MOSCOW, January 19, Semyon Galkevich. The Russian national ice hockey team must not be underestimated the American team in the event of a meeting at the Olympics in Beijing, the defender of the national team Yegor Yakovlev told reporters. The Russian team on Wednesday in Novogorsk held its first training session in preparation for the Olympics in Beijing (February 4-20). The Americans included 15 students in the tournament. «I had the experience of playing against American students. And it seemed to me that this was a good level. We definitely don't have such student teams. So there can be no underestimation. Especially after the last World Cup , where the Canadians were underestimated. Before the game, everyone said that victory was in the pocket,» Yakovlev said. The Russian team is the current Olympic champion. “Yes, four years ago I got into the application for the Olympics at the last moment. I remember that I just enjoyed the moment, went out and worked. I just told myself that I would do everything so that later I wouldn’t tell myself how I could if. .. I just gave all my best, worked and was rewarded for it. I had a good friendly game, I remember, we played with Spartak in Moscow, with the Koreans — already in place, «Yakovlev said.
