Russian women's national team open day

In Novogorsk, the senior Russian women's national team held an open day for the media ahead of the Three Nations tournament in Finland. While head coach Alexei Chistyakov is away at the 2017 Winter Universiade, Evgeny Bobariko is in charge.

The team trained in these following lines:

Goalkeepers: Merkusheva, Aleksandrova, Kondakova.

Blacks: Schukina, Chistyakova - Skiba, Smolentseva, Lebedeva.

Whites: Pechnikova, Chizhova - Dobrodeeva, Starovoytova, Shatalova.

Reds: Klimkina, Koshevaya - Bolgareva, Beloglazova, Kulishova.

Blues: Seredina, Zubok - Korotkikh, Solovyova, Zenchenko.

Yellows: Bobrova, Belova.

Interim Russian women's national team head coach Evgeny Bobariko:

- In Finland, the girls will play two games against the hosts and one against Sweden. We will change our tactics up and play be more aggressive in defence, we want to surprise our opponents. The preparation plan had been drawn up a long time ago, we're working calmly. All of the girls are doing what they should be. Before flying to the tournament, we will have a friendly game against a men's team born in 2002. Afterwards, we will decide on our final roster.

- Do players from the junior side feel the responsibility of playing for the main team?

- Yes, I think that they do. Two of our lines are from the under 18 team, these matches will help them move on to senior level.

- What can you say about the atmosphere within the group?

- The girls understand one another, there are no problems.

Russian women's national team forward Ekaterina Smolentseva:

- Three interesting matches are coming up, it's a chance to see what reserves we have for the upcoming Olympic Games in South Korea. Also, it's an opportunity for the younger girls to show what they are made of. For me, it's another tournament in which I have to play at my best.

- Are the younger players asking you for advice?

- We have only just gathered together and started training. For me it's the first chance to train with players from the under 18 team, only one line plays for the senior side regularly. I think that they will take positive things away from this experience. I remember when I first started playing ice hockey, I watched how the older players trained and worked out. Today, I enjoyed how we trained.

Russian women's national team goalkeeper Elizaveta Kondakova:

- Everyone is in a good mood. In my memory, this is the first training camp where players from the senior and junior teams are training together. It's a new and interesting experience for us all.

- The team will play at the Three Nations without a number of key figures.

- We feel the responsibility. However, it's an opportunity for all of us to show what we are capable of. 

- Soon, you will play a friendly match against a male team.

- It's always to play against boys, they are faster and stronger than us. When I first started playing the sport, I also competed with boys.

Russian women's national team forward Tatyana Shatalova:

- The older girls are helping us out, thanks to them for that. I don't feel pressure from them, they are supporting us. We, the junior players, feel a lot of responsibilty before playing at this tournament. We want to be good replacements for those who are playing at the Universiade. We will give 100%, we want to prove ourselves.

- Will some of the younger players be picked for the World Championship?

- The coaches have told us that everything depends on us ourselves. 

Russian Ice Hockey Federation