Boris Mikhailov: “Play hockey because it’s good”

Legendary domestic athletes, Olympic and world champions, CSKA players and coaching staff, together with the Rosneft company, gave the most joyful and unforgettable emotions to numerous fans of the most popular sports game in Russia. MK tells what was interesting and unexpected at Hockey Day at VDNKh.

The first day of December in Moscow turned out to be truly wintery. Light snow and light frost were invigorating, creating a joyful mood and a feeling of celebration for all VDNKh visitors. There were quite a few of them at one of the main attractions of our capital. And there was hardly any reason to be surprised by such a large number of people walking: on November 4, the international exhibition and forum “Russia” started here, where you can see all the main achievements of our vast country.

However, this was not the only holiday on the first day of winter. On December 1, our country celebrates Hockey Day, established in 2007 on the initiative of the legendary athlete, current president of the Russian Hockey Federation Vladislav Tretyak.

Hockey, and one can hardly argue with this, occupies a special place in our country. This game is loved by millions of fellow citizens. Largely thanks to the numerous victories of our famous hockey players at the most important international sports tournaments, Russian sport has gained unquestioned authority and respect throughout the world sports, and not only, community. And the legendary series of matches between the national teams of the USSR and Canada became the most striking example of how fair sports competition between outstanding athletes can melt the ice of mutual mistrust between great powers even in the most difficult moments of world history.

The fact that they decided to celebrate All-Russian Hockey Day in the oil company’s pavilion at VDNKh is by no means accidental. For 12 years now, Rosneft has been the owner of PHC CSKA. During this time, the team, continuing the glorious army traditions, regained its status as the strongest in the Russian championship. Over the past four years, CSKA has won the Gagarin Cup three times, in 2019, 2022 and 2023. As part of the national team, the team’s hockey players returned Olympic gold to Russia in 2018.

In December 2023, CSKA turns 77 years old. In honor of this, the largest oil company is holding a “Hockey Week” in its pavilion. From November 28 to December 3, everyone can not only see the main KHL hockey trophy – the Gagarin Cup, which is won by CSKA, but even take a photo next to it!

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Legendary domestic hockey players – Boris Petrovich Mikhailov, Sergei Fedorov, Pavel Bure, as well as the leaders and players of the army club came to the opening ceremony of the All-Russian Hockey Day.

By the time the solemn ceremony began, many hockey fans had gathered in the pavilion, among whom, and this is the most joyful thing, there were a lot of children who had the opportunity to see with their own eyes both the honored veterans and those who today defend the colors of the army club. And even the main award – the Gagarin Cup. And not only to see, but also to get an autograph and take photographs as a souvenir of this wonderful day.

“Our sport cannot be imagined without a strong CSKA. I am grateful to the Rosneft company and Igor Ivanovich Sechin for helping to return CSKA to the top, to a leading position in difficult times,” said the two-time Olympic champion, 8-time world champion as a player and world champion as a coach, 10-time USSR champion, honorary president of PHC CSKA Boris Mikhailov.

Congratulations on Hockey Day came from three-time world champion, three-time USSR champion, silver and bronze medalist of the Olympic Games, two-time winner of the Gagarin Cup as a coach Sergei Fedorov. “Russia is a hockey country, this sport is very important for us, and interest in it from fans has only been growing in recent years. Our team’s goal is not only to win match after match and fight for the championship title,” he said.

The head coach of CSKA noted that professional athletes also have a social responsibility – to promote a healthy lifestyle, and by their example to attract children and adults to sports.

“Seeing the fruits of our work in this direction is no less pleasant than raising the Gagarin Cup over your head,” admitted Fedorov.

“CSKA is the most legendary club in the world. I would like to wish us all victories, so that even more people will play hockey,” said Pavel Bure, member of the supervisory board of HC CSKA, world champion, champion of the USSR, multiple Olympic medalist.

After the end of the ceremony, the most enjoyable part began – taking photographs and signing autographs. Boris Mikhailov, with his constant smile and truly champion good nature, signed game jerseys, scarves, photographs and even simple pieces of paper – they did not want to let go of the legend of our hockey.

“The fact that a hockey holiday has appeared on our calendar is in itself a significant event. Hockey is the most popular of all sports in our country. As it’s fashionable to say now, play hockey because it’s very good. But what is even more important is people’s health. Look how many people now play hockey at the amateur level. And how many professional hockey players we have. Hockey day is very important. Such a holiday should definitely be on our calendar,” Boris Petrovich told an MK correspondent.

“Hockey in our country has recently taken a big step in its development. It’s amazing how many new skating rinks are being built, how many sports complexes and simple hockey grounds are opening. When I started playing hockey, there weren’t so many rinks. Thanks to this, a lot of children start playing and go to hockey sections. And since so many children are learning to play hockey, it means we will definitely have new champions, new stars,” Pavel Bure shared his opinion with MK.

“As soon as hockey appeared in our country, it almost immediately became one of the most popular sports. Therefore, from those times to the present day, in every generation we have many world-class stars. Hockey schools are working, educating new generations of players, so we will continue to remain leaders in world hockey,” Sergei Fedorov agreed with him.

While the honored veterans answered questions from journalists, current CSKA hockey players continued to sign autographs and take photographs with everyone who came to the celebration that day. Of the hockey club players who took part in the event: Olympic champion of Pyeongchang, silver medalist of the 2022 Olympics, three-time winner of the Gagarin Cup as part of CSKA, four-time national champion, multiple medalist of the World Championships Mikhail Grigorenko, silver medalist of the 2022 Olympics, three-time Gagarin Cup winner, four-time national champion Anton Slepyshev, three-time Gagarin Cup winner, four-time Russian champion Konstantin Okulov, two-time Gagarin Cup winners, two-time Russian champions Vitaly Abramov, Darren Dietz and Vladislav Provolnev, Gagarin Cup winner Yaroslav Dyblenko. It is not surprising that the flow of people wishing to receive memorable souvenirs did not dry up. Boys and girls even took selfies with the famous mascot of the army team – a brown horse in a CSKA uniform. Those who had already become the owners of the treasured photographs played table hockey with no less pleasure and real sports passion. We also got acquainted with the exhibition of hockey uniforms from different years.

The hockey festival was a great success. And this is just the beginning. On December 2, from 17:30 to 18:00, three players of the Red Army youth team, part of the CSKA system, will conduct a master class on the ice of the VDNH skating rink for everyone. Forward Yan Ageev, defenders Amir Bikmukhametov and Arseny Lisin will tell and show how to play real hockey. Among the players’ achievements are a victory in the final of the Russian Championship among club teams, two victories at the international tournament “World Selects Invitation” and participation in the final of the Kharlamov Cup of the 21/22 season.