To the sixth match of the series with the teams of the Canadian hockey league(CHL) Russian youth team under the control of Valery Bragin, she came up with two victories and three defeats.
Losing in the first game to the Western Hockey League (WHL) team with a humiliating score of 0:7 and losing to it 0:3 in the second match, the Russian young hockey players managed to turn the tide of the game and revenged themselves with the branded "Bragin" comeback - 4:3.
Then the Russian junior team took the lead in the series, outplaying the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with a score of 5:2, but failed to consolidate their success, having suffered a defeat in the second leg - 2:4.
In the first match against the team of the Quebec Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Bragin's wards were beaten with a score of 1: 3, and therefore for the overall victory in the Super Series, which would be the fourth in history for the Russians, the youth team had to win the sixth match in regular time in order to equalize points, and then win the shootout.
If in the first five matches of the series the score was invariably opened by Canadian peers, then this time a bunch of forwards from St. Petersburg SKA-1946 worked before Russia conceded.
In the 9th minute of the game, Altybarmakyan delivered the puck to his partner in the face-off circle, and he shot from a fairly sharp angle without a chance for Rowan-Noranda Huskies goalkeeper Samuel Harvey.
True, the Canadians in a corporate manner immediately pressed, and the Russian team could not withstand the onslaught. First, he helped his goalkeeper and knocked out the puck that had already flown under the bar, but in the next attack, the Canadians' shot with the help of a rebound turned out to be effective.
This two-minute segment was the only truly successful for the hosts in the first period. The rest of the time, Bragin's wards attacked more and much more dangerously, but before the first siren, the score did not change anymore.
In the second 20-minute game turned around, as is often the case in hockey that is not yet quite adult, by 180 degrees. Already the Quebec team hung on the Russian gates, and worked hard, making one save after another.
Harvey had much less work to do, but he also showed that he was concentrated, winning several duels against the forwards after the Russian team counterattacked.
The third period, according to all the laws of the genre, turned out to be double-edged. Both goalkeepers saved their teams more than once, but a draw after an hour of playing time suited the Canadians for an overall victory in the series on points.
The hosts lacked less than three minutes. On the 58th Vitaly and, who won silver as part of the Russian national team at the last youth championship of the world, ran together to one defender and Harvey, and Abramov drove the puck into the net.
Replacing the goalkeeper with a sixth outfield player, the Canadian team almost equalized the score, but Melnychuk was helped by the crossbar.
Since both Russian and Canadian young hockey players won three matches in regular time in the series, the overall winner was determined by the rules of the shootout, in which each team had to perform five tries.
Goalkeepers acted perfectly here too, reflecting four shots, but Melnichuk failed in the middle of the series with an attempt by one of the leaders of the Quebec league team, and in the last attempt, the Russians missed the target.
However, despite the 11th defeat in history against the Canadians with only three victories, the results of the Youth Super Series can be assessed quite positively.
The current convocation of the younger generation Russian hockey players showed his combat readiness against the background of Canada, which, as always, will be one of the main favorites for the December-January World Cup.
Bragin's team had all the hallmarks of a typical youth team run by this coach: an excellent first line, excellent attacks on the move, the ability to endure and show character with fighting qualities, as well as cool goalkeepers at the last frontier.
Well, for a bunch of Poghosyan - Altybarmakyan it will be especially interesting to watch now in the MFM mode. Both of these forwards show great promise.
If we recall that we lost the last two series against the Canadian youth teams without much chance 1-5 in 2015 and 2-4 in 2016), now the impressions of the confrontation are almost victorious.
In the end, Russia and Canada this time were separated only by a series of post-match shootouts, and this is very, very little. Before the World Youth Championship, Valery Bragin laid a solid foundation.
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Bragin's team is testing itself before the World Youth Championship.
On the night of November 7, the season starts in Saskatchewan for the Russian team of players no older than 20 years old. The match against the WHL team will open the 15th Super Series of youth teams of Russia and Canada.
Hockey. Youth teams. Super Series Russia - Canada. 1st match
The maple leaf country tour is usually used to prepare for the main start - the youth world championship. In mid-November, raw material appears before the eyes of the audience, and after a couple of weeks it becomes clear whether to expect a New Year's gift from this band. Not everyone will fly to Buffalo: a year ago, Bragin left only 14 people. Largely due to such training in combat conditions, Russia has been awarded the MFM for 7 years in a row. But the Russian youth team does not indulge fans with victories in the Super Series itself. Of the 14 previous tournaments, she won only three. There are three rival teams: the Western League team - WHL, the Ontario league - OHL, and Quebec - QMJHL. OHL is the most fierce - they lost only 5 times with 23 wins. WHL has 19 wins and 9 losses, QMJHL has 16 to 12.
Bragin has guys who can beat the Canadians. Goalkeeper Vladislav Sukhachev (Chelmet) and defender Egor Zaitsev (Dynamo Moscow) remained from last year's squad. The stars of the last season of the MHL Andrey Altybarmakyan (SKA-Neva) and Artem Manukyan (Avangard) should light up the attack, hopes are pinned on German Rubtsov (Shikutimi Sagenins, QMJHL) and Vitaly Abramov (Gatineau Olympics, QMJHL) who also have Super Series experience. In total, the team included two players from the WHL, three from the OHL and three from the QMJHL, so Valery Bragin will not lack information about all three opponents.
Unfortunately, Andrei Svechnikov and Grigory Dronov will not play - such help in attack and defense would be very useful, but the first broke his arm in Barry Colts, and the second was injured in the match for Magnitogorsk.
Previously, the Russian team moved from East to West, but since 2014 the route has turned upside down. The first opponent will be the WHL team. Dylan Dube (Calowna Rockets) was appointed captain of this team, who managed to score 12 (8 + 4) points in 10 matches. He was supposed to participate in last year's series, but could not due to injury. But his assistant, defender Cale Klug (Brandon Wheat Kings) participated not only in the past, but also in the tournament before last. Another mate Jake Bean (Calgary Hitmen) took silver at the 2017 MFM. Also, Bragin's guys should be wary of Brett Howden (Moose Joe Warriors), selected by Tampa in the 2016 Draft in the first round. Once upon a time his older brother Quinton patted Russian team, and now the younger one is determined to follow in his footsteps.
Traditionally, the most unpleasant opponent for the Russian team is waiting in the third and fourth matches. Vegas prospect Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack) could be in big trouble. Over 16 games, he scored an unthinkable 28 (10 + 16) points and is already considered one of the most successful acquisitions of the 2017 draft. By the way, in the first match of the OHL team, he will play on native ice- there is especially worth expecting danger from him. Also noteworthy are Winnipeg-owned Logan Stanley (Kitchener Rangers), future bluesman Robert Thomas (London Knights) and pilot Morgan Frost (St. Mary Greyhounds).
The QMJHL is usually considered the weakest of the three CHL leagues, but a year ago, its team left no chance for the tired Russians, beating them twice 4-0 and 4-1. So don't underestimate Francophones. Pierre-Olivier Joseph (Charlottetown Islanders) demonstrates good scorer performance for a defender with 9 assists in 15 games. He is actively monitored by the Arizona coaching staff. Maxime Comtua (Victoriaville Tigers) stands out from the attackers. In addition, there are leaders current rating juniors Jared McIsaac and Benoit-Olivier Groux (both Halifax Mooseheads). Dominique Ducharme will coach this team for the third time, and so far he has lost to the Russian team only once. By the way, at the upcoming World Cup, he will again lead the Canadian team, so it will be especially interesting for him to see what the new team Bragin.
Don't expect the guys to tear the Canadians apart in five or six games. This has never happened, but there are several reverse examples. Four wins will be for happiness. Six-match away series, and for most of the team on another continent in an unusual time zone, this is much harder than the two matches at home that each Canadian team will play. Yes, and preparing for one team is much easier than preparing for three at once. The main goal is to prepare for the MFM, and if Bragin manages to take gold again in Buffalo, then no one will remember the results of the Super Series. Only here in last time Russia became the champion just after winning the tour of Canada.
After two meetings with the WHL team, in which each of the teams won once, the Russian team moved to the Canadian North Bay, where it had to fight the Ontario League (OHL) team.
The two previous meetings have provided great food for thought. coaching staff our team led by Valery Bragin. If in the first match the Russians still managed to break the opponent's resistance and snatch victory in overtime, then the second meeting was a small slap in the face and ended with the victory of the WHL team with a score of 4:1.
From the composition that Bragin has, Dmitry Sokolov (Sudbury Wolves), (Ottawa 67) and Nikita Korostelev (Sarnia Sting) are familiar with the Ontario League.
The Russians only had time to part, and the Canadians, 15 seconds later, had already sold too much. A cool combination was played by Jordan Kairu, and.
After the missed puck, Bragin's squad concluded that the removals would not benefit the team, and until the end of the first period, none of our more on the penalty box was sent. However, the Russian team also failed to take advantage of the opponent's penalty, but, despite this, our team went to the break with an advantage in the score.
Four minutes before the end of the first period, Pavel Karnaukhov brought Rubtsov to a nickel, Herman outplayed the goalkeeper, paused and sent the puck into the already empty net.
The second 20-minute came out goalless, but rich in hard clashes.
After the break, the Canadians ran forward, but they failed to open the gate again. Even two penalty minutes didn't help the Ontario team. However, the Russians did not take advantage of the opponent's two removals.
First, for a tough reception against his penalty time, he went to serve. And then, after playing for a short time in equal compositions, Jivani Smith decided to make a two-minute pause. The Russians could not increase their advantage, and before the third period the scoreboard was still the same: 2:1 in favor of Russia.
The beginning of the third 20-minute was very similar to the beginning of the meeting.
In the 47th minute, the Russians increased their advantage to two goals: Kirill Belyaev picked up the puck lost by the opponents behind his own goal and backhanded backhanded to Dmitry Sokolov, who rolled onto a nickel from behind the back of the defender. Forward in one touch ferried the projectile into the gates of Cormier.
After that, the game went on a collision course exactly until the moment when our team was left alone on the ice. First, Lee left, and after forty-plus seconds, he was joined.
The OHL team simply could not use such a gift. All the same Kairu and Tippett this time organized a goal for Adam Maskerin - 2:3. Against the backdrop of this success, efforts
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