Vladislav Tretiak opened a new rink in Moscow

The newly-constructed ice rink at the Sviblovo Stadium has opened.

Vladislav Tretiak, the President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF), was a guest of honour at the event. The three-time Olympic champion performed the rink's inaugural ceremonial face-off, spoke with young athletes and offered words of encouragement to hockey players of various ages.



Furthermore, the new arena hosted a working meeting between Tretiak and Oleg Sobolev, the Prefect of Moscow’s North-Eastern Administrative District. Their discussion focused on the development of ice hockey in the district and plans to boost participation and improve the quality of various competitions, including those for children and amateur players.

RIHF President Vladislav Tretiak:

"Throughout the 80-year history of Russian hockey, Moscow has been a major hub for the sport's development. The capital ranks among the leaders across all key aspects including the availability of ice arenas, the scale of mass participation in the sport and the development of elite athletes and national team players. The city provides outstanding facilities for future champions to hone their skills.



"The upgrading of hockey infrastructure has been a strategic priority for the RIHF for over 20 years. Moscow serves as a prime example of how joining forces with committed local authorities creates a synergistic effect. For example, the capital is implementing a major program to make sport accessible to residents across all districts.11 new hockey rinks were built under this initiative last year, with many more planned for the near future. Facilities like the new arena in Sviblovo allow children to play hockey right in their own neighbourhoods.

"My meeting with the district prefect was also highly productive, with Oleg speaking about the development of hockey and the successful work being done to expand infrastructure. The district boasts around 40 outdoor rinks with artificial ice, and their quality is steadily improving. I thanked the district head for the great attention paid to our sport and for his genuine personal involvement in these efforts. Our shared goal is to improve the training system for all players, coaches and referees, and we are making steady progress."