Sochi Officials Donate Olympic Hockey Final Pucks to IIHF Museum
The hockey pucks used in the gold medal games at last month’s Sochi Olympics are to be put in the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in Toronto after a presentation ceremony in Sochi on Monday.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak handed over the pucks, inscribed with gold lettering, to IIHF president Rene Fasel at the ceremony on the Black Sea coast.
"These medals by rights belong to the Russian organizers of the Olympic Games," Kozak said. "We are happy to give them to the IIHF with great thanks for the help and support in hosting the Olympic Games overall and in hosting the hockey competition."
Canada beat Sweden 3-0 in the men’s final and the United States 3-2 in overtime in the women’s final.
The two pucks will join pucks from other great games of the past at the museum.
Lack of Team Play Caused Russia's Olympic Hockey Failure – IIHF Head Fasel
Russia's hockey failure at its home Olympics was due to its stars playing as individuals rather than as a team, the head of the International Ice Hockey Federation, Rene Fasel, said Monday.
The star-studded Russian team, whose roster boasted such players as forward Alexander Ovechkin and Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, was eliminated 3-1 by Finland in the quarterfinal of last month's Games in Sochi, a shock result for a team seen as a gold medal contender.
"Maybe the pressure was too big, I don’t know. There are a couple of reasons. Not really a team and no luck," Fasel said.
"To build a team, this is very key. They have great names on the ice but no team," he added. "So in ice hockey this is really, really important that you can build up a team. Just names in the team is not enough."
Olympic coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov left the national team after the Games and his replacement is yet to be announced. The first task for the new coach will be winning May's world championships in Belarus.
Published by exclusive arrangement with Around the Rings’ Sochi 2014 media partner RIA-Novosti.For general comments or questions,click here.20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics isAroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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