MOSCOW, May 27 (RIA Novosti) – The victory of Russian team at the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship is significant for the development of hockey and other sports within the country, President Vladimir Putin said during a prize-giving ceremony for team members in the Kremlin.
“Our triumph in Minsk is very important for promoting hockey and sport within the country,” Putin said.
He underlined that with its superb performance, the team made a contribution to the victorious traditions of Russian hockey. The Russian president underlined that the sportsmen defeated their rivals despite the numerous injures they had suffered in the course of the championship.
Putin said that one of the main problems of the Russian national team was lack of coordination between the players from different clubs, but by the time the world cup started, the issue had been resolved. The president congratulated the new coach of the team, Oleg Znarok, on the accomplishment and expressed hope that the team will repeat this success in 2016, when the tournament will be held in Russia.
On Sunday, Russia defeated Finland 5-2 in the finals of the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk to be crowned the world’s best hockey team for the fourth time in the last seven years.
