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Sr. World Championships -  Many prospects made the roster for the two friendly matches Team Russia will play in Italy on April 23rd and 24th. Vasily Koshechkin (Tampa Bay Lightning), Anton Khudobin (Minnesota Wild) and Sergei Bobrovsky are the goalies, with Khudobin most likely as starter. On the blue line Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers) will make his first appearence, and will be joined by Vitaly Atyushov, Konstantin Korneev (Montreal Canadiens), Denis Kulyash (Nashville Predators), Evgeny Biryukov, Denis Denisov (Buffalo Sabres), Dmitri Vorobiev (Toronto Maple Leafs), Evgeny Ryasensky and Nikolai Belov. The forwards corps will be led by NHLers Maxim Afinogenov (Buffalo Sabres), Evgeny Artyukhin (Atlanta Thrashers), Artem Anisimov (New York Rangers) and Nikolai Kulemin (Toronto Maple Leafs). First call for Vladimir Tarasenko and Nikita Filatov (Columbus Blue Jackets). Other players are Konstantin Gorovikov, Denis Parshin (Colorado Avalanche), Maxim Rybin , Evgeny Skachkov (St. Louis Blues), Anton Krysanov (Phoenix Coyotes), Mikhail Varnakov , Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Oleg Saprykin (Ottawa Senators).

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Canadian Junior Leagues -  19 years old Alexander Pechursky (Pittsburgh Penguins) decided to report to the Tri-City Americans of the WHL, according to allhockey.ru. There wasn't room for him after his KHL team, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, signed veteran goalie Vasily Koshechkin (Tampa Bay Lightning) from Lada Togliatti and he lost his backup role. Pechursky will play for Russia in the upcoming WJC.

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  Despite what communicated earlier, Denis Kazionov (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Dmitri Kazionov (Tampa Bay Lightning) won't attend Tampa Bay's development camp. Both players are under contract for the 09-10 season, Dmitri with Gagarin Cup champions of Ak Bars Kazan and Denis with Amur Khabarovsk.

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  Despite what communicated earlier, Denis Kazionov (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Dmitri Kazionov (Tampa Bay Lightning) won't attend Tampa Bay's development camp. Both players are under contract for the 09-10 season, Dmitri with Gagarin Cup champions of Ak Bars Kazan and Denis with Amur Khabarovsk.

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  2010 Tampa's development camp will probably feature Denis Kazionov (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Dmitri Kazionov (Tampa Bay Lightning) as the two forwards have been invited. The camp will run from July 8th to 15th at the St. Pete's Times Forum.

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Continental Hockey League (KHL) -  In January 9th KHL games Igor Mirnov (Ottawa Senators) scored two goals for his Metallurg Magnitogorsk as they beaten Traktor Chelyabinsk 4-2. Vasily Koshechkin (Tampa Bay Lightning) plays well, but Lada loses to Dinamo Riga 2-0 at home (KHL Boxscores) READ MORE

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Super League -  19 prospects (13 properties of NHL teams, 4 undrafted and 2 2008 elegible) were iced in the Ak Bars - Metallurg contest held in Kazan for the third round of the Superleague. The number could be even greater but injuries have kept Sergei Zinovjev (Boston Bruins) and Vladimir Malenkykh (Pittsburgh Penguins) off of the ice. Tampa Bay's Vasily Koshechkin (Tampa Bay Lightning) (Tampa Bay Lightning) is Ak Bars' starter, as the club’s other goalie Mikka Noronen (former Buffalo and Vancouver backup goaltender) was out of action with a broken collar bone. Grigori Shafigulin was Bilyaletdinov's replacement for the injured Zinoviev on the famous ZZM (Zaripov – Zinovjev – Morozov) first line. READ MORE

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Russian Super League -  Find out more about the changes that took place within last season's top four clubs in the Super League. Some such as Avangard Omsk and Metallurg Magnitogorsk have strived to stay on the same trek. Others, such as the league's favorite Ak Bars Kazan that is known for the high flying Morozov - Zinovjev - Zaripov line, coped with some significant changes. Finally CSKA has significantly strengthened the roster despite losing a couple of talented players. READ MORE

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Russian national team is currently preparing for the last leg of the EuroTour competiton, the Sweden Games and has run into a serious problem between the pipes. It appears that the squad will have to make due without its three top goaltending choices for the tournament. Vasily Koshechkin (Tampa Bay Lightning) will miss the tournament after requesting the time off from Russia’s head coach Vyacheslav Bykov due to physical and mental fatigue after handling the starting responsibilities for his Russian club, HC Lada, as well as for the national team. The starting job appears to now fall to Konstantin Barulin (St. Louis Blues). READ MORE

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Karjala Cup (EuroTour) -  Detailed recap and scouting analysis of Russia's Karjala Cup victory over the Czech Republic. This game secured Russia's positon at the top of the EuroTour rankings and helped the team win the Karjala Cup. READ MORE

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Super League -  Ak Bars (Kazan) appears to be back on the hunt after a convincing victory against HC Traktor. Once struggling HC Metallurg found a new scoring line with newcomer Albert Vishnyakov (Tampa Bay Lightning) on one of the wings. The young prospect assisted on both goals, making it three points for him in last two games (all assists). Alexander Korolyuk delivered his best game of the season, scoring no goals…but assisting on four of his team’s five! Igor Volkov (New York Islanders) added his lucky #13 goal of the season, while Alexei Tereschenko (Dallas Stars) struck in overtime to lead Salavat Yulayev past SKA. Ivan Tkachenko (Columbus Blue Jackets) seems to have reawakened recently, scoring two goals in this contest, making it three in last two games for a player who had just 4 tallies in first 33 games of the season. READ MORE

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World Championships -  Team Russia coaching staff has announced the final roster that will compete at the World Championships in Moscow:

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GOALIES: Alexander Eremenko , Vasily Koshechkin (Tampa Bay Lightning)

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DEFENSEMEN: Sergei Gonchar (Pittsburgh Penguins), Andrei Markov (Montreal Canadiens), Vitaliy Atyushov (Ottawa Senators), Denis Grebeshkov (New York Islanders), Alexei Emelin (Montreal Canadiens), Maxim Kondratiev (Anaheim Mighty Ducks), Ilya Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers), Vitali Proshkin ;

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FORWARDS: Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins), Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers), Alexander Radulov (Nashville Predators), Alexander Frolov (Los Angeles Kings), Alexander Kharitonov , Danis Zaripov , Sergei Zinovjev (Boston Bruins), Nikolai Kulemin (Toronto Maple Leafs), Alexei Morozov (Pittsburgh Penguins), Ivan Nepriayev (Washington Capitals), Petr Schastlivy (Phoenix Coyotes)

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World Championships -  RUSSIA - AUSTRIA - 4:3 (1:0, 1:1, 2:2).
April 24th, 2007 - Moscow
GOALS:
- 1:0 Schastlivyy (Kharitonov, 6.10, sh),
- 2:0 Frolov (31.32, pp),
- 2:1 Zettsinger (36.03),
- 2:2 Lukas (Kharand, 44.37),
- 2:3 Ulrikh (Zettsinger, 49.52, pp),
- 3:3 Nikulin (Zinovev, 54.45, pp),
- 4:3 Frolov (Koltsov, Kaygorodov, 58.48).
THREE STARS: Frolov, Zettsinger, Schastlivyy.
RUSSIA (16): Eremenko (Barulin, 30.14); Nikulin (2) - Proshkin, Atyushov (2) - Grebeshkov (2), Emelin - Kondratev (2), Markov - Koltsov (4); Morozov - Zinovev - Zaripov, Frolov - Kaygorodov - Ovechkin (2), Mikhnov (2) - Schastlivyy-k - Kharitonov, Kulemin - Nepryaev - Mozyakin.
AUSTRIA (18+2 Team Penalty): Brukler (Divis, 30.14); R. Lukas - Rebek, Ulrikh (2) - Unterlyuggauyr, A.Lakos - Styuart (2), Matti - F.Lakos (2); Zettsinger (2) - Kokh - Uylser, Tratting (2) - F.Lukas - K.Kharant (2), Shuller (6) - Divis - Baumgartner, Payntner - Peval - P.Kharand.
SHOTS: 23 (5, 6, 12) - 23 (6, 10, 7).
GAME NOTES: Konstantin Barulin (St. Louis Blues) put on a shaky showing for the national team, allowing all three goals against Austria. At the same time, Alexander Eremenko was quite solid and will likely backup Vasily Koshechkin (Tampa Bay Lightning) at the World Championships. Alexander Frolov (Los Angeles Kings) and Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) skated on the second line with Alexei Kaigorodov (Phoenix Coyotes) at center. Frolov scored two goals, while Ovechkin still looked a bit out of place. Interestingly, Kiril Koltsov (Vancouver Canucks) skated with Andrei Markov (Montreal Canadiens) on the second defensive pairing, which will hopefully give the young defenseman some additional experience prior to making another attempt at the NHL this summer.

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Russian Super League -  Artem Anisimov (New York Rangers) continues to perform well for HC Lokomotiv, adding his third goal of the playoffs as his club bounced back to beat favored HC Avangard 4:3. Alexey Cherepanov and Grigory Shafigulling also tallied in the cotest and Semen Varlamov (Washington Capitals) was replaced by veteran Yegor Podomatsky , who led his team to victory. Alexei Morozov (Pittsburgh Penguins) missed another game due to the flu, but HC Ak Bars is not a one trick pony and Dmitri Kazionov (Tampa Bay Lightning), as well as Danis Zaripov picked up the slack. HC CSKA bounced back from embarrassing first game loss, beating Salavat Yulayev behind strong play from Sergei Shirokov (Vancouver Canucks) and Konstantin Korneev (Montreal Canadiens). READ MORE

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Russian Super League -  Talented 86 born forward Nikolai Kulemin (Toronto Maple Leafs) scored his club leading 27th goal of the season, leading HC Metallurg (Magnitogorsk) to victory. Defenseman Denis Grebeshkov (New York Islanders) continued his scoring streak, adding a goal and an assist in the victory against HC MVD. Tampa Bay Lightning late round 2006 selection Denis Kazionov (Tampa Bay Lightning) finally scored his first goal of the season, capping off a disappointing sophomore Super League campaign. Vladislav Evseev (Boston Bruins) is another struggling prospect who has begun to get more ice time with HC Dynamo and also found the net after two years of struggles, scoring his first of the season. READ MORE