6 DECEMBER Press — conference of the participants of the match on the Red Square |
|
Vladimir Kozhin, Mikhail Kusnirovich, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Vladislav Tretyak, Sergei Makarov, Paul Coffey, Viktor Tikhonov, Scotty Boumen and Tatiana Tarasova met with journalists on Wednesday, December 6th. Press conference in the demonstration hall of GUM was held three days before the hockey match on the Red Square between the combined teams of USSR/ Russia and the world. It was impossible not to sense the exquisiteness of the moment.
The Head of the department of Presidential affairs of Russia Vladimir Kozhin immediately declared, that such event did not pass beside the attention of Vladimir Putin, who personally authorized the organization of the skating rink on the Red Square near GUM. As a proof Kozhin even showed a document, signed by the President.
All the participants of the match, who hadn't gone on the pitch together for a long time, confirmed that they trained regularly, especially the Chairman of Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sports Vyacheslav Fetisov. «I am in a good form», — said the Olympic champion. «Twenty-five years passed since the combined team of USSR won the Cup of Canada. A group of five — Fetisov — Kasatonov, Makarov — Larionov — Krutov was formed exactly on that tournament». Therefore the match, according to Fetisov, is confined not only to the 60th anniversary of existence of native hockey and to the 50th anniversary of the first victory in the Olympic Games, but also to the 25th anniversary of the most memorable group of five in the history of the European hockey.
Igor Larionov, the leader of the legendary squad that met together for the first time over many long years, said that that match was not less than «one of the most important events» in his career. The names of other members, except the famous group of five, are not revealed yet even by coaches Viktor Tikhonov and Scotty Boumen, because not all those who wish to take part in this match are prepared physically. Andrei Homutov and Alexei Gusarov won't be able to perform because of the injuries.
The coach of the world team — great Boumen Scotty, who together with the Russians hockey-players Fetisov, Larionovm, Konstantinov, Fedorov and Kozlov won three Stanley Cup just in «Detroit», (and he has nine of them altogether), promised his presence on the match of Mark Messier. The Canadian didn't tell if Messier would play hockey on the Red Square. However, in view of the fact that the Boumen put on the skates for the first time in the last four years, it's possible to assume that Messier won't refrain and will skate along the Kremlin walls.
«Here in Moscow I put on the skates for the first time since 2002» — said Boumen. The Canadian coach made understand, that he was not going to lose that fantastic game: I remember a lot of cases, when Vladislav Tretyak who is present here and his partners did not let me win. I hope that this time occurs nothing of a kind«. The press conference partners of Boumen and his match opponents didn't suppose to lose verbal duel. In particular Vyacheslav Fetisov said that «the match will last three periods of 15 minutes of net time each — that is, exactly as much, as needed for our victory».
As for Vladislav Tretyak, who was mentioned even by Scotty Boumen in his remembrances, — considering all his modesty, the President of the Hockey Federation of Russia, as always, provoked a vivid interest both among the journalists and the occasional visitors of GUM, who hurried to get an autograph of the great goalkeeper. Tretyak ironically called his performance in defense «the highlight of the program» because «there is no time at all for trainings». Vladislav Alexandrovich hasn't stood in the gateway since 1988, but he agreed to play on a guard position: «I understand that Tretyak is a brand name, everyone wants to score me. But I will be a guard. I'll run as I'll be able to».
The match will be refereed by Nikolai Morozov, which was introduced by Mikhail Kusnirovich as the most principled referee he had ever known. By the end of the press conference the stands on the Red Square had already been built and one third of tickets had already been sold. The match will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, 9th of December.
