The Russian Olympic team's training

In Novogorsk, the Russian Olympic (B) team held an open training session for the media.

The players trained in these following lines:

Sudnitsin, Bocharov, Trushkov;

Tryamkin, Elesin - Kagarlitsky, Kraskovsky, Korshkov;

Bereglazov, Mineev - Koshelev, Semyonov, Mikheev;

Kulik, Provolnev - Leschenko, Dergachyov, Khokhlachyov;

Demidov, Vereshchagin - Padakin, Byvaltsev, Ilenko, Zernov.

Two matches against Germany in Sochi will take place on April 6 (19:30) and April 7 (17:00).

Russian Olympic team coach Oleg Bratash:

- In comparison to the Olympic Games, the Germans have a younger team. Their best players are competing in the German league's playoffs. Our roster has been selected with a view to the next four years. We have young players which have impressed during the current season. We've decided to keep the players in lines with their club teammates. In 2016, Roman Lyubimov was selected for the main side from the Olympic team, before the same happened with Alexander Barabanov in 2017. 15 players of the team which won the 2018 Olympic Games once competed with the second team. Goalkeeper Alexander Sudnitsin will play the first match in Sochi and Dmitry Kagarlitsky is the captain.

Russian Olympic team coach Ilya Vorobyov:

- The Germans have strong qualities. They were strong at the Olympic Games because the tournament is short. Nevertheless, they were well prepared physically and they had players which competed in the NHL for a number of years. Their goalkeeper was also excellent. Our team is motivated, the guys are young. They can make the World Championship roster from this team. International games help them develop.

Russian Olympic team defenseman Nikita Tryamkin:

- I think that it's time to forget not being selected for the Olympic Games roster. I am happy that our team won the competition. I feel good, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg went out in the first round of the KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs and I had a short rest. I had time to recover from my injuries and I have something to prove.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation