Roman Rotenberg: "Our branding will be known as Red Machine - Made in Russia"

After the Russian national team's training session, Russian Ice Hockey Federation vice-president answered questions:

- Kunlun Red Star Beijing's first home game in the KHL is a very important step in Chinese ice hockey's development. We hope that in the future, more fans will come to the stadium, and they do have a 16,000 capacity. Maybe in their next match, we will witness a new KHL attendance record. The team's results so far have surprised everyone, and they have had only two months to prepare. At the moment, a project for a second team and a children's youth ice hockey school is ongoing. 

- What are your impressions from the Russian national team's training process?

- Today's training was held at a good pace. The tournament's result depends on how we prepare for it. We don't need any uneccesary media attention, we are simply training for this competition.

- The World Cup of Hockey has its own branding. We will not see the Red Machine brand in Toronto?

- Red Machine. Made in Russia. That is our slogan. Overall branding is not possible because the World Cup is not taking place on our territory.

- It has been documented that the tournament organisers will gain 60 million dollars, but the teams will only receive a small part of this sum.

- We didn't take part in those particular negotiations. The decision was taken beforehand, and we respect it. However, in the future, we need to look after our own interests. The World Cup is a commercial tournament, and the profits made should go towards the development of ice hockey. We will look after the needs of our country and federation.

- In coming years, is there a chance that Russia can host part or all of the World Cup?

- Yes, we are ready host the event. We have experience of holding World Championships.

- Russia are training on the smaller ice. Would you not like all Russian ice rinks to be taken down to North American size?

- It's good that here inside the Yubileyny Arena we have this opportunity. Nevertheless, it is a huge financial matter if we are talking about changing all ice hockey rinks in Russia. It would need a lot of investment. We asked the Czech Republic to play on the small ice when we play away against them, but for technical reasons they can't do that.

- Will funds raised from this match against the Czech Republic go towards the RIHF?

- Not quite. We have the responsibility of the match's staging and for making it a sell out. At this moment in time, all tickets for the game have been sold. We planned on making the advertising campaign even grander, but things are also organised by the World Cup of Hockey organising committee.

- What do you think about Alexander Ovechkin being made captain?

- This was the coaches' decision. We all know what sort of player Alexander Ovechkin is. The fact that he is captain shows that he is a leader both on the ice and in the dressing room.

- Are you not worried about the fact that there is a possibility that NHL players will not take part in the next Olympic Games?

- This decision will be made by the NHL. Our priority is the Olympic Games and everything which we do is linked to its preparation. You cannot compare the Olympics to any other sporting event.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation