Vladimir Filatov: "The players will keep their feet on the ground"

After winning the President's Sporting Club Cup in Belarus, Russian under 16 head coach Vladimir Filatov shared his impressions from the tournament:

- Did you expect the team to score eighteen goals at the tournament?

- If I'm honest, I expected the matches to be tighter. However, despite the large score against Slovakia, it didn't reflect what happened on the ice - Slovakia are a good team. We took advantage of our chances, they didn't. They gave us two powerplays at the start of the match, and then they gave up a little. I congratulate my guys, they played against a team a year older and didn't look worse at all.

- What can you say about the players' potential?

- It's too early to talk about that, they're only fifteen. At this age, they should continue working hard in their clubs and the national team. As coaches, we should help them along the way.

- Will such large wins against older teams give your players too much confidence?

- No, the four individual awards at this tournament are because we played as a team. I and my colleagues will do everything possible to keep their feet on the ground.

- Plans for the near future?

- In mid-December, we will travel to the Czech Republic for three friendly matches. On the 24th of November, a number of teams born in 2001 will compete in a special tournament between Russia's best players. We will have an opportunity to analyse a number of players.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation