 – Norway 8

Semifinal: Russia 6 – Finland 2
Goals: Malkin (Nikitin, Popov), Malkin (Zherdev, Shirokov), Ovechkin (Denisov, Popov), Malkin (Nikulin), Kokarev (Kulemin), Shirokov (Biryukov, Nikitin) – Niakala (Kontiola, Joensuu), Granlund (Jarvinen, Koivu)
Shots: Russia 23 – Finland 31
Saves: Varlamov 29 – Vehanen 17
PIM: Russia 4 – Finland 8

Final: Russia 6 – Slovakia 2
Goals: Semin (Ovechkin, Datsyuk), Perezhogin (Popov), Tereshchenko (Shirokov, Zherdev), Semin (Datsyuk), Datsyuk (Semin, Zherdev), Malkin (Nikulin, Nikitin) – Zhara (Surovy), Chara (Surovy, Satan)
Shots: Russia 42 – Slovakia 31
Saves: Varlamov 29 – Laco 28/33, Hamerlik 8/9
PIM: Russia 2 – Slovakia 4

Team Stats:

Player	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
D #5 Ilya Nikulin (C)	10	2	5	7	+10	8
D #6 Denis Denisov	10	2	1	3	+5	2
D #7 Dmitri Kalinin	5	1	3	4	+6	25
D #12 Nikita Nikitin	10	0	4	4	+4	4
D #48 Evgeni Biryukov	7	1	3	4	+9	4
D #74 Alexei Emelin	9	2	2	4	+12	4
D #77 Evgeni Ryasenski	7	0	1	1	+3	0
D #82 Evgeni Medvedev	10	1	3	4	+4	4
F #8 Alexander Ovechkin	3	2	2	4	+5	2
F #11 Evgeni Malkin	10	11	8	19	+16	4
F #13 Pavel Datsyuk	10	3	4	7	+7	2
F #15 Alexander Svitov (A)	10	0	0	0	0	4
F #19 Denis Kokarev	10	1	0	1	0	4
F #24 Alexander Popov	10	4	8	12	+15	2
F #27 Alexei Tereshchenko (A)	10	2	1	3	+2	2
F #28 Alexander Semin	3	2	3	5	+4	0
F #37 Alexander Perezhogin	10	4	5	9	+16	4
F #41 Nikolai Kulemin	10	1	3	4	+4	0
F #52 Sergei Shirokov	10	1	5	6	+2	2
F #80 Evgeni Ketov	7	0	0	0	0	0
F #92 Evgeni Kuznetsov	10	2	4	6	+3	4
F #93 Nikolai Zherdev	10	2	4	6	+3	2
Goaltender	GP	W	L	GAA	Save %	SO
G #1 Semyon Varlamov	8	8	0	1.77	93.9	1
G #30 Konstantin Barulin	2	2	0	0.50	98.5	1
G 40 Mikhail Biryukov	1	0	0	0.00	100.0	0

Photo Gallery:

Alexander Popov had a breakthrough tournament, playing on a line with Malkin and Perezhogin

Sergei Shirokov and Evgeni Medvedev celebrate a goal against Denmark

Coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov had a successful debut World Championship

Russian captain Ilya Nikulin defends against Czech captain Tomas Plekanec

Alexander Svitov finally got his chance to be a regular player on the national team

Datsyuk, Ovechkin, and Semin were Russia’s best line in the playoff games

Malkin puts an exclamation mark in the semifinal against Finland, scoring Russia’s 6th goal

Goalie Semyon Varlamov at the end of the gold-medal final

The 2012 World Champions

2012 World Junior Championship

Host Cities: Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
December 26, 2011 – January 5, 2012
RESULT: SILVER MEDAL

One year after winning the gold medal in an exhilarating comeback against Canada, Russia came to these world juniors with almost an entirely new roster, with team captain Evgeni Kuznetsov being the only returning player. Coach Valeri Bragin included a record six players from the Canadian junior leagues on the team, including the potential no. 1 NHL draft pick Nail Yakupov. Russia began the tournament on a confident note, giving up only one goal in its first three games and destroying Latvia 14-0. In this game, Kuznetsov came one point short of tying Peter Forsberg’s record for the most points (ten) in a single world junior championship game. Leading Sweden 3-0 in its following game, Russia collapsed in the third period and lost 4-3 in overtime, forcing the team to play a quarterfinal match against the Czechs. The quarterfinal featured the best goaltending battle of the tournament with 17-year old Andrei Vasilevski and Czech goalie Petr Mrazek both putting on world-class performances. After eliminating the Czechs in a tight victory, Russia had to face a relaxed Canada in the semifinal the next day. Russia’s fatigue didn’t factor until the third period, as the team took a commanding 6-1 lead with only 12 minutes left to play and garbage being thrown on the ice by the disappointed Canadian fans. That was when Canada launched one of the most amazing comeback attempts in the history of Russia-Canada confrontations. The team in red scored four goals in the span of five minutes, forcing the excellent Vasilevski to be replaced in net by Andrei Makarov. Canada worked until the final second to try tie the game, but Russia held on to win 6-5. Given that Russia was outshot by more than a 2-1 margin, it is fair to say that goaltending once again saved the team. Facing Sweden for the gold medal, Russia clearly had not physically or mentally recovered from the semifinal. It took the Russian offense 13 minutes to register a single shot on goal. Sweden had nearly total puck control and fired a whopping 58 shots on Makarov, but the scoreless game did not truly open up until the final ten minutes, when both teams launched one dangerous attack after another. Sweden dominated the overtime period and deservedly won the game after a Russian turnover enabled Mika Zibanejad to face Makarov one-on-one and score the game’s only goal. Sweden’s win was its first world junior gold medal in 31 years. It was unfortunate that Russia did not find its usual up-tempo game, but given that most of its players were just 17 and 18 years old, they will have another chance to fight for gold next year on home ice. After the game, Kuznetsov was named the tournament MVP, best forward, and member of the media all-star team.

Game 1: Russia 3 – Switzerland 0
Goals: Khokhlachev, Gusev (Kosov, Grigorenko), Grigorenko (Kucherov, Gusev)
Shots: Russia 30 – Switzerland 40
Saves: Vasilevski 40 – Wof 27
PIM: Russia 8 – Switzerland 6

Game 2: Russia 3 – Slovakia 1
Goals: Ozhiganov (Yakupov, Kosov), Naumenkov (Zemchenko), Kucherov (Grigorenko, Nesterov) – Bubela
Shots: Russia 40 – Slovakia 32
Saves: Makarov 31 – Simboch 37
PIM: Russia 20 – Slovakia 2

Game 3: Russia 14 – Latvia 0
Goals: Grigorenko (Kucherov, Gusev), Sergeyev (Yakupov, Arzamastsev), Kuznetsov (Yakupov, Antipin), Kuznetsov (Gusev, Nesterov), Zheldakov (Kuznetsov, Gusev), Gusev (Kuznetsov, Nesterov), Gusev (Kucherov, Kuznetsov), Kulikov (Kuznetsov, Zemchenko), Khokhlachev (Yakupov, Naumenkov), Kuznetsov (Gusev, Kucherov), Zemchenko (Kulikov, Kuznetsov), Kosov (Apalkov, Barbashev), Khokhlachev (Telegin, Antipin), Nesterov (Gusev, Kuznetsov)
Shots: Russia 50 – Latvia 30
Saves: Vasilevski 30 – Merzlikins 36
PIM: Russia 10 – Latvia 10

Game 4: Russia 3 – Sweden 4 (OT)
Goals: Zemchenko (Yakupov), Kosov (Barbashev, Apalkov), Telegin – Klefbom (Larsson), Rakell (Nemeth, Larsson), Friberg (Brodin, Nordstrom), Nordstrom (Nemeth, Friberg)
Shots: Russia 26 – Sweden 55
Saves: Vasilevski 51 – Gustafsson 23
PIM: Russia 16 – Sweden 4

Quarterfinal: Russia 2 – Czech Republic 1
Goals: Apalkov (Barbashev, Arzamastsev), Zheldakov (Kucherov) – Culek (Hertl, Jaskin)
Shots: Russia 45 – Czech Republic 39
Saves: Vasilevski 38 – Mrazek 43
PIM: Russia 4 – Czech Republic 2

Semifinal: Russia 6 – Canada 5
Goals: Kuznetsov (Yakupov), Nesterov (Zheldakov), Kuznetsov (Khokhlachev, Yakupov), Kuznetsov (Yakupov, Sergeyev), Khokhlachev (Kuznetsov, Yakupov), Kucherov (Grigorenko, Zemchenko) – Connolly (Hamilton, Huberdeau), Hamilton (Sheifele, Strome), Schwartz (Gallagher), Gallagher (Hamilton), Gormley (Gallagher)
Shots: Russia 24 – Canada 56
Saves: Vasilevski 44/49, Makarov 7/7 – Wedgewood 9/13, Visentin 9/11
PIM: Russia 16 – Canada 54

Final: Sweden 1 (OT) – Russia 0
Goals: Zibanejad (Nemeth)
Shots: Sweden 58 – Russia 17
Saves: Gustafsson 17 – Makarov 57
PIM: Sweden 4 – Russia 8

Team Stats:

Player	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
D #3   Artyom Sergeyev	7	1	1	2	+1	12
D #4   Viktor Antipin	7	0	2	2	+5	2
D #6   Mikhail Naumenkov	7	1	1	2	+2	8
D #7   Igor Ozhiganov	7	1	0	1	+3	4
D #12 Grigori Zheldakov	7	2	1	3	+6	4
D #24 Zakhar Arzamastsev	7	0	2	2	+2	2
D #26 Ildar   Isangulov	6	0	0	0	+2	6
D #29   Nikita Nesterov	7	2	3	5	+7	6
F #8   Nikita Gusev	7	3	6	9	+5	0
F #9   Nikita Kucherov	7	2	5	7	+4	2
F #10   Nail Yakupov	7	0	9	9	+4	6
F #14   Daniil Apalkov	7	1	2	3	+2	0
F #15   Pavel Kulikov	7	1	1	2	+3	2
F #16   Ignat Zemchenko	7	2	3	5	+4	2
F #17   Mikhail Grigorenko	6	2	3	5	+2	0
F #18   Yaroslav Kosov	7	2	2	4	+5	0
F #19   Alexander Khokhlachev	7	4	1	5	+5	6
F #22   Sergei Barbashev	7	0	3	3	+2	0
F #23   Ivan Telegin	6	1	1	2	0	12
F #25   Evgeni Kuznetsov (C)	7	6	7	13	+6	4
Goaltender	GP	W	L	GAA	Save %	SO
G #1   Sergei Kostenko	0	0	0	0	0	0
G #20   Andrei Makarov	3	1	1	0.88	97.9	0
G #30   Andrei Vasilevski	5	4	1	2.01	95.3	2

Photo Gallery:

Mikhail Grigorenko fires a shot

Captain Kuznetsov scored two hat-tricks and was named the tournament MVP

Nail Yakupov attacks the Czechs

Vasilevski’s heroics carried Russia to the final

Russia celebrates its semifinal victory in another Russia-Canada classic

Sweden’s golden goal on Makarov

2011 World Championship

Host Cities: Bratislava and Kosice, Slovakia
April 29 – May 15, 2011
RESULT: 4th PLACE

This tournament brought Russia’s four-year medal streak at the World Hockey Championships to an end. Russia entered the tournament with a weaker group of players than in 2010, but still brought plenty of familiar faces, with only two players (Vladimir Tarasenko and Nikolai Belov) making their WC debut. Plenty of weaknesses became apparent as Russia struggled right from the opening game, getting shut-out by Germany, and in subsequent tight victories against lesser hockey powers like Slovenia and Denmark. The coaching staff entrusted Evgeni Nabokov to be the starting goaltender. Having sat out most of the season, Nabokov was not in ideal shape and suffered a leg injury in the fourth game, forcing Konstantin Barulin of KHL’s Atlant to handle the remaining games. Russia was also set back by an underwhelming group of centres, a struggling powerplay, undisciplined play from Alexei Emelin and Evgeni Artyukhin, and a faulty defense. Alexander Ovechkin was parachuted in to boost the offense, but he did not register a single point. After losing its remaining round-robin games to the Czech Republic and Finland, Russia faced off against the young and talented Canadian team in the quarterfinals. As usual, this matchup provided for the most entertaining hockey of the tournament, with Canada leading 1-0 midway through the third period. Alexei Kaigorodov then deked through the Canadian defence and scored a beautiful shorthanded goal to tie the game. A few minutes later, Ilya Kovalchuk sniped in the game-winner from Alexander Radulov’s pass. This tandem was Russia’s main highlight in the tournament. By defeating Canada in the quarters for the second straight year, Russia did not have enough energy and willpower to maintain such tempo for the rest of the tournament and went on to lose in the semifinal to Finland and in the bronze-medal game to the Czechs (this turn of events resembled the 2006 Olympics for Russia). What is especially concerning is that Russia lost five games out of nine. While Vyacheslav Bykov’s record as Russia’s coach is still an impressive 40 wins to 9 losses, a fourth place finish is clearly a disappointment.

