Russia have arrived in Cologne ahead of the 2017 World Championship

Ahead of the 2017 World Championship, the senior Russian national team have arrived in the German city of Cologne. The players trained in these following lines:

Shestyorkin, Vasilevskiy, Sorokin;

Kiselevich, Gavrikov - Telegin, Andronov, Plotnikov, Nichushkin;

Provorov, Mironov - Gusev, Namestnikov, Kucherov;

Antipin, Belov - Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov;

Naumenkov, Zub - Mozyakin, Tkachyov, Barabanov, Lyubimov.

Russia's first tournament match will take place on May 5th against Sweden.

Russian national team coach Harijs Vitolins:

- It's good that we arrived 48 hours before the tournament, because the first day is always a bit chaotic. The changing rooms are narrow here compared to last year in Moscow. The IIHF have a rule of only 25 players being able to train on the ice at one time, so three players sat today's session out.

We haven't decided on our roster yet, but we will register two goalkeepers, seven defensemen and twelve forwards. The ice is a bit strange here, but everyone is in the same boat and we have time to adapt. It's nice when people support us, and we have a lot of new players in this squad who are hungry to win. The fans will give us energy.

Russian national team forward Roman Lyubimov:

- I want to make the final roster and play the whole tourmanent, but that is the coaches' decision. All of our players are in good shape and are ready to play. The ice at the stadium is rather unusual, it feels as though your skates aren't on properly. Nevertheless, all teams play on the same rink. Sweden have a good team with lots of NHL players. I think that it will be a physical and fast paced game.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation