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U20 World Junior Championships -  As Alexander Zalivin got a serious arm injury during a training session at the WJC preparation camp in Novogorsk, coach Vladimir Plyuschev called to the camp 19 years old Alexander Pechursky (Pittsburgh Penguins). He's expected to join the team on friday. Let's remember that the other goalkeepers taken into considerations for the tournament are Ramis Sadikov , Igor Bobkov (Anaheim Mighty Ducks) and Alexei Trifonov.

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  In the 2009 NHL Entry Draft a total of seven players has been picked up by different NHL clubs. Here follows a list:

14. Florida Panthers - Dmitry Kulikov
55. Washington Capitals - Dmitri Orlov
76. Anaheim Ducks - Igor Bobkov
78. St. Louis Blues - Sergei Andronov
109. Montreal Canadiens - Alexander Avtsin
122. New York Islanders - Anton Klementyev
200. New York Rangers - Mikhail Pashnin

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World Championships -  In the second match team Russia played in Austria against the local National team, head coach Vyacheslav Bykov decided to give more room to the youngsters. If in the first match Evgeni Dadonov (Florida Panthers) and Igor Makarov (Chicago Blackhawks) were left out from the lineup, friday they played a nice role on the team and replied with great perfomances, with the other youngsters who were dressed in the first match, Maxim Goncharov (Phoenix Coyotes) and Andrei Zubarev (Atlanta Thrashers). Also Konstantin Korneev (Montreal Canadiens) was part of the match, but he's a regular with team Russia for the last three years.

It was Maxim Goncharov (Phoenix Coyotes) the one who had the honor of opening the dancing with a big slapshot after a won faceoff in the offensive zone. Maxim Kondratiev (Anaheim Mighty Ducks) made it 2-0 with another big time slapper in the dying seconds for the first period.

After two minutes of the middle period Igor Makarov (Chicago Blackhawks) deflected in a great centering pass by Evgeni Dadonov (Florida Panthers) from the right circle. Three minutes later Andrei Zubarev (Atlanta Thrashers), with a nice top shelf wristshot, finalized a great, quick combination in the offensive zone that seen the puck travelling from Radulov, to Gorovikov and to Atlant's player very quickly

And it was again Zubarev who, with a great breakout pass from the own zone launched Radulov on a quick counter attack free to score the 5-0 goal.

Prospect shined again after goals coming from Maxim Rybin (assisted by Konstantin Korneev (Montreal Canadiens)) and Denis Kulyash (Nashville Predators), Evgeni Dadonov (Florida Panthers) scored Russia's eigth goal, deflecting in a slap shot by Vitaliy Atyushov (Ottawa Senators), who was assisted by Andrei Zubarev (Atlanta Thrashers).

Russia's next commitment will be the Euro Hockey Tour last stage in the Czech Republic.

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  20 years old Viktor Tikhonov (Phoenix Coyotes) scored his first NHL double in tonight's game against the Calgary Flames. The Coyotes were down 7-3 late in the third period, when Tikhonov deflected a blue line slap shot by Keith Yandle. Three minutes later he further cut down the opponents' lead with a nice wrist shot from the right, being nicely feeded by Todd Fedoruk.
Early in the match he assisted on Coyotes' second goal, scored by Daniel Winnik. Viktor has been named third star of the match. Ilya Bryzgalov (Anaheim Mighty Ducks) played his 16th consecutive match. READ MORE

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U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament -  In the traditional summer tournament for under-18 national team, dedicated to the memory of the first European ever to coach in the NHL Ivan Hlinka, Team Russia clinched a silver medal, losing in the finals against Canada 8-4 in Piestany, Slovakia. Russia hasn't won at this tournament since 1995. However, this time, Team Russia had to skate in the tournament without one of the brightest prospects of 1991 team, Semen Valuiski, because of an injury he suffered earlier in the summer. (Detailed tournament recap by Alessandro Seren Rosso exclusively for RussianProspects.com) READ MORE

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U20 World Junior Championships -  REGINA – With a 5-2 victory over the Czech Republic on New Year's Eve, Russia wrapped up second place in Group B. Russia advances to a quarter-final meeting with Switzerland on January 2, while the Czechs are doomed to play in the Relegation Round. Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals for Russia, while Igor Bobkov (Anaheim Mighty Ducks) made 39 saves. (IIHF Official site article by Lucas Aykroyd) READ MORE

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U20 World Junior Championships -  Thanks to a great performance by goalie Igor Bobkov (Anaheim Ducks) and a couple of moments from Nikita Filatov (Columbus Blue Jackets), Plyuschev's Team Russia got the best of the Finns with a minimal effort. In spite of a 46-saves shut out Bobkov hasn't been named player of the match, honors that instead went to Filatov. After this 2-0 victory Russia is now on the top of the standings staying perfect, with Sweden, who has got 6 points too. The teams are going to meet tonight. (Exclusive RussianProspects.com game report by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

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U20 World Junior Championships -  It wasn't Russia's best possible display, but nevertheless the first win arrived. Plyuschev's team concentrated most of its performance in the first period as they scored four goals, just to control the pace of the game in the remaining two periods, finished with one goal each. Goalkeeper Igor Bobkov (Anaheim Ducks) hasn't had too much work, he ended the game with fourteen saves. Evgeny Kuznetsov was the best player on ice as he scored two goals. Kirill Petrov (New York Islanders), Vladimir Tarasenko, Maxim Chudinov and Maxim Trunev (Montreal Canadiens) each added one goal, while Nikita Filatov (Columbus Blue Jackets) has been left out of the scoresheet (Russianprospects.com exclusive game report by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix Coyotes), 29, started playing hockey when he was two years old in his hometown of Togliatti. He played in the house and out in the streets with a puck and stick his father and godfather made in a local factory. "I always play with older kids," Bryzgalov said. "They usually put me in the net because I was youngest." (AZCentral.com article by Sarah McLellan) READ MORE

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U20 ADT Can-Rus Challenge -  U-20 national team head coach Vladimir Plyuschev released the list of the players which will compete in the 2009 Canada - Russia Challenge that will take part from November 16th to 27th and will see the Russians show up in Canada against three representation teams from the three Major Junior Hockey Leagues. The most interesting players called are Dmitry Kugryshev (Washington Capitals), Kirill Petrov (New York Islanders), Alexander Burmistrov and Igor Bobkov (Anaheim Mighty Ducks). (full roster list) READ MORE

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U18 World Junior Championships -  In the unique test match planned in the USA prior the WJC Under 18, Plyuschev's team Russia beaten Switzerland 7-3. The team led by Kirill Kabanov did fairly well, being up 7-1 until the first five minutes of the match. A couple of late goals by the opponents set the final result at 7-3. Kabanov finished the match with three points (1+2), but also Kirill Yuriev , Alexander Burmistrov , Evgeny Kuznetsov , Vladimir Tarasenko and Dmitri Orlov had a multipoints performance. Igor Bobkov 's play has been okay till the last few minutes, finishing with sixteen saves in nineteen shots faced. (Game's boxscore) READ MORE

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U20 ADT Canada Russia Challenge -  Vladislav Evseev has continued his renaissance, scoring a pair of goals against his former club HC Dynamo. HC Khimik destroyed HC CSKA behind a strong performance by Sergei Mozyakin (Columbus Blue Jackets). Maxim Kondratiev (Anaheim Mighty Ducks) collected his first goal since returning from North America. Anton Babchuk (Carolina Hurricanes) collected his 8th goal of the season. Lokomotiv lost despite getting goals from Alexei Yashin and Alexei Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers). Oleg Piganovich collected two assists, continuing his Rookie of the Year caliber season and was a big reason why Traktor one. 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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