Russia Beats Finland Despite Open-Air Fears

© RIA Novosti . Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabankRussia Beats Finland Despite Open-Air Fears
Russia Beats Finland Despite Open-Air Fears          - Sputnik International
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Russia’s win over Finland in an open-air Euro Hockey Tour match came despite fears of injuries in the unfamiliar conditions and freezing temperatures, Russian coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov said Friday.

Russia’s win over Finland in an open-air Euro Hockey Tour match came despite fears of injuries in the unfamiliar conditions and freezing temperatures, Russian coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov said Friday.

Russia beat Finland 2-0 Thursday night in Oddset, Sweden to take the overall lead in the Tour.

“Frankly, I was worried about this match, that the lads, God forbid, would pick up injuries,” Bilyaletdinov said after the match.

“There’s an element of risk in these matches. But the situation was the same for everyone, for the Finns and for us. I told the lads before the game not to pay attention to the circumstances the team found themselves in.”

Temperatures at the match were around minus 18 degrees Celsius. “My hands froze a bit,” he said. “How did I keep warm? I was shouting.”

Russia forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, who scored his side’s first goal, said that he enjoyed playing outdoors, but would have liked a bigger attendance for the match.

“I liked it, very interesting. And you don’t get tired at all because you’re playing in the open air,” he said. “But it’s a shame that not many people came. I’d have liked packed stands.”

Russia will play its next match on Saturday against Sweden, the hosts of the LG Hockey Games, which make up the third stage of the Tour.

Russia will then play the Czech Republic on Sunday. The focus then shifts to the Czech Republic, where the final stage of the tour will take place in April.

 

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