New Year’s miracle of Russian hockey. Russia to smithereens smashed the Czechs in the match of life at the MFM
We remember how our youth team played on New Year’s Eve.
The matches of the Russian national team on New Year’s Eve at the World Youth Championship have become a new tradition for our fans. When the champagne is drunk, the salads are eaten, it’s time for young and daring compatriots to cheer at one of the brightest tournaments on the planet.
Since the coronavirus canceled everyone’s hockey holiday at the MFM-2022 in Canada, let’s remember how the Russian national team played on New Year’s Eve.
MCHM-2011, Russia – Czech Republic – 8: 3
Perhaps the most important and dramatic tournament in the history of Russian youth hockey. In 2011 in Buffalo our players made fans fall in love with them once and for all. But that legendary triumph and gold medals might not have happened. The Russian national team was brought to the tournament in America by Valery Bragin, for whom it was his debut as a mentor for the youth team.
And it all began, to put it mildly, not very joyfully. Russia lost the first two meetings at MFM-2011. At first, our two periods fought with the Canadians, but fell apart in the third 20-minute. And then they lost to the Swedes, failing to score a single goal. Only in the third game did Bragin’s wards manage to win the first victory in the tournament.
Before the final group stage, the Russians were hanging by a thread from relegation. It was necessary to bleed from the nose to defeat the Czechs on New Year’s Eve. Otherwise, a consolation tournament would have loomed. The tension was at its breaking point, and there was absolutely no certainty that everything would end well.
However, our team made a powerful claim to win in the first period. Orlov, Kuznetsov, Golubev and Tarasenko scored four goals against the Czechs. In the second 20 minutes, the beating of the opponent continued. The final 8: 3 gave the fans a boost of joy in the New Year. And what happened next is history.
Bragin’s team played three super dramatic playoff games. First, the Finns were beaten in overtime, then the Swedes were defeated in shootouts, and then the same final with Canada happened. The Russians lost 0: 3, and then scored five unanswered goals in the third period and brought the country the last gold medals of the youth world championship at the moment.
MCHM-1996, Russia – Germany – 8: 2
In other years, there were also many interesting things. The match with the Germans at the MFM-1996 on December 31 was the last and decisive one in the group stage of the Russian national team. The defeat would have left Igor Dmitriev’s wards out of the tournament. It would be an unprecedented failure for a team that included such people as Sergei Samsonov, Alexey Morozov, Dmitry Ryabykin, Alexander Korolyuk. Fortunately, our hockey players got together and destroyed Germany with a score of 8: 2. And the tournament ended with the third final place for the Russians.
MCHM-1999, Russia – Switzerland – 6: 0
The head coach Gennady Tsygurov brought Russia to the 1999 tournament, Peter Schastlivsky, Maxim Afinogenov, Vitaly Vishnevsky stood out in the lineup. Nevertheless, ours began MCHM-1999 with refusals from the Swedes. On New Year’s Eve, Tsygurov’s wards were to play with the Swiss. It was not a meeting of great tournament value, but ours understood that the whole country was watching them at the holiday tables and defeated the opponent with a score of 6: 0. By the way, the Russians won that world champion, and this was our first victory at the youth championships in the modern history of the country. …
MCHM-2003, Russia – Switzerland – 7: 5
In 2003, our hockey players came to the tournament in Canada in the status of reigning world champions. The Russians came to the final meeting of the group stage with victories in three matches. On a festive night, however, I had to tinker with the Swiss. The score 7: 5 speaks for itself. At least the fans that day were definitely not bored and did not want to sleep. Then, in the decisive match, the Russians defeated the Canadians and defended the world title.
MFM-2009, Russia – Sweden – 0: 5
The first defeat on New Year’s Eve happened in 2009, when the Swedes easily and naturally dealt with the Russian national team with a score of 5: 0. Vyacheslav Voinov, Stanley Cup Vyacheslav Voinov. Nikita Filatov also shone in those years at the youth level. However, the Swedes, which would-be NHL superstar Eric Karlsson played for, were simply stronger that day. Russia eventually reached the semifinals, where it lost 5: 6 to the Canadians in a dramatic struggle.
MCHM-2010, Russia – Czech Republic – 5: 2
A year later, the Russians decided not to anger the fans on New Year’s and confidently beat the Czech national team with a score of 5: 2. At the disposal of Vladimir Plushev then Vladimir Tarasenko (he scored a double in that game), Ivan Telegin, Alexander Burmistrov, Nikita Zaitsev, Dmitry Orlov. It’s a pity, but that tournament ended in failure. Russia sensationally lost to Switzerland in the quarterfinals and was eliminated from the World Cup.
MCHM-2012, Russia – Sweden – 3: 4 (OT)
In 2012, on New Year’s Eve, Bragin’s team had to play with the uncompromising Swedes. It all started fantastic. After two periods ours were leading 3-0, but then suddenly lost control of the game, conceded three goals, and then lost in overtime. The national team then reached the final, where they lost to the Swedes for the second time in the battle for gold – 0: 1.
MFM-2015, Russia – Czech Republic – 1: 4
The specificity of Bragin’s teams is not always an expressive performance at the group stage, and then a wonderful transformation in the playoffs. So in 2015, a familiar scenario was repeated. Russia started the meeting with the Czech Republic right after the chiming clock and lost with a score of 1: 4. As a result, ours got into the playoffs of the third place, but there they beat the Americans and Swedes. In the final, Russia almost bounced back with 1: 5 against the Canadians, but the gold still went to the rivals.
MFM-2017, Russia – Slovakia – 2: 0
In 2017, the Russian national team entertained fans on New Year’s Eve with a match with modest Slovaks. It was one of the most boring and uninteresting games in the history of the team under the leadership of Bragin. The Russians openly saved their strength and won with a modest score of 2: 0. The stars of that team were goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov and forward Kirill Kaprizov. And it all ended with a dramatic defeat from the United States in a shootout in the semifinals and bronze medals, gnawed in the confrontation with the Swedes.
MFM-2018, Russia – Sweden – 3: 4 (in shootouts)
Bragin, the Russian national team, the youth world champion, New Year’s Eve – this combination came together again at the MFM-2018. This time it was necessary to fight with the Swedes. Our team fought, but lost in the shootout with a score of 3: 4. And then they were eliminated in the quarterfinals from the US national team, for the first time under Bragin they were left without medals.
MFM-2019, Russia – Canada – 2: 1
At the 2019 World Youth Championship, the draw brought Russia and Canada together for the first time in the New Year. Despite not the most stellar line-up, the Russians went through the group stage famously. The cherry on top was the victory over the Canadians with a score of 2: 1. The Russian national team eventually returned to the top 3 youth hockey at the end of the tournament, but bronze medals are clearly not what fans, players and coaches hoped for.
