“No honor, no nobility”: Canadians went mad when the Russian national team left their anthem after 1: 6

At the guardian Sergey Bobrovsky was not the most successful season in Florida, and in the playoffs he found himself in reserve for the tie-breakers with Tampa, relinquishing the first Driger, then to young people Spencer Chevalier. But the Russian national team was waiting for him and he accepted. Given the flights and the quarantine, Bobrovsky will only be able to go on the ice in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, and even against Canada. That the “maple leaves” don’t seem as monstrous and omnipotent in Riga as they usually do, but it’s still a sign and a great responsibility. “Championship” is reminiscent of Bobrovsky’s last game with Canada – it was also his last game at the world championships.

Bobrovsky didn’t make his debut in the national team at major tournaments until he was 26, it happened at the Sochi Olympics. And even there the first Russian owner of the Vezina Trophy in history in the deciding matches preferred another goalkeeper – Semion Varlamov. In the group they played tied – Varlamov won both matches, along with Slovenia and Norway. Bobrovsky “dried up” Norway and lost to the Americans in a shootout, and started the quarter-finals in reserve. He came out with the score of 1: 3, did not concede, but that did not save the team.

At the 2014 World Cup, Bobrovsky already called Oleg Znarok, and as the first undisputed number. Sergei did not disappoint, won all eight matches (two more were given to the young talent Vasilyevsky, who has not yet left for the NHL), helped Russia win gold medals and was recognized as the tournament’s top goaltender.

In 2015, the technical staff had no doubts about who should defend the last trio of the Russian national team. Of course, Bobrovsky, especially his Columbus, didn’t make the playoffs again. Sergei went with the team to the Novogorsk training camp, after which Russia traveled to the Czech Republic to defend the league title.

It was not possible to organize an ideal tournament, in the group round there were hiccups with the two main rivals, the United States and Finland, and Russia took only the third place, but most important – the playoffs.

By the way, we invite you to watch our video and remember the USSR’s biggest victory over Canada in hockey. Maybe it’s time to rehearse the Russian national team? It would be good.

In the quarterfinals, Bobrovsky and company stopped Sweden, in the semifinals, Sergei dried up the attack on the United States – Russia only broke through in the third period, and before him they held out precisely thanks to the goalkeeper efforts. Fires constantly broke out on his doorstep, but Bobrovsky calmly parried anything that flew in his direction, every 35 throws.

And here it is – the dream finale, Russia – Canada. Maple Leaves brought a stunning team led by Sidney crosby and soared to the finals at unrealistic speeds, skating through all rivals with an aggregate score of 60:14 (and without a single missed puck in the playoffs).

“We are not allowed to play like that. We are all very disagreeable and ashamed “

In this game, no one would have saved Russia, not even Bobrovsky. Ours did not find an answer to the pressure from Canadian companies, and although there were exits at other people’s doors, they were only episodic. Still, after the first half Russia was only one goal down, but the next twenty minutes turned into a nightmare.

The skill of Canada, multiplied by the stupid mistakes of the Russians, who at one point began to slip away from them. There wasn’t even a close feeling that we were going to fight again, on the contrary, it only got worse. Russia got three more holes in the second period and two in the third, and Malkin’s lone goal couldn’t soften the pill even though a barrel of sugar syrup had been poured over it.

“When we conceded three goals in the second period, it became very difficult. But the team tried, fought anyway. Psychologically, they were more ready than us for the final. We are very disappointed. I remember the Vancouver Olympics, which I watched on TV, and in a way it seems to me… these games are very similar, “ Evgeny Dadonov.

“We were dominated in everything. We must draw the appropriate conclusions. I want to apologize to the fans, we are not allowed to play like this. We are all very rude and ashamed “, – apologized Vladimir Tarasenko.

“Playing 1: 6 or 1: 3 doesn’t matter. For the fans, the journalists and ourselves, defeat is defeat, no matter the score. We frankly missed the second period, what can we say? You also can not complain about bad luck, 1: 6 is 1: 6 “, – said Alexander Ovechkin.

“The fact that the Russians have not listened to the anthem means that they have neither honor nor nobility.”

It would seem that what could be worse than such a result? But the final siren did not announce the end of the torments, but started new ones. The Russians, having received their silver medals and shaking hands with the winners, did not stay to listen to the Canadian anthem and withdrew from the rink. Malkin, Ovechkin, Panarine and Kulikov tried to stop his teammates, but to no avail.

Later, players will explain this by misunderstanding – the break before Canada’s anthem drags on, everyone thought it was possible to go and let the winners celebrate gold, and the door s’ is open, then they, by inertia, have reached the exit. But it always turned out ugly. And the words in which the Canadians later described their landslide victory are all the more understandable. “Destruction”, “made them mean” – in general, they could have done worse.

Matt Duchane this is exactly what he did a little later, delivering a powerful speech on respect and retribution for mistakes: “It seemed to me that the ceremony was very long, the medal presentation is cool, but the The hymn is the best part of such ceremonies. Partly, I can understand them, because everything really dragged on, they had to put up with a lot, but it’s a matter of respect. I lost three times at the World Championships, twice – against Russia. We got up and listened to their hymn. We would never have thought of leaving in advance. Of course, Ovechkin wanted to stay, that told us a lot. We all appreciated his actions. Specza must have lost too, he recounted how Radulov fared in Halifax. He rode with the Russian flag just in front of the Canadians, jumped on the boards. The guys could hardly help but rush at him. Over time, you have to pay. You can’t celebrate wins like that and show respect when you lose. We Canadians understand this well. Some Russians understand that too, some don’t. “

I did not stay away and Don Cherry, accusing the Russians of a lack of dignity. “The fact that they did not listen to the anthem means that they have neither honor nor nobility. We were once on the ice, when they won they left. It’s a total lack of dignity. “

The FHR apologized, the IIHF was slow to decide how to punish Russia and therefore fined it 74,000 euros, which sparked a new wave of outrage in Canada – the Russians were called out there to be disqualified for at least one game. . Six years have passed since that nightmarish defeat, and an unpleasant incident at the awards ceremony drowned in the whirlwind of hockey life. In the present composition of Canada, there is neither Crosby nor McKinnon with Burns, no Promotions with Seguin, and Russia without Malkin, Kovalchuk, Ovechkin and Panarin (but with Tarasenko and Bobrovsky). But the quarter-final with Canada is no less fundamental and important.

“Now, like five years ago, I am also ready and looking forward to putting on the national team jersey. I am very happy to take up the challenge, very happy to be here and I want to help the team to win gold. The challenge came to me right after the season ended in Florida. There was no doubt about it. I said yes right away. The national team is a dream , it’s an honor to be here. It’s something special for me, ”said Bobrovsky upon arrival.

For him, the world championships will start where they left off last time – from Canada. Only this time everyone is expecting a completely different result.