Presentation of the Red Machine National Development Program in Chelyabinsk

On Thursday, the Red Machine National Development Program was presented in Chelyabinsk, an event which was organised by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation with the support of Chelyabinsk Region.

The "Philosophy and Basic Principles" conference was opened by head of the Russian national team and the first vice-president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation Roman Rotenberg:

- It's a great honour for the Russian Ice Hockey Federation to present the Red Machine National Development Program here in Chelyabinsk, a region which boasts large ice hockey traditions and has given our ice hockey plenty of wonderful players. We had more than 210 applications from coaches to participate in this conference and master class. We're confident that due to the Red Machine NDP, big chances will be made to the training of young Russian ice hockey players. Work over the program is continuing at this moment in time. We've already prepared sections for the training of players aged six, eight and 10, and we are planning on finishing the development process in May-June of this year. We are now introducting the program. Children all around the country will begin training according to the program's standards which take into account how childrens' bodies work. This is designed to achieve positive sporting results in the future.

Evgeny Redin, first deputy governor of Chelyabinsk Region:

- I would like to thank the Russian Ice Hockey Federation for organising the presentation of the Red Machine National Development Program in Chelyabinsk Region, this is a new level of approaching the development of ice hockey. Ice hockey is the number one sport for Chelyabinsk Region. We are working on constructing new ice hockey infrastructure, and in the coming years, we will have more ice rinks in the region. The Olympic Ice Hockey Training Centre will also be constructed.

The main topic of the conference was the matter of developing youth ice hockey in Russia. Russian national team head coach Ilya Vorobyov and Russian Olympic team coach Oleg Bratash also spoke, with the former saying the following; "The Red Machine National Development Program is a big step forward for Russian ice hockey. It will include an updating database for all coaches. Chelyabinsk Region loves ice hockey, and when I worked in the region, I saw how much children love skating and playing the sport. Here, there is a high level of training.

Afterwards, a master class for 11-year-old players of the HC Traktor Chelyabinsk system, which was ran by skating, individual player coach and Red Machine NDP coach Daniel Bochner, Russian Olympic team coach Oleg Bratash and other coaches.