Game 1: Germany 2 – Russia 0
Goals: Greilinger (Braun), Reimer
Shots: Germany 27 – Russia 31
Saves: Endras 31 – Nabokov 25
PIM: Germany 6 – Russia 4

Game 2: Russia 6 – Slovenia 4
Goals: Atyushov (Kovalchuk, Radulov), Afinogenov (Korneev), Kulikov (Kaigorodov), Artyukhin (Afinogenov, Kaigorodov), Radulov (Kovalchuk, Gorovikov), Zinoviev (Zaripov) – Hebar (Gregorc), Golicic (Sivic, M. Hocevar), Golicic (M. Hocevar), Pajic (Tavzelj)
Shots: Russia 25 – Slovenia 35
Saves: Nabokov 31 – A. Hocevar 19
PIM: Russia 33 – Slovenia 6

Game 3: Russia 4 – Slovakia 3
Goals: Radulov (Kovalchuk, Tyutin), Nikulin (Kovalchuk, Tyutin), Nikulin (Kovalchuk), Morozov (Atyushov, Kaigorodov) – Satan (Nagy, Jurcina), Gaborik (Demitra), Nagy (Majesky, Visnovsky)
Shots: Russia 31 – Slovakia 32
Saves: Nabokov 17/20, Barulin 12/12 – Halak 27
PIM: Russia 8 – Slovakia 14

Game 4: Russia 4 – Denmark 3
Goals: Zinoviev (Nikulin, Zaripov), Zinoviev (Morozov, Zaripov), Zinoviev (Zaripov, Morozov), Artyukhin (Korneev, Kalinin) – Hardt (Starkov), Boedker (Hersby), Hardt (Starkov)
Shots: Russia 40 – Denmark 22
Saves: Nabokov 15/18, Barulin 4/4 – Andersen 36
PIM: Russia 14 – Denmark 6

Game 5: Czech Republic 3 – Russia 2
Goals: Voracek (Rolinek, Skoula), Jagr (Plekanec), Plekanec – Tereshchenko (Atyushov, Radulov), Zaripov (Kalinin, Zinoviev)
Shots: Czech Republic 33 – Russia 26
Saves: Pavelec 24 – Barulin 30
PIM: Czech Republic 8 – Russia 16

Game 6: Finland 3 (SO) – Russia 2
Goals: Koivu (Puistola), Niskala (Immonen) – Kulemin (Kulikov, Artyukhin), Nikulin (Zaripov, Morozov)
Shots: Finland 32 – Russia 35
Saves: Vehanen 3/5, Lassila 30/30 – Barulin 29
PIM: Finland 12 – Russia 12

Quarterfinal: Russia 2 – Canada 1
Goals: Kaigorodov, Kovalchuk (Radulov, Kalinin) – Spezza (Pietrangelo)
Shots: Russia 20 – Canada 37
Saves: Barulin 36 – Bernier 18
PIM: Russia 10 – Canada 12

Semifinal: Finland 3 – Russia 0
Goals: Granlund (Immonen), Lajunen, Immonen (Granlund)
Shots: Finland 29 – Russia 30
Saves: Vehanen 30 – Barulin 26
PIM: Finland 12 – Russia 10

Bronze medal game: Czech Republic 7 – Russia 4
Goals: Cervenka, Prucha (Rolinek, Marek), Prucha, Cervenka (Prucha), Plekanec (Cervenka), Marek, Plekanec (Jagr, Cervenka) – Kovalchuk (Radulov, Tyutin), Kulikov (Afinogenov, Gorovikov), Kovalchuk (Radulov, Zinoviev), Tarasenko (Zinoviev, Korneev)
Shots: Czech Republic 28 – Russia 43
Saves: Pavelec 39 – Barulin 21
PIM: Czech Republic 4 – Russia 6

Team Stats:

Player	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
D #5 Ilya Nikulin	9	3	1	4	0	2
D #7 Dmitry Kalinin	9	0	3	3	+4	4
D #22 Konstantin Korneev	9	0	3	3	+3	0
D #37 Denis Grebeshkov	2	0	0	0	+1	0
D #43 Dmitry Kulikov	9	2	1	3	-3	4
D #44 Nikolai Belov	6	0	0	0	+1	4
D #51 Fedor Tyutin	9	0	3	3	-3	0
D #74 Alexei Emelin	9	0	0	0	-5	29
F #8 Alexander Ovechkin	5	0	0	0	-3	4
F #21 Konstantin Gorovikov	9	0	2	2	-1	2
F #23 Alexei Tereshchenko	8	1	0	1	-5	2
F #25 Danis Zaripov	9	1	5	6	0	0
F #41 Nikolai Kulemin	9	1	0	1	-4	2
F #42 Sergei Zinoviev	9	4	3	7	+2	4
F #47 Alexander Radulov (A)	9	2	5	7	-1	6
F #49 Evgeni Artyukhin	9	2	1	3	0	24
F #55 Alexei Kaigorodov	8	1	3	4	0	2
F #61 Maxim Afinogenov	9	1	2	3	+2	6
F #71 Ilya Kovalchuk (A)	9	3	5	8	-1	6
F #91 Vladimir Tarasenko	6	1	0	1	-3	0
F #95 Alexei Morozov (C)	9	1	3	4	-1	8
Goaltender	GP	W	L	GAA	Save %	SO
G #20 Evgeni Nabokov	4	2	1	3.60	88.0	0
G #83 Vasili Koshechkin	0	0	0	0	0	0
G #84 Konstantin Barulin	7	2	4	2.80	90.8	0

Photo Gallery:

Evgeni Artyukhin was Russia’s primary agitator

Konstantin Barulin replaced the injured Evgeni Nabokov as Russia’s main goalie

Nikulin, Ovechkin and Afinogenov line up for a face-off

Alexei Kaigorodov beats Canada’s Jonathan Bernier

Memories of 2008: Kovalchuk kills Canada again

2011 World Junior Championship

Host Cities: Buffalo and Niagara Falls, USA
December 26, 2010 – January 5, 2011
RESULT: GOLD MEDAL

With its first world junior championship gold in eight years Russia achieved not only the greatest comeback in the tournament’s history, but also gave one of the greatest demonstrations of willpower and determination in Russian hockey history. The road to beating Canada 5-3 at the Canadian-filled HSBC Arena in Buffalo was anything but smooth. Coach Valeri Bragin’s roster was not among the most talented Russian world junior squads in recent years and the team struggled out of the gate, losing to Canada and Sweden in the first two games. Thanks to the chemistry on Evgeni Kuznetsov’s and Vladimir Tarasenko’s lines, Russia dominated its next two opponents. The medal round was written like a dramatic fairy tale for Russia. In both the quarterfinal against the Finns and the semifinal against the Swedes, Russia was less than two minutes away from losing before tying the game and ultimately winning it in overtime (against Finland) or shootout (against Sweden). The amount of emotion that these comebacks gave to the players transpired into an especially passionate gold-medal final against a confident and heavily-supported Canadian team. The canucks gave it their all in the game’s first two periods, scoring three straight goals on Russia and causing Bragin to pull goalie Dmitri Shikin in favour of Igor Bobkov, who let in six goals in Russia’s first game against Canada. The decision paid off, as this time Bobkov was a wall in net. Early into the third period, Russia scored a pair of goals thirteen seconds apart, completely changing the dynamic of the game. Russia did not stop its speedy assault and gunned three more goals to silence the arena and seal the game’s fate. Defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Kuznetsov made the tournament’s all-star team, while Bobkov was named Russia’s MVP.

Game 1: Russia 3 – Canada 6
Goals: Kitsyn (Urychev, Orlov), Dvurechenski (Voronin, Orlov), Sobchenko (Tarasenko, Urychev) – Foligno (Leblanc, de Haan), Ellis, Gudbranson (Howden, Couturier), Johansen (Schwartz), Schenn (Kassian, Schwartz), Hamilton (Schenn)
Shots: Russia 27 – Canada 42
Saves: Bobkov 36 – Roy 24
PIM: Russia 10 – Canada 6

Game 2: Sweden 2 – Russia 0
Goals: Lander (Styrman, Cehlin), Fasth (Jarnkrok)
Shots: Sweden 38 – Russia 20
Saves: Lehner 30 – Shikin 36
PIM: Sweden 22 – Russia 8

