Russia (bbabo.net), - On Wednesday, a "hockey flight" left Moscow for Beijing - our hockey players went to the capital of the Winter Olympics. Before leaving for China, Vladislav Tretyak, President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, met with the team.

Recall that Tretyak is a three-time Olympic champion, as well as a participant in nine hockey tournaments of the Winter Games (at four he acted as a player, at five he acted as a coach, general manager or head of a delegation).

How was the meeting with the national team?

Vladislav Tretyak: Taking into account the current situation in the video format. The national team has been in isolation all these days.

What did you talk about with the players and coaches?

Vladislav Tretiak: The conversation turned out to be meaningful. I voiced my parting words to the team for the Olympics. He supported the athletes, stressed that it was a great honor to be included in the main hockey tournament of the planet. All hockey players of our team are great masters, elite level players, they are able to achieve the highest results. The players, and especially the coaches, have a very big responsibility. The team goes to Beijing in the status of the current Olympic champion, the team is obliged to defend the title. There are no other tasks.

What is needed for success?

Vladislav Tretyak: The main thing is that each game should go as well as possible, so that during the tournament everyone will manage without illnesses and injuries. To achieve victories at the international level, a lot of work is required. I have no doubt that the dedication of the players will be at the highest level. They are well aware that the whole huge country will follow their performances at the Olympics.

And what is the mood in the team, told reporters forward "Vanguard" Arseniy Gritsyuk, who, by the way, was recognized as the best newcomer to the KHL in January of this year.

How were the last days before the flight to Beijing?

Arseniy Gritsyuk: We worked, trained, worked out combinations in links. Hard training, high loads. There was no time for anything other than to train and relax.

How do you rate this three-cycle camp - is it like a second pre-season for you?

Arseniy Gritsyuk: In terms of workload - yes, I can say that it was like the second pre-season. Everyone gave their best, everyone tried to prove themselves. There were three tight cycles, and I think that everyone will fit in the optimal form.

Head coach of the national team Aleksey Zhamnov said that in Beijing you can no longer really train, because the base was laid in Novogorsk.

Arseniy Gritsyuk: Yes, we worked more on such elements as "physics", the emphasis was on this. I think he said everything correctly.

You worked in training with team captain Vadim Shipachyov, he praised you.

Arseniy Gritsyuk: I haven't heard it, but it's very nice that the guys speak like that. Nice to be on such a team. You know them all from the game, once looked at them, and now they are in the same team... Indescribable emotions. We need to learn from the strongest in the league, I want to catch something from everyone.

For example, someone has a very good throw, I watch how the guys throw, how they hit. You pay attention to such details that you yourself cannot work out: you watch how the guys do it, and you try to do it yourself in training.

Were there any theoretical classes, or is it already in Beijing?

Arseniy Gritsyuk: Every day we watch training videos for 20-30 minutes, sort out the details, little things. Someone is prompted individually, but basically these are general meetings. We analyze each other's game, look at what we are doing wrong or where, on the contrary, we are doing everything right. I think with every workout we add in those details.

President of the Russian Hockey Federation Vladislav Tretyak admitted that he expects only victory from our team: "There can be no other tasks"

Is this different from what you do in clubs?

Arseniy Gritsyuk: In the clubs we move from game, before each new game we analyze our previous game and the opponent's game, but here there is no such flow of games, so we have to analyze training sessions. For me, this is a familiar step. Video meetings harden your thinking.

Do you have teammates in other national teams, can you keep in touch with someone?

Arseniy Gritsyuk: Yes, and with Shimon Grubets, and with Peter Tseglarik, and with Korben Knight. For Knight, this is also a big challenge, he is the first time in such competitions in the national team, I want to support him. He went to this for a long time, and I am very happy for him. Of course, we communicate, I ask how they are doing, and I look forward to the games. I would like to meet on the ice.

Who would you like to play against in the final?

Arseniy Gritsyuk: I don't want to guess, I would play with anyone.Can you imagine what an unusual Olympics it will be? This has never happened and probably never will again. The most important thing is not to contact anyone, to live only in your own building, as the Chinese team does. Are you ready to reduce contacts to a minimum, although it is clear that the Olympics should be a celebration of communication?

Arseniy Gritsyuk: Of course, we don't imagine such conditions yet, for us this is also a small challenge, a test, one might say. I think we have a good team, we ourselves communicate with each other, and, in principle, this communication is enough for us.

What are three things you will definitely take with you to Beijing?

Arseniy Gritsyuk: Stick, mask and tablet. Oh, and a good mood too.

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