Vladislav Tretiak, Roman Rotenberg and Ilya Vorobyov before the 2018 World Championship

RIHF president Vladislav Tretiak:

- There are always nerves because the players are travelling for a victory in the competition. At the Olympic Games, we learnt to treat each opponent with respect. We will only rate the opponents after we have beaten them. In 1972 and 1976, we lost the World Championship after winning Olympic gold. However, we have young players who want to become world champions. A lot of NHL players will compete against us in Denmark, it will be an interesting tournament. Our task is always to be first, we want to win the final. The main thing is for the coaches to create a team which will fight and put its body on the line. Vasily Koshechkin is burning with desire, he understands that 60% of the result depends on the goalkeeper's performance.

RIHF first vice-president and team leader Roman Rotenberg:

- As usual, our team will live together next to the stadium. Now, we need to calmly prepare for the competition, we have huge motivation. There are a lot of questions about the NHL, but I would recommend that we focus on our team and country now. Our work is giving us results, something which the Olympic Games proved. On May 9 we will celebrate Victory Day, we won't change our traditions. We appreciate everything connected with our country and the great victory, so something will certainly be organised.

Interim Russian national team head coach Ilya Vorobyov:

- Vladimir Tkachyov and Stanislav Galiev didn't make the final roster? They have endured tough seasons and they're tired, there's no point in playing when you don't have emotions. Pavel Datsyuk will be our captain, we have a young team and he will be the leader. Sergei Andronov and Evgeny Dadonov will wear the 'A' on their jerseys. A lot of the guys haven't played at the World Championship before, so we have tried out a lot of different line combinations. Will we wait for results of the NHL playoffs second round? We're counting on the players which are here now, the NHL is a different topic. It's the right decision to have Pavel Datsyuk the captain and Vasily Koshechkin the starting goaltender, we have a balance between youth and experience. My feelings? I am proud and rather nervous before the World Championship.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation