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We updated all WJC stats for team Russia. Be sure to check them out in the tournament section! (Link to tournament's page) READ MORE

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Team Russia's sixth place at the last WJC in Saskatchewan, Canada, was nothing short of a failure. It was the worst result of the team since 2001, when the team lead by Petr Vorobiev couldn't get any better than the seventh place on the home soil. That team, just like this one, wasn't short of talent, considering that the team's front men were the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers), Anton Volchenkov (Ottawa Senators) and Denis Grebeshkov (Edmonton Oilers). This year's roster included many talented players as well, like Nikita Filatov (Columbus Blue Jackets), Vladimir Tarasenko , Dmitri Orlov (Washington Capitals) and others, but the tournament didn't really finish like expected and team Russia was left out of the medal round after five straight apparitions. (RussianHockeyFans.com article by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

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SASKATOON – Finland exploited Russia's poor team discipline to prevail 4-3 in the fifth-place game on Monday at Credit Union Centre. Teemu Hartikainen scored the winner on the power play with under six minutes to play. Ramis Sadikov started between the pipes for Russia, while goals were scored by Maxim Trunev (Montreal Canadiens) and Alexander Burmistrov (two). (IIHF Official Site article by Lucas Aykroyd) READ MORE

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With a determinated performance and some help from luck, Team Switzerland knocked out Team Russia at the World Junior Championships. The Swiss will face Team Canada tomorrow at the tournament's semi-finals. Russian goals were scored by Vladimir Tarasenko and Kirill Petrov (New York Islanders). (Russianhockeyfans.com article by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

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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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REGINA - Sweden versus Russia, the game between the two top-seeded teams in Group B, was probably the most anticipated game slated for the Brandt Centre. And the Tuesday tilt lived up to its promise. Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson added the winner plus two assists and Andre Petersson had two goals as Sweden won 4-1. Kirill Petrov (New York Islanders) scored the lone goal for team Russia. (IIHF Official Site article by Martin Merk) READ MORE

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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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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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Team Russia will hit the stage at the WJC tonight in a match against team Austria. Team's head coach Vladimir Plyuschev opted to waive Dmitry Kugryshev (Washington Capitals), Alexander Pechursky (Pittsburgh Penguins), Kirill Yuriev and Mikhail Fisenko. (roster information) READ MORE

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It may have only been an exhibition contest, but the tiny nation of Latvia upset a powerhouse Russian squad 3-2 in overtime in an 2010 IIHF World Junior pre-tournament game in Swift Current on Monday.
Roberts Bukarts' second goal of the game, only 14 seconds into overtime, lifted Latvia past Russia in front of a pro-Latvia crowd at the Credit Union iplex. (The Southwest Booster article) READ MORE

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19 years old center Mikhail Fisenko, playing for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, has been added today to the WJC roster for Team Russia. Most likely he's going to take the spot of third line center as the team is a little bit thin in this position after the loos of Andrei Loktionov (Los Angeles Kings) due to an injury and Evgeni Grachev (New York Rangers), which wasn't released by his NHL team.

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Blue-chip prospect Alexander Burmistrov , in this interview with Andrei Osadchenko of allhockey.ru talks about his experience in the OHL, analyzes his chances in the upcoming WJC and tries to anticipate the tournament's outcome.
RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation. (RussianHockeyFans.com article by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

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Vladimir Plyuschev finally released the WJC final roster, days after Sweden and Canada. There aren't many surprises, if we consider that Vyacheslav Voinov (Los Angeles Kings) and Evgeni Grachev (New York Rangers) weren't released by their AHL clubs. The team's leader will be Nikita Filatov (Columbus Blue Jackets) (Columbus Blue Jackets), while other drafted players called include Maxim Trunev (Montreal Canadiens), Dmitry Kugryshev (Washington Capitals) and Dmitri Orlov (Washington Capitals). 2010 eligible top prospects Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexander Burmistrov are there too. (Roster information) READ MORE

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Russian forward Sergei Ostapchuk , who left Lokomotiv of the KHL to play for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL earlier this season, is denied by the IIHF from playing at the WJC which will take place in Saskatoon, says the official Russian Hockey Federation site. READ MORE

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After Evgeny Grachev and Vyacheslav Voinov (Los Angeles Kings), also Belarussian-born Sergei Ostapchuk has been left out of the WJC team, this time by the IIHF itself. This has been announced today directly by the National Junior team head coach Vladimir Plyuschev. Ostapchuk is the fifth player from the preliminary long list who won't skate at the WJC as we have to count also the injuries of Andrei Loktionov (Los Angeles Kings) and Alexander Zalivin. On the bright side, today the team has been joined by Anton Klementyev (New York Islanders).

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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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With an unexpected decision, Evgeni Grachev (New York Rangers) has been ruled out of the WJC by his NHL team. It's strange especially considering that he is yet to play a single NHL game. Here follows Grachev's thoughts about the situation. (Russianhockeyfans. com article by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

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2010 NHL Entry Draft Eligible Maxim Kitsyn scored four goals in six matches in the 2009 Subway Superseries. He talked about his performances in this challenge, his impressions of Canada and about his chances in the upcoming WJC in an interview with Sport Novokuznetsk.
RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation. (RussianHockeyFans.com article by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

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FHR website recently pubblished the list of the players called by Vladimir Plyuschev who will take part to the WJC Orientation camp and to the preparation matches that will be played in America against two different Team USA. The games will be played in August 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th in Lake Placid. The drafted players in the camp will be Anton Klementyev (New York Islanders) and Dmitry Kugryshev (Washington Capitals). Goalkeeper Alexander Pechursky (Pittsburgh Penguins) (Pittsburgh Penguins) has been called, but Metallurg Magnitogorsk asked and obtained to let the player train and prepare towards the new season with his home club. Nikita Filatov (Columbus Blue Jackets) (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers) (Florida Panthers) have been asked by their NHL teams not to join the camp, while Vyacheslav Voinov (Los Angeles Kings) (Los Angeles Kings) and Evgeni Grachev (New York Rangers) (New York Rangers) are out for injuries. (roster informations) READ MORE