Vladislav Tretiak and Gleb Nikitin opened the new arena in Nizhny Novgorod

Vladislav Tretiak, the President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF), travelled to Nizhny Novgorod on business.

As a part of his trip, Tretiak participated in the opening ceremony of the brand new 12-thousand seater VOLGA Arena. The stadium, which took four years to build, can host both domestic and international competitions.

The three-time Olympic champion took part in the ceremony alongside Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin and KHL President Alexei Morozov. Furthermore, Tretiak conducted the arena's maiden ceremonial face-off draw and delivered a speech to everyone in attendance.

Following this event, a meeting took place between Tretiak and Nikitin in which the parties discussed matters concerning the development of ice hockey and other sports in the region.

RIHF President Vladislav Tretiak:

"On behalf of the RIHF and the entire hockey family, I congratulate Nizhny Novgorod Region with the grand opening of the VOLGA Arena! I am very impressed with the new stadium. It meets the highest standards, featuring three ice rinks under one roof and facilities for every aspect of training and recovery. There are hardly any arenas abroad that match the calibre of those currently being constructed in Russia. Nizhny Novgorod now boasts superb conditions for player development. The VOLGA Arena has ample space for everyone: the main team, the youth academy and amateur players alike. The RIHF will consider this stadium for the upcoming Channel One Cup in December.

"I would also like to extend special congratulations to Gleb Nikitin. He deserves immense credit for the region acquiring such a wonderful arena. For years, Gleb has exemplified the kind of dedicated leadership a governor should provide. Thanks to his support and oversight, the efficiency of all hockey development processes - from the creation of new infrastructure to the improvement of player coaching systems - has increased. The RIHF’s cooperation with Nizhny Novgorod Region covers all key areas. We've prioritised the construction of new hockey arenas for over two decades already, and we supported the VOLGA Arena project from the very beginning.

"Nizhny Novgorod Region truly deserves this celebration. Ever since ice hockey appeared in our country, this region has been a pillar and a driving force in the development of the sport. Now, with the opening of a new arena, we look forward to seeing new rising stars and candidates for the national teams."

Photo: Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod