Friendly match. Canada East - Russia U18

The under 18 Russian national team will play a friendly match against Canada East. It will be the players' first training game since arriving in Bonnyville.

Canada are made up of players from the CJHL, NOJHL, OJHL, CCHL, LHJQ and the MHL leagues.

Five players born in 1997 are allowed to be in the roster. while half of the team are from 1998. 

Igor Znarok, Russia U18 coach:

- All of the guys are pumped up. The goalkeeping and head coaches wil make the final decision concerning the netminders, they will be reveal their choice before this match. Denis Minikhin only arrived late last night, he didn't train but we are planning that he will play in the game.

The forwards already have chemistry, they have played together in the national team before. I don't think that they will have any problems.

- Have the team's leaders arrived from the Canadian leagues?

- Yes, we are counting on them. This friendly game will show what they are made of. We can change the line-up around, look at different combinations. We will see how the Canadians play themselves too.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation