Roman Rotenberg: "We are doing everything to help the team win"

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation's first vice-president and senior national team leader Roman Rotenberg spoke to journalists after a training session at the 2018 World Championship in Denmark.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation first vice-president Roman Rotenberg:

- Base clubs? We don't have them in Russia, only donor clubs.

- Will this donor club tradition continue?

- This is to do with our tactics, and not politics. With these modern techniques of working, we are getting players ready for competing in international tournaments. Players are under the watchful gaze of the coaches every day, their eating is regulated as well as their mental and physical state. When that happens, it's easier for the coaches to sel ect players for the national team. They understand the players better.

- Is there a problem with a lack of competition in the KHL?

- I don't agree with that argument. We have Ilya Mikheev in the squad, an Avangard Omsk player. Only matches decide the players' roles in the team.

- Will the players outside of the roster stay there?

- Let's see, we are taking it from day to day. We don't need to get ahead of ourselves.

- Why did you decide to stay in a hotel a long way from the stadium?

- This is the third consecutive year when we've done this. This isn't about wanting to be away from the rest, it's to do with the team's eating and preparation. Our doctors choose a special diet for our players in order for them to focus on the tournament and only think about ice hockey.

- Oleg Znarok is the team's consultant.

- We have a management team. Oleg Znarok is a part of it, we have contact via phone calls. We worked for three years together and are continuing to cooperate. However, let's concentrate on the players and coaches here. We are doing everything to help the team win.

- Why is Vadim Shipachyov not here?

- Let's not discuss the players which aren't here now. We have a scouting department which works like the other national teams. We have to concentrate on the team here in Copenhagen.

- The theme of some players not being liked has come back again.

- That's your personal opinion. Those players mentioned in the media aren't here because of injuries. Alexander Radulov? We got a message from Dallas which stated that he had a back injury which prevented him fr om playing here.

- Lars Johansson is the first Swede in your management team.

- We have been speaking with Lars for three years now, he is a coach who deals with the methodical side of the game. He gives an alternative opinion. Lars is a professional, our coaches ask him for advice and ask him about methodical aspects of ice hockey. During matches, Lars works with the analytical team.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation