Russia U18 forward Pavel Rotenberg: "Players should always fight for the team"

Russia U18 forward Pavel Rotenberg:

- How did I start playing ice hockey? My friend invited me to play, and I agreed to give it a try. In the end, he gave up the sport while I am continuing.

- I started playing five years ago with Spartak Saint Petersburg. Later on, the name changed to Forvard and then to Dynamo.

- What are your favourite places in Saint Petersburg?

- Vasilevskiy Island and Primorskaya. Those places are special to me, because I spent a lot of time there. I really love my city.

- How would you describe your character?

- I'm a fun guy. Overall, I am a positive person.

- Do you have a lot of friends?

- I don't think that you can have a lot of friends. You can have acquaintances, but it's different from having lots of close friends.

- Is there friendship among ice hockey players?

- Yes, of course. Everyone should fight for the team they are playing in. 

- What do like to do in your free time?

- I study. This year, I finished school and am now a university student.

- In university, which topic will you study?

- Law. I passed my exams, but if I wouldn't have got into the law course, studying to become a coach was my back-up plan. 

- Why did you choose law?

- I'll know the laws in the country better. 

- Your ice hockey goals?

- Well, firstly I want to play well at the Ivan Hlinka memorial tournament. Russia haven't won the competition since 1996, it's time to break that tradition!

Russian Ice Hockey Federation