KASATONOV: RUSSIA NEEDS PEOPLE WHO WORKED IN NHL

The two-time Olympic champion Alexey Kasatonov believes that Russian hockey team needs to strengthen the coaching staff for Sochi-2014 preparations.


Prolific defenceman and current head coach of Krylya Sovetov Alexey Kasatonov watched majority of Olympic hockey tournament matches from the stands of Canada Hockey palace.

"Naturally we need some time to analyze mistakes which were made in Vancouver, in order to avoid them on the team’s preparations for Sochi-2014", Kasatonov said. "I suppose that it’s necessary to strengthen the coaching staff. To my mind we need to involve people, who played and worked in NHL".

"Bykov and Zakharkin lend credence to people after Russia’s two straight victories at the World championships. At bad times it’s necessary to unite and move forward and everyone should help each other, moreover when we talk about hockey".

"Besides reinforcement of the coaching staff, we need to analyze the situation concerning our closest reserves. Four-year term is a long period".

"Young American team is very ambitious and they didn’t feel so high pressure like Russian side. Everyone was waiting only gold medals from our players, taking into account that Ovechkin, Datsyuk and Malkin are one of the best players in the world nowadays".

"Unfortunately our weakest line – defence – worked badly in Vancouver".

"But again it’s a question of tactics and strategy. Defencemen needed help of forwards, while all links should have played as the united team".

"Situation ahead of quarterfinal match against Canada was not favouarble for Russia. Canada failed qualification stage and moved on to additional match against germany and they were angry about it".

"On the other hand this game made hosts more self-confident and they began the quarterfinal fight with maximum self-efficiency".

"Russian had a chance to make hockey as number one sport in our country. After our collapse in football people expected our hockey players to perform absolutely different".

"I communicate with our fans and I know that many of them left Vancouver after our team’s loss to Canada. It means that people like hockey and they are ready to invest money in its development. Youngsters will play hockey with pleasure".

"The main task now is to unite. We shouldn’t search for people, who are responsible for our failure".

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