Vladislav Tretiak: "Fans in Novosibirsk created a fantastic atmosphere!"

"The Future Cup featuring the best players from Russia and Belarus was a roaring success in all regards! I would like to congratulate the players of our under 20 national team with the trophy; they truly deserved to emerge victorious.

"The Russian Ice Hockey Federation put in a huge amount of effort when preparing for the competition. Our two national teams were full of gifted players, including those who have already made KHL appearances. By forming the strongest possible squad, we took into account the interests of the fans and their expectations. It was vital for everybody involved to finish in first place!

"I liked the attack-minded ice hockey displayed by our U20 side which involved sharp movement, lots of clever combination plays and an emphasis on getting to the opposing net. Russian fans love this kind of play! 14 goals scored across just three games is an excellent result.

"I'd also like to single out Kirill Dubrovin, the Russia U20 goalkeeper from the CSKA Moscow system. He recorded two impressive shutouts, including one in the tournament-winning game. At the slender age of 18, such a superb showing at international level will do wonders for his future prospects!

"Furthermore, our under 18 national team showed character and determination in abundance. Yes, the desired result wasn't achieved, but the players deserve credit for how hard they fought in their matches.

"And, of course, a huge thank you goes to everyone who attended the Sibir Arena during the competition! More than 10,000 people were in attendance for the concluding game against Belarus. You can be sure that your fantastic support was appreciated by our players!

"We greatly value our partnership with the Belarusian Ice Hockey Association, and are grateful to our partners for their openness and productive cooperation. Thanks to the participation of Belarusian teams, the Future Cup boasts both high-quality competition and high spectator interest. Moreover, it's clear how significantly the Belarusian players are improving."

Vladislav Tretiak

President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation