Russia (bbabo.net), - Goalkeeper of the Russian national ice hockey team Ivan Fedotov is one of those to whom our team at the Olympics has a minimum of complaints. After the defeat in the final, the goalkeeper did not wear a silver medal and explained why.

Ivan, how did you feel about this game?

Ivan Fedotov: I felt good. The Finns played great, created traffic. The rebounds were in their favor, some garbage goals. They acted well in front of the goal, they created discomfort for us. Some one rebound decided the outcome of the whole match. It's hard to say something. But this is hockey.

Some win, others lose. Today we are on the wrong side. There is desolation. Moments like this are very rare. When you go to the goal and come so close. You understand that the chance is missed, it demotivates. Unpleasant emotional outburst. The Olympics are over, there's nothing to fix.

The coaches told us right. We had to use every opportunity. They may not exist anymore. Today we didn't play well enough, emotionally not right enough. Lost all and according to statistics. They threw more, blocked more, so everything probably turned out in their favor.

Describe the goals you conceded...

Ivan Fedotov: I didn't see the first goal. There were two players in front of me, a defender and a forward, and the puck flew well. Let him shoot like that again, I'm not sure that the puck would not have hit them, but would have flown past. Yes, I could play better. But the puck flew out so much that I simply did not expect and could not sit down in time. The second goal - a rebound from the shield. I wanted to take her with a trap so that there was no rebound, but she lightly changed the trajectory. And it turned out to be a fatal puck, which was hard to win back.

You said back in December that you have to be realistic. Like, if the NHL goes to Beijing, you have little chance of getting there. But here you are…

Ivan Fedotov: I am grateful to fate and to everyone that I had such a chance: to play, to bring the team to the final. It's worth a lot, a memory for life. It is not known whether I will be able to go to the Olympics again. Hope so. But then again, there are not many opportunities. We were very close, but it didn't work out.

Are you going to the NHL yourself?

Ivan Fedotov: Everyone has this dream. Our path is short, but at the same time long. The Olympics are over, it's hard to say something. I certainly gained confidence with this tournament. New skills, game. I think that this defeat gave more than a victory. Mentally and emotionally, no winner will get the same bitterness and emotions that the loser experiences.

Do you agree that you have reached a new level? And what did you learn at the Olympics?

Ivan Fedotov: As for the new level, it's not for me to decide, but for journalists and experts. At this Olympics, I mentally and psychologically acquired a new bar. The power that gives you an advantage over others, that makes you feel much more comfortable and at peace. Such tournaments, such emotions - these are lessons that no coach will give. None.

The medal is in your hands. Why didn't you put it on?

Ivan Fedotov: I didn't wear a medal because it's hard to accept it. This is our fruit, but it's hard to accept that the medal is not gold. I'm a maximalist, it's hard to accept defeat. I'll put it on, but a little later.

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