S. PETERSBURG, Apr 16, Dmitry Edigarev. Coach Roman Rotenberg, who led the Russia 25 hockey team (the average age of players does not exceed 25), called the appointment a great honor and the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
The Russian Hockey Federation (RHF) announced the appointment of Rotenberg on Sunday. All members of the FHR coaching council unanimously voted for the head coach of the St. Petersburg SKA.
“For me, this is a great honor. Being a little boy, I could not dream of this. All my life I have been striving to do something useful for my Motherland. This is a serious challenge. Thanks to everyone who voted for me. Thanks to Vladislav Tretyak for trust. Everything is just beginning. We will continue to show bright hockey, as in SKA, but now also in the Russian team. We will prove that our hockey is top level. This opens the window to the World Championship and the Olympics. A very emotional day, we will work around the clock and prove that our hockey is the best in the world,» Rotenberg told reporters.
From 2 to 16 May «Russia 25» will play friendly matches against the national teams of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Tour matches will be held in Chelyabinsk, Astana, Krasnoyarsk, Tula and Minsk. The extended squad includes 22 SKA hockey players.