Game 3: Russia 8 – Norway 2
Goals: Dvurechenski (Voronin, Pivtsakin), Sobchenko (Orlov, Urychev), Tarasenko (Berdyukov, Valuyski), Sobchenko (Tarasenko, Orlov), Kitsyn (Kuznetsov, Orlov), Sergeev (Berezin), Kuznetsov (Dvurechenski), Voronin (Dvurechenski, Berdyukov) – Weberg, Oppoyen (Rosseli Olsen, Andersen)
Shots: Russia 55 – Norway 24
Saves: Shikin 22 – Volden 47
PIM: Russia 12 – Norway 22

Game 4: Czech Republic 3 – Russia 8
Goals: Orsava (Hlinka, Holik), Straka (Nestrasil, Jerabek), Hlinka (Frk) – Orlov (Tarasenko, Sobchenko), Kuznetsov (Burdasov, Dvurechenski), Golubev (Tarasenko, Panarin), Tarasenko (Orlov, Sobchenko), Berdyukov (Kitsyn, Kuznetsov), Sobchenko (Tarasenko, Orlov), Panarin (Golubev, Bocharov), Kitsyn (Kuznetsov, Berezin)
Shots: Czech Republic 34 – Russia 29
Saves: Novotny/Mazanec 21 – Shikin 31
PIM: Czech Republic 18 – Russia 36

Quarterfinal: Finland 3 – Russia 4 (OT)
Goals: Pulkkinen (Pakarinen), Junttila (Salomaki), Donskoi (Pulkkinen, Vatanen) – Urychev (Sobchenko, Tarasenko), Kuznetsov (Kitsyn), Kitsyn (Kuznetsov, Kalinin), Kuznetsov (Kitsyn)
Shots: Finland 37 – Russia 45
Saves: Ortio 41 – Shikin 34
PIM: Finland 10 – Russia 12

Semifinal: Sweden 3 – Russia 4 (SO)
Goals: Larsson (Rakell, Thornberg), Jarnkrok (Fasth, Larsson), Cehlin (Larsson) – Tarasenko (Valuyski), Golubev (Bocharov, Panarin), Kalinin (Kitsyn, Orlov)
Shots: Sweden 49 – Russia 32
Saves: Lehner 28 – Shikin (46)
PIM: Sweden 6 – Russia 8

Final: Canada 3 – Russia 5
Goals: Ellis (Schenn, de Haan), Ashton (Leblanc), Schenn (Foligno) – Panarin (Golubev, Berezin), Kitsyn (Kuznetsov, Kalinin), Tarasenko (Kuznetsov), Panarin (Tarasenko, Golubev), Dvurechenski (Kuznetsov)
Shots: Canada 38 – Russia 27
Saves: Visentin 22 – Shikin 15/18, Bobkov 20/20
PIM: Canada 4 – Russia 8

Roster:

Player	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
D #2 Nikita Zaytsev	6	0	0	0	0
D #3 Nikita Pivtsakin	7	0	1	1	2
D #5 Maxim Berezin	7	0	3	3	8
D #6 Georgi Berdyukov	7	1	2	3	4
D #9 Dmitri Orlov	7	1	8	9	6
D #12 Yuri Urychev	7	1	3	4	4
D #23 Maxim Ignatovich	7	0	1	1	0
D #26 Andrei Sergeev	7	1	0	1	6
F #7 Anton Burdasov	7	0	1	1	6
F #8 Semyon Valuyski	7	0	2	2	4
F #10 Vladimir Tarasenko	7	4	7	11	0
F #13 Maxim Kitsyn	7	5	4	9	0
F #14 Daniil Sobchenko	7	4	3	7	4
F #15 Artyom Voronin	7	1	2	3	10
F #17 Nikita Dvurechenski	7	3	3	6	18
F #18 Stanislav Bocharov	7	0	2	2	2
F #21 Sergei Kalinin	7	1	2	3	4
F #25 Evgeni Kuznetsov	7	4	7	11	4
F #27 Artemi Panarin	7	3	2	5	4
F #28 Denis Golubev	7	3	3	6	6
Goaltender	GP	W	L	GAA	Save %	SO
G #20 Dmitri Shikin	6	3	1	2.81	92.0	0
G #30 Igor Bobkov	2	1	1	3.85	90.3	0

Photo Gallery:

Coach Valeri Bragin

Evgeni Kuznetsov scores the game-winning goal against Finland

Goalie Dmitri Shikin making a save against Sweden in the semifinal

Maxim Kitsyn celebrates his goal against Canada

Team captain Vladimir Tarasenko lifts the trophy

Champions – 2011