14.03.2014 Russia will compete for the gold medal of the Paralympic Games

“What a super-game of Russia with Norway!!! I watched it live on the Internet. You definitely have silver medals. Andnowyoucancompeteforthe goldmedal. Iwishityourteam. Unfortunately Konstantin Shikhov did not make any goal in this match but I am sure that he will have such opportunity. IwillkeepmyfingerscrossedforRussianteaminSaturday“What a super-game of Russia with Norway!!! I watched it live on the Internet. You definitely have silver medals. Andnowyoucancompeteforthe goldmedal. Iwishityourteam. Unfortunately Konstantin Shikhov did not make any goal in this match but I am sure that he will have such opportunity. IwillkeepmyfingerscrossedforRussianteaminSaturday. They deserved this gold medal!” – Jakob Wolf, forward of the national sledge hockey team of Germany wrote in Facebook of sledge hockey club “Ugra”. “What a super-game of Russia with Norway!!! I watched it live on the Internet. You definitely have silver medals. And now you can compete for the gold medal. I wish it your team. Unfortunately Konstantin Shikhov did not make any goal in this match but I am sure that he will have such opportunity. I will keep my fingers crossed for Russian team in Saturday. They deserved this gold medal!” – Jakob Wolf, forward of the national sledge hockey team of Germany wrote in Facebook of sledge hockey club “Ugra”. It was really difficult to hold emotions after the match between Russia and Norway. It was necessary to win this match in order to come through to the final and our guys won. They did the impossible. All Russian people are proud of them! On March 13 in the semi-final the debutants of the Paralympic Games Russian sledge hockey players beat the team-favorite which had medals of all four Paralympic Games (one gold medal and three silver medals) without scoring a point. Russian sledge hockey players began the first period well; they attacked actively. Almost the whole match took place at Norway home. There were only two or three shoots to our net. At the sixth minute DmitriyLisov made the first goal after Konstantin Shikhov’s pass. Two minutes before the end of the first period the battle took place in the opponent’s zone. Konstantin Shikhov got the puck over to AndreyDvinyaninov at the goalmouth and Andrey made the second goal to Norway net. In the second period the play of the teams was almost equal. Norway players increased their strength, leveled the play, and in one of the attacks, when our player was removed, Pederson appeared alone at the goalmouth with the puck. But Norway team could not make a goal after Pederson’s pass. Both teams attacked in this period. KostyaShikhov battled on each area of the field, won the puck, made a pass but luck failed him. He appeared face to face with the goaltender but he could not make a goal. Five players including KostyaShikhov were constantly near the opponent’s net. VasiliyVarlakov played the fourth game and he did not lose any battle. Sad mistake of the coaches – they made a mistake in the number of players and six Russian sledge hockey players appeared on ice. As a result our team played in the minority but it continued attacks. The score in the beginning of the third period was 2:0, our team won. And in this time one more goal had to be made in order to play calmly because hockey is an unpredictable game. Everyone was nervous because even preposterous puck could decide the play in another way. Five minutes later NikolayTerentiev came to the goalmouth after KostyaShikhov’s pass, passed two defensemen round and shot the puck! Thethirdgoal! And 36 second before the end of the match EvgeniyPetrov made the fourth goal from the middle of the field to the empty net of Norway team which changed a goaltender to the sixth player hoping to avoid whitewash. “It was a firm period; the teams played almost equally. We played better than in the second period when our team had much loss. VasiliyVarlakov played well two matches with VolodyaLitvinenko. Theyaredefensemenwhoplaytogetherverywell. And it could not be understood why Volodya did not play two matches in succession. He is one of the best defensemen in the team. – AleksandrZykov comments. – Russian team has a silver medal after today’s match, but they should set themselves up for the gold medal and win.” In the final Russian team will play with the team of the USA. “It was a momentous match. Our guys had already won the medals of the Paralympic Games. It was their first Paralympic Games and it will be remembered not only because it is held in our country but also for victory stand. Russia has made its contribution to sledge hockey. Each Russian player, who appeared on ice, obtained vast experience. Duringthesedaystheyannouncedthemselves. Allthecountryknowsthem. AndIamproudthatfoursledgehockeyplayersof “Ugra” teamplayedunselfishly, professionallyandwithcommitment. Every player made a goal at these Games. I am glad at their success because I know that they have deserved it, they have experienced much and their triumph hour has come. I am sure that in the last final match Russian sledge hockey players will gather and show perfect play, - Eduard Isakov, president of sledge hockey club “Ugra”, summarized.