Russia U20 prepare for the 2018 World Junior Championship match against Sweden

In the USA, the under 20 Russian national team have started preparations for the final 2018 World Junior Championship group stage match against Sweden.

Our players trained in these following lines:

Goalkeepers: Berdin, Melnichuk, Sukhachyov.

Reds: Knyzhov, Syomin - Sokolov, Maltsev, Polodyan.

Blues: Zaitsev, Minulin - Manukyan, Rubtsov, Kayumov.

Whites: Samorukov, Elizarov - Altybarmakyan, Sholokhov, Abramov.

Blacks: Makeev, Shepelev - Kostin, Ivanov, Svechnikov.

Russia U20 coach Yury Babenko:

- Why was Dmitry Sokolov training in the first line instead of Andrei Altybarmakyan?

- We decided to make changes during the group stage, because not all four lines were playing as we want them to.

- Who aren't you happy with? Dmitry or Andrei?

- We think that all four lines should be the same. We demand more from everyone.

- Nikolai Knyzhov and Nikita Makeev have also switched lines.

- Ahead of the players, we want to make sure that the lines are complete in the final group match against Sweden.

- Have you studied how Russia can win the group?

- There is a whole day ahead of us, so there's no point in looking at those things. Tomorrow, we have to fight. Everything depends on us in terms of how the playoffs will go.

- In the other group, there are no weak teams.

- This is the World Championship. All teams are practically the same level. 

- Do you have a lot of issues with how Russia are performing?

- There are always a lot of them. We all make mistakes, but we try to put them right.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation