BOULDER, Colorado -- After the tragic departure of their captain Nikolai Kadakin this off-season to the hated Dynamo Moscow, Baikal-Energia Irkutsk had to find themselves a new emotional and offensive leader. They found one in midfielder Konstantin Savchenko.
The 31-year-old Savchenko has played seven of the last eight seasons in Irkutsk, spending the 2005-06 season with now-defunct SKA-Zabaikalets Chita. He has 291 career games to his name, 191 those with either Baikal-Energia or the Sibskana, and 131 goals, 84 of them in an Irkutsk uniform.
It has long been a tradition in the Irkutsk club that the players vote for their captain by secret ballot. Savchenko received 17 votes, while goaltender Alexei Negrun - who has played for Irkutsk since 1990, back when the team was called Lokomotiv, making him the longest-tenured member - finished second with 14. The voting was done August 7 soon after the team completed their training camp in the nearby city of Baikalsk.
Showing posts with label Baikal-Energia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baikal-Energia. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Team May Be Gone, But the Hat Persists
BOULDER, Colorado -- As soon as the temperature starts to approach freezing, I dig into my closet and dig out something that has become the most ubiquitous part of my winter wardrobe for the past six years - my Sibskana hat.It's starting to look a little worse for wear, and I have thought about perhaps trading it in for a newer blue model. The team has not been called "Sibskana" for several years now, but after the name was changed to "Baikal-Energia," angry fans began shouting one of my favorite cheers to voice their displeasure:
"Байкал - это отдых, Сибскана - хоккей!
Верните нам нашу команду скорее!"
["Baikal is vacation, Sibskana is hockey!
Give us our team back quick!"]
I don't think fans shout this quite so much anymore, but scarfs and hats emblazoned with the old green and white logo are still a common sight at games in Irkutsk. And I'm proud to hang onto mine.
Sibskana really was a wonderful name, as it spoke to the roots of the sport. It was a thoughtful name that showed respect for the game and avoided associations both with old Soviet-style club titles and with commercial sponsorships. "Sib" stood for Siberia, a region that boasts some of the best bandy talent in the world, and "Skana" was short for Scandinavia, the other hotbed of the game. These are also two places with special importance for me personally; one was my adopted home, while the other is the home of my ancestors. Two regions with long traditions and very different styles of play, commemorated in the name of the club.
But now the hat has gained new meaning for me.
As I noted in a recent post, the winter months are still a long way off, but I decided recently to dig out the hat a bit earlier this year when someone very special to me mentioned it. The hat often becomes a conversation piece, especially if I happen to meet someone with a knowledge of Russian. Even to a native speaker, the word is a bit difficult to decipher, as it has absolutely no meaning to anyone unfamiliar with bandy. So I inevitably have to explain what the word is, where the hat came from, and what the hell this odd sport is that I play on a giant sheet of ice. This usually devolves into me singing various Russian songs and shouting the names of my favorite players (most of whom have now departed).
I had such an encounter a few months ago, and thankfully, that conversation has turned into something very special. That person just said to me, "I am so grateful to your Russian hat for introducing us. Thank him for me, okay?"
So, here's my thanks to a hat that has accompanied me to a lot of places, and will continue to do so for a long time to come. I just hope that I can take it back to Irkutsk sometime soon to cheer on the team that will always be "Sibskana" to me.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Baikal Captain Kadakin Leaves Team; Earth Ceases to Spin
BOULDER, Colorado -- Baikal-Energia Irkutsk's general manager Pavel Levitin announced Monday that team captain Nikolai Kadakin had left the team and was currently seeking a contract with another club as a free agent, Irkutsk newspaper Nasha Sibskana reported.
The reasons for Kadakin's departure remained unclear, but the club has granted him his unconditional release despite the fact that he was entering the second year of his three-year contract with Baikal. Levitin admitted in his conversation with Nasha Sibskana that Baikal would receive no compensation if the midfielder is signed by another club.
Baikal has reportedly signed a transfer agreement to send Kadakin to league champions Dynamo Moscow, though he still has the option to move to another club before the upcoming season.
Baikal is hoping that newly-signed Pavel Dubovik will be able to fill Kadakin's role as the team's principal center midfielder, Levitin said. Dubovik, however, is only 21 years old and scored only nine points last year (5 goals, 4 assists) for Mayak Krasnoturinsk, a far cry from Kadakin's eight goals and 23 assists in 2007-08.
In addition to the Dubovik signing, Baikal has also added forward Andrei Gerasimov, who, though only 20 years old, has tallied 24 goals each of the past two season for Mayak.
The reasons for Kadakin's departure remained unclear, but the club has granted him his unconditional release despite the fact that he was entering the second year of his three-year contract with Baikal. Levitin admitted in his conversation with Nasha Sibskana that Baikal would receive no compensation if the midfielder is signed by another club.
Baikal has reportedly signed a transfer agreement to send Kadakin to league champions Dynamo Moscow, though he still has the option to move to another club before the upcoming season.
Baikal is hoping that newly-signed Pavel Dubovik will be able to fill Kadakin's role as the team's principal center midfielder, Levitin said. Dubovik, however, is only 21 years old and scored only nine points last year (5 goals, 4 assists) for Mayak Krasnoturinsk, a far cry from Kadakin's eight goals and 23 assists in 2007-08.
In addition to the Dubovik signing, Baikal has also added forward Andrei Gerasimov, who, though only 20 years old, has tallied 24 goals each of the past two season for Mayak.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Nasonov Leaves Baikal-Energia, May Sign with Dynamo Moscow
BOULDER, Colorado -- Baikal-Energia Irkutsk's leading scorer Alexander Nasonov will not be re-signing with the club, the team's managing director Pavel Levitin said Thursday, as reported by the website Bandynet.ru.
Nasonov has reportedly been in negotiations with league champions Dynamo Moscow. This would be the second major star Dynamo has snatched away from Baikal since rejoining the top league in 2005 - Yevgeny Ivanushkin has scored 206 goals since leaving Irkutsk, including a league-leading 66 this past season.
As for replacing Nasonov and his 49 goals, Levitin said the team was in negotiations to acquire a few midfielders, one forward, and a defender. But he added that he could not divulge their names as they were under contract until the end of the month with their current clubs.
"We don't have the same resources that the soccer club 'Zvezda' has," Levitin said, referring to the fact that there is no planned increase in the club's budget. Over the past year, the team has slashed its payroll, which led to the major exodus of players last fall. And the current administration of the Irkutsk Region, especially governor Alexander Tishanin, has been much more interested in improving Zvevda Irkutsk, perennially mired in Russia's third-tier soccer league, than in supporting Baikal-Energia.
Baikal dropped from second to fifth in the east division standings this season, and they have the potential now to drop further, perhaps even out of playoff contention, if critical holes are not filled. And with the arrival of former Russian national team coach Vladimir Yanko in Kemerovo, Kuzbass looks to continue its domination of the division. The best that we can hope for is perhaps that Baikal won't slip behind regional rivals Lesokhimik and Metallurg.
Nasonov has reportedly been in negotiations with league champions Dynamo Moscow. This would be the second major star Dynamo has snatched away from Baikal since rejoining the top league in 2005 - Yevgeny Ivanushkin has scored 206 goals since leaving Irkutsk, including a league-leading 66 this past season.
As for replacing Nasonov and his 49 goals, Levitin said the team was in negotiations to acquire a few midfielders, one forward, and a defender. But he added that he could not divulge their names as they were under contract until the end of the month with their current clubs.
"We don't have the same resources that the soccer club 'Zvezda' has," Levitin said, referring to the fact that there is no planned increase in the club's budget. Over the past year, the team has slashed its payroll, which led to the major exodus of players last fall. And the current administration of the Irkutsk Region, especially governor Alexander Tishanin, has been much more interested in improving Zvevda Irkutsk, perennially mired in Russia's third-tier soccer league, than in supporting Baikal-Energia.
Baikal dropped from second to fifth in the east division standings this season, and they have the potential now to drop further, perhaps even out of playoff contention, if critical holes are not filled. And with the arrival of former Russian national team coach Vladimir Yanko in Kemerovo, Kuzbass looks to continue its domination of the division. The best that we can hope for is perhaps that Baikal won't slip behind regional rivals Lesokhimik and Metallurg.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Irkutsk to Build New Stadium for Baikal-Energia
IRKUTSK, Russia -- One of the grand old stadiums of Russian bandy will be closing its doors soon.
The president of the Irkutsk Region Bandy Federation, Vladimir Matienko, announced at a press conference April 3 that Irkutsk would be building a new stadium to host Baikal-Energia, the newspaper Nasha Sibskana reported.
Trud Stadium, the team's current home, was built in the 1950's and has a capacity of 18,500, making it one of the largest bandy stadiums in the country. The stadium has been in desperate need of renovation for several years. Also home to the city's soccer club, Zvezda, a row erupted with the national soccer federation two years ago over the poor quality of stadium's grandstands, forcing the team to install new plastic seats.
Over the past several seasons, Baikal-Energia has played many of their home games - especially early- and late-season games, when the weather is warmer - at the smaller Rekord Stadium, which has the luxury of an artificially-cooled ice surface. The club routinely sells out Trud, so the move to the 6,300-seat Rekord has left many fans out in the cold on game day.
Matienko did not give any details about the size or design of the new facility, saying only that it will be built on Konny Island in the Angara River. Formerly an undeveloped area of the city's downtown, the completion of a bridge across the river in the area of the island has spurred several development projects, including a large shopping center.
The city government has already set aside the land for the stadium, Matienko added, and the construction will be financed by the regional bandy federation. A name for the facility has yet to be determined.
The president of the Irkutsk Region Bandy Federation, Vladimir Matienko, announced at a press conference April 3 that Irkutsk would be building a new stadium to host Baikal-Energia, the newspaper Nasha Sibskana reported.
Trud Stadium, the team's current home, was built in the 1950's and has a capacity of 18,500, making it one of the largest bandy stadiums in the country. The stadium has been in desperate need of renovation for several years. Also home to the city's soccer club, Zvezda, a row erupted with the national soccer federation two years ago over the poor quality of stadium's grandstands, forcing the team to install new plastic seats.
Over the past several seasons, Baikal-Energia has played many of their home games - especially early- and late-season games, when the weather is warmer - at the smaller Rekord Stadium, which has the luxury of an artificially-cooled ice surface. The club routinely sells out Trud, so the move to the 6,300-seat Rekord has left many fans out in the cold on game day.
Matienko did not give any details about the size or design of the new facility, saying only that it will be built on Konny Island in the Angara River. Formerly an undeveloped area of the city's downtown, the completion of a bridge across the river in the area of the island has spurred several development projects, including a large shopping center.
The city government has already set aside the land for the stadium, Matienko added, and the construction will be financed by the regional bandy federation. A name for the facility has yet to be determined.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Baikal Beats Zorky, Playoffs Enter Final Stretch
Rekord Stadium, IRKUTSK, Russia -- In a season that has been marked by inconsistency, Baikal-Energia fans have something to cheer about on this International Womens Day as the home side defeated Zorky Krasnogorsk 6-3 in front of a capacity crowd at Rekord Stadium.
Four Baikal players had multi-point games, led by Alexander Nasonov's two goals and two assists. Roman Murzin also scored two goals, while Nikolai Kadakin registered a goal and an assist. Those two tallies give Nasonov 40 goals on the year, good for fifth place in the league.
The decision to move the game from Irkutsk's much larger Trud Stadium was made the night before the game. Warmer weather had severely affected the quality of the ice, team officials said, forcing the move to the artificially-cooled surface at Rekord. The change of venue left literally thousands out in the cold, as Rekord has a capacity of only 6,300, while Trud holds more than 18,000.
The win puts Baikal in eighth place in the standings. There are only four games left to play for each team, and at 7-11, the best Irkutsk can hope for is a .500 finish. Dynamo Moscow sits atop the 12-team table at 15-1.
The playoff format is rather bizarre, and honestly, it just took me about 15 minutes to figure it out even though I have grasped it before, and even written about it. Each team has currently played seven or eight games of their 12-game schedule, which consists of home-and-home matchups with the six playoff teams from the opposite division. Also included in the overall standings are the results of regular season matches between eventual playoff teams (thus Baikal's regular season losses to SKA-Neftyanik are included in the current standings, but its win over SKA-Sverdlovsk is not).
Here is how Baikal has fared thus far:
Rodina Kirov 7:3 Baikal-Energia
Zorky Krasnogorsk 14:6 Baikal-Energia
Baikal-Energia 7:3 Raketa Kazan
Baikal-Energia 6:5 Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk
Volga Ulyanovsk 7:6 Baikal-Energia
Dynamo Moscow 19:5 Baikal-Energia
Baikal-Energia 4:6 Rodina Kirov
Baikal-Energia 6:3 Zorky Krasnogorsk
And the remaining schedule:
March 12: @ Raketa Kazan
March 15: @ Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk
March 19: vs. Volga Ulyanovsk
March 22: vs. Dynamo Moscow
Baikal is certainly capable of beating the next three teams, but a win in the season finale at home against Dynamo is a lot to ask of this squad. After a season of crushing defections and lowered expectations, a victory in that game would certainly bode well for this young team heading into next season.
Four Baikal players had multi-point games, led by Alexander Nasonov's two goals and two assists. Roman Murzin also scored two goals, while Nikolai Kadakin registered a goal and an assist. Those two tallies give Nasonov 40 goals on the year, good for fifth place in the league.
The decision to move the game from Irkutsk's much larger Trud Stadium was made the night before the game. Warmer weather had severely affected the quality of the ice, team officials said, forcing the move to the artificially-cooled surface at Rekord. The change of venue left literally thousands out in the cold, as Rekord has a capacity of only 6,300, while Trud holds more than 18,000.
The win puts Baikal in eighth place in the standings. There are only four games left to play for each team, and at 7-11, the best Irkutsk can hope for is a .500 finish. Dynamo Moscow sits atop the 12-team table at 15-1.
The playoff format is rather bizarre, and honestly, it just took me about 15 minutes to figure it out even though I have grasped it before, and even written about it. Each team has currently played seven or eight games of their 12-game schedule, which consists of home-and-home matchups with the six playoff teams from the opposite division. Also included in the overall standings are the results of regular season matches between eventual playoff teams (thus Baikal's regular season losses to SKA-Neftyanik are included in the current standings, but its win over SKA-Sverdlovsk is not).
Here is how Baikal has fared thus far:
Rodina Kirov 7:3 Baikal-Energia
Zorky Krasnogorsk 14:6 Baikal-Energia
Baikal-Energia 7:3 Raketa Kazan
Baikal-Energia 6:5 Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk
Volga Ulyanovsk 7:6 Baikal-Energia
Dynamo Moscow 19:5 Baikal-Energia
Baikal-Energia 4:6 Rodina Kirov
Baikal-Energia 6:3 Zorky Krasnogorsk
And the remaining schedule:
March 12: @ Raketa Kazan
March 15: @ Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk
March 19: vs. Volga Ulyanovsk
March 22: vs. Dynamo Moscow
Baikal is certainly capable of beating the next three teams, but a win in the season finale at home against Dynamo is a lot to ask of this squad. After a season of crushing defections and lowered expectations, a victory in that game would certainly bode well for this young team heading into next season.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Goddammit! Zorky Crushes Baikal 14-6
BOULDER, Colorado -- In the words of Carl Brutanananadilewski, I'm pissed. Not only was I unable to find a webcast of today's match in Krasnogorsk, but Baikal-Energia proceeded to lose to Zorky 14-6, dropping them to 0-2 in the playoff tournament.
I knew that the departure of the core of the team during the off-season, save Kadakin and Nasonov, meant that a league championship was out of the question, but this team continues to show itself incapable of playing well against good teams. To the latter's credit, he did manage four goals and an assist in this lopsided affair.
I suppose Baikal's season in many ways mirrors that of my favorite team here in North America, the Boston Bruins. While the Bruins play well enough to stay in the playoff hunt - and, like Baikal, if they make it in at all it will be by the slimmest of margins - they cannot seem to beat any of the elite teams in the league. They simply lack the offensive firepower to compete with the top teams, and were it not for an MVP performance from their goaltender, Tim Thomas, this Bruins team would be sharing the basement with the Lightning.
With a slate of games against some of the best teams in the country still left to play, Baikal's chances of cracking even the top half of the playoff teams are slim. The times are lean indeed, and even Irkutsk's legendary attendance figures have dropped off sharply this season. But I'll leave my screeds about club management for another post.
With the outdoor games that made me fall in love with this club quickly becoming a distant memory, I sometimes wonder when I will get back to see a bandy match in Irkutsk.
I knew that the departure of the core of the team during the off-season, save Kadakin and Nasonov, meant that a league championship was out of the question, but this team continues to show itself incapable of playing well against good teams. To the latter's credit, he did manage four goals and an assist in this lopsided affair.
I suppose Baikal's season in many ways mirrors that of my favorite team here in North America, the Boston Bruins. While the Bruins play well enough to stay in the playoff hunt - and, like Baikal, if they make it in at all it will be by the slimmest of margins - they cannot seem to beat any of the elite teams in the league. They simply lack the offensive firepower to compete with the top teams, and were it not for an MVP performance from their goaltender, Tim Thomas, this Bruins team would be sharing the basement with the Lightning.
With a slate of games against some of the best teams in the country still left to play, Baikal's chances of cracking even the top half of the playoff teams are slim. The times are lean indeed, and even Irkutsk's legendary attendance figures have dropped off sharply this season. But I'll leave my screeds about club management for another post.
With the outdoor games that made me fall in love with this club quickly becoming a distant memory, I sometimes wonder when I will get back to see a bandy match in Irkutsk.
Baikal Embarassed in Playoff Opener
Rodina Stadium, KIROV, Russia -- Baikal-Energia Irkutsk did not start their playoff run well, falling to Rodina Kirov 7-3 on Thursday.
Rodina scored seven goals before Baikal was able to get on the scoreboard. Maxim Blem scored off a corner in the 68th minute to prevent the shutout. He was followed by Roman Murzin, who was assisted by Alexander Nasonov, and Yevgeny Yakovlev capped off the scoring in the 81st minute.
Rodina entered the tournament ranked sixth in the West Division, finishing the season with a 7-9-2 record, so this loss does not bode well for Baikal's performance against the elite teams of the West.
Baikal will next face one of those elite teams, Zorky Krasnogorsk, on February 17th. Zorky finished the season in second place with a 17-1 record, missing out on the top spot due to Dynamo Moscow's outrageous +153 goal differential.
Rodina scored seven goals before Baikal was able to get on the scoreboard. Maxim Blem scored off a corner in the 68th minute to prevent the shutout. He was followed by Roman Murzin, who was assisted by Alexander Nasonov, and Yevgeny Yakovlev capped off the scoring in the 81st minute.
Rodina entered the tournament ranked sixth in the West Division, finishing the season with a 7-9-2 record, so this loss does not bode well for Baikal's performance against the elite teams of the West.
Baikal will next face one of those elite teams, Zorky Krasnogorsk, on February 17th. Zorky finished the season in second place with a 17-1 record, missing out on the top spot due to Dynamo Moscow's outrageous +153 goal differential.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Baikal Slips Behind Yenisei, Qualifies for Playoffs
BOULDER, Colorado -- Baikal-Energia Irkutsk split their final two games of the regular season to finish in fifth place in the East Division, good enough to guarantee them a spot in the league playoffs.
Baikal lost to Yenisei Krasnoyarsk on February 6, 6-4. But they finished off the season on a strong note, coming from behind to defeat Sayany Abakan 6-5 on February 9.
Alexander Nasonov continued his hot streak, netting three goals in the two games to give him a team-leading 24 on the season. He also led the team in points with 29, followed by Yevgeny Yakovlev with 18 and Konstantin Savchenko's 16.
Baikal-Energia finished the season with a 9-8-1 record, good for 28 points in the East Division. Here are the final standings:
Team (W-L-T-/Pts.)
1. Kuzbass Kemerovo (17-1-0/51)
2. SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk (15-1-2/47)
3. Sibselmash Novosibirsk (10-5-3/33)
4. Yenisei Krasnoyarsk (10-7-1/31)
5. Baikal-Energia Irkustsk (9-8-1/28)
6. Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk (5-11-2/17)
7. Mayak Krasnoturinsk (5-12-1/16)
8. Sayany Abakan (4-11-3/15)
9. SKA-Sverdlovsk Yekaterinburg (4-13-1/13)
10. Metallurg Bratsk (3-13-2/11)
Under the playoff format established last season, the top six teams from each division reach the second round, a round robin tournament in which the teams must play each team from their opposite division twice. The overall leader in the standings following this tournament is declared the league champion.
Here is the schedule of Baikal's playoff matches:
February 14th: Rodina Kirov 7:3 Baikal-Energia Irkutsk
February 17th: @ Zorky Krasnogorsk
February 21st: vs. Raketa Kazan
February 24th: vs. Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk
February 27th: @ Volga Ulyanovsk
March 1st: @ Dynamo Moscow
March 5th: vs. Rodina Kirov
March 8th: vs. Zorky Krasnogorsk
March 12th: @ Raketa Kazan
March 15th: @ Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk
March 19th: vs. Volga Ulyanovsk
March 21st: vs. Dynamo Moscow
The teams that finished ranked 7th-10th in their respective divisions will also play a round robin tournament to determine the 13th-20th places. The team that finishes in last place will be relegated to the first division, while the winner of the first division playoffs will be invited to the elite league next season.
Baikal lost to Yenisei Krasnoyarsk on February 6, 6-4. But they finished off the season on a strong note, coming from behind to defeat Sayany Abakan 6-5 on February 9.
Alexander Nasonov continued his hot streak, netting three goals in the two games to give him a team-leading 24 on the season. He also led the team in points with 29, followed by Yevgeny Yakovlev with 18 and Konstantin Savchenko's 16.
Baikal-Energia finished the season with a 9-8-1 record, good for 28 points in the East Division. Here are the final standings:
Team (W-L-T-/Pts.)
1. Kuzbass Kemerovo (17-1-0/51)
2. SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk (15-1-2/47)
3. Sibselmash Novosibirsk (10-5-3/33)
4. Yenisei Krasnoyarsk (10-7-1/31)
5. Baikal-Energia Irkustsk (9-8-1/28)
6. Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk (5-11-2/17)
7. Mayak Krasnoturinsk (5-12-1/16)
8. Sayany Abakan (4-11-3/15)
9. SKA-Sverdlovsk Yekaterinburg (4-13-1/13)
10. Metallurg Bratsk (3-13-2/11)
Under the playoff format established last season, the top six teams from each division reach the second round, a round robin tournament in which the teams must play each team from their opposite division twice. The overall leader in the standings following this tournament is declared the league champion.
Here is the schedule of Baikal's playoff matches:
February 14th: Rodina Kirov 7:3 Baikal-Energia Irkutsk
February 17th: @ Zorky Krasnogorsk
February 21st: vs. Raketa Kazan
February 24th: vs. Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk
February 27th: @ Volga Ulyanovsk
March 1st: @ Dynamo Moscow
March 5th: vs. Rodina Kirov
March 8th: vs. Zorky Krasnogorsk
March 12th: @ Raketa Kazan
March 15th: @ Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk
March 19th: vs. Volga Ulyanovsk
March 21st: vs. Dynamo Moscow
The teams that finished ranked 7th-10th in their respective divisions will also play a round robin tournament to determine the 13th-20th places. The team that finishes in last place will be relegated to the first division, while the winner of the first division playoffs will be invited to the elite league next season.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Baikal Moves into 4th Place with 5th Straight Win
BOULDER, Colorado -- It has been a busy couple of weeks for Baikal-Energia Irkutsk (8-7-1), and they have clawed their way back into the playoff hunt with their fifth consecutive win.
The streak started with a narrow victory over regional rival Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk back on January 20th. That came on the heels of embarrassing losses against Mayak, SKA-Sverdlovsk, and SKA-Neftyanik.
Here are the rest of their results:
January 23
Metallurg Bratsk 4:1 Baikal-Energia
January 26
Baikal-Energia 5:2 Sayany Abakan
January 29
Baikal-Energia 7:2 Sibselmash Novosibirsk
February 3
Baikal-Energia 7:3 Metallurg Bratsk
In that span, Alexander Nasonov has come alive, netting 16 goals to give him 21 on the year to lead the team. Yevgeny Yakovlev has also performed well, scoring six goals along with one assist for 16 points on the year.
Kuzbass Kemerovo still leads the division with a 16-1 record, while SKA-Neftyanik is just two points behind with a game in hand. Baikail has a game on Sibselmash, but they remain seven points ahead with 32. Currently Yenisei Krasnoyarsk is tied with Baikal with 25 points.
The streak started with a narrow victory over regional rival Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk back on January 20th. That came on the heels of embarrassing losses against Mayak, SKA-Sverdlovsk, and SKA-Neftyanik.
Here are the rest of their results:
January 23
Metallurg Bratsk 4:1 Baikal-Energia
January 26
Baikal-Energia 5:2 Sayany Abakan
January 29
Baikal-Energia 7:2 Sibselmash Novosibirsk
February 3
Baikal-Energia 7:3 Metallurg Bratsk
In that span, Alexander Nasonov has come alive, netting 16 goals to give him 21 on the year to lead the team. Yevgeny Yakovlev has also performed well, scoring six goals along with one assist for 16 points on the year.
Kuzbass Kemerovo still leads the division with a 16-1 record, while SKA-Neftyanik is just two points behind with a game in hand. Baikail has a game on Sibselmash, but they remain seven points ahead with 32. Currently Yenisei Krasnoyarsk is tied with Baikal with 25 points.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Neftyanik Beats Baikal 6-2
Neftyanik Stadium, KHABAROVSK, Russia -- SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk's battery of former Baikal players again proved too much for the reeling Irkutsk side as they swept the season series with an impressive 6-2 home win.
Maxim Koshelev assisted on Sergei Yusupov's goal in the 13th minute to open the scoring for the home side. Another former Baikal forward, Maxim Gavrilenko, also had an impressive game, scoring one goal and assisting on another.
Khabarovsk held an impressive 5-0 lead well into the second half. Baikal managed their first goal in the 71st minute, when Andrei Veselov connected with Andrei Stolnikov off a corner try. Their second goal came in the final minute, an unassisted tally from team scoring leader Yevgeny Yakovlev.
Brutal temperatures that dipped below -20F limited the crowd to only 2,100 spectators.
Neftyanik also beat Baikal-Energia back on November 21 at Irkutsk's Rekord Stadium, 9-1.
Maxim Koshelev assisted on Sergei Yusupov's goal in the 13th minute to open the scoring for the home side. Another former Baikal forward, Maxim Gavrilenko, also had an impressive game, scoring one goal and assisting on another.
Khabarovsk held an impressive 5-0 lead well into the second half. Baikal managed their first goal in the 71st minute, when Andrei Veselov connected with Andrei Stolnikov off a corner try. Their second goal came in the final minute, an unassisted tally from team scoring leader Yevgeny Yakovlev.
Brutal temperatures that dipped below -20F limited the crowd to only 2,100 spectators.
Neftyanik also beat Baikal-Energia back on November 21 at Irkutsk's Rekord Stadium, 9-1.
Dynamo, Zorky Hold Top Spots in World Rankings
BOULDER, Colorado -- Dynamo Moscow remains the world's top bandy club, according to the rankings released Tuesday by Bandynet.ru.
Zorky Krasnogorsk, Kuzbass Kemerovo and SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk rounded out the top four, and Russian clubs hold six of the top 10 rankings. Edsbyns IF was the top Swedish club at #5, followed by Sandvikens and Vasteras.
Tornion PV was the top-ranked Finnish team, at #19, and Stabaek JF led all Norwegian clubs at #41.
Despite their poor showing this season, Baikal-Energia managed to move up one spot from the January 1 poll, to #16. Though they currently sit in ninth place in their division, Baikal was ranked behind only Kuzbass, Neftyanik, and Yenisei Krasnoyarsk from the Russian league's eastern group.
The rankings, compiled by Bandynet, are released every two weeks and based largely on a team's performance in that period.
Zorky Krasnogorsk, Kuzbass Kemerovo and SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk rounded out the top four, and Russian clubs hold six of the top 10 rankings. Edsbyns IF was the top Swedish club at #5, followed by Sandvikens and Vasteras.
Tornion PV was the top-ranked Finnish team, at #19, and Stabaek JF led all Norwegian clubs at #41.
Despite their poor showing this season, Baikal-Energia managed to move up one spot from the January 1 poll, to #16. Though they currently sit in ninth place in their division, Baikal was ranked behind only Kuzbass, Neftyanik, and Yenisei Krasnoyarsk from the Russian league's eastern group.
The rankings, compiled by Bandynet, are released every two weeks and based largely on a team's performance in that period.
| # | Team | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ХК "Динамо" Москва, Russia | 11036 | 32 | |
2 | ХК "Зоркий" Красногорск, Russia | 9426 | -118 | |
3 | ХК "Кузбасс" Кемерово, Russia | 9075 | -107 | |
4 | ХК "СКА-Нефтяник" Хабаровск, Russia | 8869 | 98 | |
5 | Edsbyns IF, Sweden | 8535 | -138 | |
6 | Sandvikens AIK BK, Sweden | 8450 | 44 | |
7 | Västerås SK BK, Sweden | 7914 | 15 | |
8 | +1 | СК "Уральский трубник" Первоуральск, Russia | 7790 | 71 |
9 | +2 | ХК "Ракета" Казань, Russia | 7624 | 450 |
10 | -2 | Hammarby IF BF, Sweden | 7591 | -234 |
11 | -1 | ХК "Родина" Киров, Russia | 7270 | -411 |
12 | ХК "Волга" Ульяновск, Russia | 7064 | 7 | |
13 | ХК "Енисей" Красноярск, Russia | 6786 | -92 | |
14 | Vetlanda BK, Sweden | 6723 | -89 | |
15 | +1 | Broberg/Söderhamn BIF, Sweden | 6368 | -139 |
16 | +1 | ХК "Байкал-Энергия" Иркутск, Russia | 6345 | -115 |
17 | +2 | ХК "Сибсельмаш" Новосибирск, Russia | 6344 | 31 |
18 | -3 | Villa-Lidköping BK, Sweden | 6249 | -283 |
19 | +3 | Tornion PV, Finland | 6181 | 449 |
20 | ХК "Маяк" Краснотурьинск, Russia | 6150 | -144 | |
21 | Bollnäs GoIF BF, Sweden | 6113 | 12 | |
22 | -4 | ХК "Водник" Архангельск, Russia | 6081 | -278 |
23 | +3 | IFK Motala BK, Sweden | 5857 | 326 |
24 | +1 | ХК "Старт" Нижний Новгород, Russia | 5778 | 246 |
25 | -2 | ХК "Лесохимик" Усть-Илимск, Russia | 5737 | 58 |
26 | -2 | IFK Vänersborg, Sweden | 5703 | 33 |
27 | ПХК "Саяны" Абакан, Russia | 5698 | 179 | |
28 | +5 | BS Boltic/Göta, Sweden (Allsv.) | 5574 | 526 |
29 | +2 | OLS, Finland | 5536 | 261 |
30 | -1 | Kalix Bandyförening, Sweden (Allsv.) | 5408 | 0 |
31 | -3 | IK Sirius BK, Sweden | 5227 | -243 |
32 | Tillberga IK, Sweden | 5183 | 34 | |
33 | -3 | Helsingin IFK, Finland | 5172 | -222 |
34 | +1 | Falu BS BK, Sweden | 5057 | 166 |
35 | +6 | Gripen BK Trollhättan, Sweden | 5032 | 495 |
36 | -2 | ХК "АМНГР-Мурман" Мурманск, Russia | 4929 | -91 |
37 | Örebro SK Bandy, Sweden (Allsv.) | 4637 | -196 | |
38 | +4 | ХК "СКА-Свердловск" Екатеринбург, Russia | 4632 | 191 |
39 | ХК "Металлург" Братск, Russia | 4623 | -98 | |
40 | +3 | ХК "Динамо-Сыктывкар" Сыктывкар, Russia | 4518 | 92 |
41 | -5 | Stabæk JF, Norway | 4481 | -375 |
42 | +2 | ХК "Локомотив" Оренбург, Russia (1st Div.) | 4480 | 263 |
43 | -3 | Solberg SK, Norway | 4451 | -151 |
44 | +3 | Västanfors IF/BK, Sweden (Allsv.) | 3524 | 35 |
45 | +7 | Finspångs AIK, Sweden (Allsv.) | 3231 | 273 |
46 | SSK Sundsvall Bandy, Sweden (Allsv.) | 3171 | -345 | |
47 | -2 | OPS 90, Finland | 3153 | -465 |
48 | +1 | Kampparit, Finland | 3031 | -64 |
49 | +1 | Ljusdals BK, Sweden (Allsv.) | 3007 | -67 |
50 | +4 | Haparanda Tornio BK, Sweden (Allsv.) | 2921 | 303 |
Friday, January 11, 2008
Baikal Midgets Advance to Final Round of Russian Championships
KRASNOTURINSK, Russia -- The big club has given fans little to cheer about this season, but Baikal-Energia's 16 and under squad has advanced to the final round of the Russian Championships, the club reported Friday.
Baikal finished third in the East Division round robin tournament, held in Krasnoturinsk. They recorded victories over Yenisei Krasnoyarsk and Sibselmash Novosibirsk, 4-1 and 9-1, respectively, and tied the home side Mayak 3-3. Their only loss came against Kuzbass Kemerovo, 3-1.
Timofei Beznosov led all Baikal scorers with six goals, good for fourth place in the tournament. Last season Baikal won the 15 and under championship, and Beznosov was named to the tournament all-star team.
In the West Division, Zorky Moscow Region captured the top spot with a perfect 4-0 record and led all teams in scoring with 28 goals. They will be joined in the finals by Vodnik Arkhangelsk and Volga Ulyanovsk.
Baikal finished third in the East Division round robin tournament, held in Krasnoturinsk. They recorded victories over Yenisei Krasnoyarsk and Sibselmash Novosibirsk, 4-1 and 9-1, respectively, and tied the home side Mayak 3-3. Their only loss came against Kuzbass Kemerovo, 3-1.
Timofei Beznosov led all Baikal scorers with six goals, good for fourth place in the tournament. Last season Baikal won the 15 and under championship, and Beznosov was named to the tournament all-star team.
In the West Division, Zorky Moscow Region captured the top spot with a perfect 4-0 record and led all teams in scoring with 28 goals. They will be joined in the finals by Vodnik Arkhangelsk and Volga Ulyanovsk.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
First Half Roundup: Baikal Loses to Mayak and SKA-Sverdlovsk. Seriously?
BOULDER, Colorado -- Baikal-Energia Irkutsk's season seems to be meeting all of the low pre-season expectations. In the span of one week, they lost to fifth-place Mayak Krasnoturinsk 4-2 and last-place SKA-Sverdlovsk Yekaterinburg 2-0.
Baikal has managed only 10 points in its first 10 games, and its 3-6-1 record has been good for eighth place in the East Division.
There was one bright spot in the season's first half, when Baikal defeated arch-rival Yenisei Krasnoyarsk 3-2 on December 25th. Baikal's two other victories this season came against Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk and Sverdlovsk.
Baikal remains a rather stingy team defensively, allowing only 41 goals on the season - good for middle of the pack in their division - but they have great trouble scoring goals, netting only 29. New addition Yevgeny Yakovlev has not disappointed, leading the team in goals and points (6 goals+3 assists=9 points), and Nikolai Kadakin (4+5=9) and Alexander Nasonov (5 goals) remain reliable contributors. But it has been impossible to replace six of the team's leading scorers who moved over to SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk in the offseason.
Nefytaynik, incidentally, is undefeated and sits in second place with 28 points after 10 games, while Kuzbass Kemerovo continues to dominate the division with 39 points in 14 games.
Last season's second place finish in the division is totally out of reach, but hopefully the bounces will go Baikal's way in the second half.
Baikal has managed only 10 points in its first 10 games, and its 3-6-1 record has been good for eighth place in the East Division.
There was one bright spot in the season's first half, when Baikal defeated arch-rival Yenisei Krasnoyarsk 3-2 on December 25th. Baikal's two other victories this season came against Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk and Sverdlovsk.
Baikal remains a rather stingy team defensively, allowing only 41 goals on the season - good for middle of the pack in their division - but they have great trouble scoring goals, netting only 29. New addition Yevgeny Yakovlev has not disappointed, leading the team in goals and points (6 goals+3 assists=9 points), and Nikolai Kadakin (4+5=9) and Alexander Nasonov (5 goals) remain reliable contributors. But it has been impossible to replace six of the team's leading scorers who moved over to SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk in the offseason.
Nefytaynik, incidentally, is undefeated and sits in second place with 28 points after 10 games, while Kuzbass Kemerovo continues to dominate the division with 39 points in 14 games.
Last season's second place finish in the division is totally out of reach, but hopefully the bounces will go Baikal's way in the second half.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Russian Clubs Hold Top 3 Spots in World Rankings; Baikal Ranked #15
BOULDER, Colorado -- Dynamo Moscow is currently the best bandy club in the world, according the the latest ratings (including matches from October 16-November 1) by the website bandynet.ru. Just behind the Moscow club sit Zorky Krasnogorsk and Kuzbass Kemerovo.
The highest ranked team from outside Russia is Sweden's Edsbyns IF, which finished second in this year's ExTe World Cup to Dynamo. Finland's Tornea PV topped all other Finnish clubs at #20 despite losing all three matches in Ljusdal. Stabaek Bandy, also winless at the tournament, was ranked the top Norwegian club at #40.
All 21 teams from the Russian Bandy League made it into the top 50. Dynamo-Syktyvkar received the lowest rating, finishing 47th. Baikal-Energia's disappointing pre-season has them mired in the 15th spot, with nine Russian clubs ranked ahead of them.
The rankings, conducted last season by the Krasnoyarsk-based website RedYarsk, were begun this fall by Bandynet. They are based mostly on the performance of each club during the two-week period of the ranking.
This weekend: the final leg of the Russian Cup!
The highest ranked team from outside Russia is Sweden's Edsbyns IF, which finished second in this year's ExTe World Cup to Dynamo. Finland's Tornea PV topped all other Finnish clubs at #20 despite losing all three matches in Ljusdal. Stabaek Bandy, also winless at the tournament, was ranked the top Norwegian club at #40.
All 21 teams from the Russian Bandy League made it into the top 50. Dynamo-Syktyvkar received the lowest rating, finishing 47th. Baikal-Energia's disappointing pre-season has them mired in the 15th spot, with nine Russian clubs ranked ahead of them.
The rankings, conducted last season by the Krasnoyarsk-based website RedYarsk, were begun this fall by Bandynet. They are based mostly on the performance of each club during the two-week period of the ranking.
This weekend: the final leg of the Russian Cup!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
No Russian Cup This Season for Baikal
BOULDER, Colorado -- Baikal-Energia Irkutsk's disappointing (pre-)season continued as they finished the second round of the Russian Cup mired in third place in their group, eliminating them from the final round tournament, to be held in Moscow November 3-5.
The second round began Wednesday in the cities of Moscow, Kirov, Kemerovo and Krasnoyarsk. The top two teams from each group qualify for the finals.
Kuzbass Kemerovo won the third group, going undefeated on their home ice. They were followed by Sibselmash Novosibirsk with a 2-1 record. Baikal's 1-2 finish put them in third, followed by Mayak Krasnoturinsk, who went winless.
After starting Wednesday's action with a 7-1 win over Mayak, Baikal was blown out by Kuzbass 13-5 (an all too familiar outcome over the past couple of seasons) on Thursday. Despite a two-goal effort from Yevgeny Yakovlev, they lost 5-2 to Sibselmash Saturday to book their tickets back to Irkutsk to await the opening of the regular season.
Joining Kuzbass and Sibselmash in Moscow will be Zorky Krasonogorsk and Dynamo Moscow. Zorky scored a surprise victory over Dynamo in the final game of the tournament, beating the defending cup champions 9-5 on the strength of five goals from the Nordic trio of David Karlsson, Sami Laakkonen and Ville Aaltonen. Vodnik Arkahngelsk and Start Nizhny Novgorod, who allowed a tournament-high 37 goals in three games, rounded out the table.
From Kirov, home side Rodina and Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk finished 1-2, each with two victories. Volga Ulyanovsk also registered six points, but their -3 goal differential put them in third place, while Raketa Kazan finished winless.
Finally, SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk put in a dominating performance in group 4, outscoring the opposition 26-4. Yenisei Krasnoyarsk finished second, while Sayany Abakan and Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimisk failed to qualify.
The regular season opens for Baikal on November 21st at home against SKA-Neftyanik.
The second round began Wednesday in the cities of Moscow, Kirov, Kemerovo and Krasnoyarsk. The top two teams from each group qualify for the finals.
Kuzbass Kemerovo won the third group, going undefeated on their home ice. They were followed by Sibselmash Novosibirsk with a 2-1 record. Baikal's 1-2 finish put them in third, followed by Mayak Krasnoturinsk, who went winless.
After starting Wednesday's action with a 7-1 win over Mayak, Baikal was blown out by Kuzbass 13-5 (an all too familiar outcome over the past couple of seasons) on Thursday. Despite a two-goal effort from Yevgeny Yakovlev, they lost 5-2 to Sibselmash Saturday to book their tickets back to Irkutsk to await the opening of the regular season.
Joining Kuzbass and Sibselmash in Moscow will be Zorky Krasonogorsk and Dynamo Moscow. Zorky scored a surprise victory over Dynamo in the final game of the tournament, beating the defending cup champions 9-5 on the strength of five goals from the Nordic trio of David Karlsson, Sami Laakkonen and Ville Aaltonen. Vodnik Arkahngelsk and Start Nizhny Novgorod, who allowed a tournament-high 37 goals in three games, rounded out the table.
From Kirov, home side Rodina and Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk finished 1-2, each with two victories. Volga Ulyanovsk also registered six points, but their -3 goal differential put them in third place, while Raketa Kazan finished winless.
Finally, SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk put in a dominating performance in group 4, outscoring the opposition 26-4. Yenisei Krasnoyarsk finished second, while Sayany Abakan and Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimisk failed to qualify.
The regular season opens for Baikal on November 21st at home against SKA-Neftyanik.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Baikal-Energia Squeaks into Round II
BOULDER, Colorado -- I have not reported in a while because, to be honest, I was scared to watch Baikal-Energia after their dismal performances against SKA-Neftyanik, Mayak and Kuzbass. And I was correct to not watch them - they went 2-3 for the rest of the first round, just barely taking the sixth spot to guarantee a place in round 2.
After the Kuzbass loss, they were trounced again by Yenisei Krasnoyarsk, 8-3 on September 9th. Two days later, they bounced back, though only slightly, besting Sayany Abakan 3-2 (the team that fell to seventh place, just one point behind Irkutsk.) A 3-1 win over Mettalurg Bratsk was only temporary consolation, as they lost their final two games, against Sibselmash Novosibirsk 8-5, and lowly Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk, 6-5.
Ugh - the prospects for Baikal in Moscow do not look too bright for this year's team. Maybe Lesokhimik is a better bet ...
Round 2 begins October 17th.
After the Kuzbass loss, they were trounced again by Yenisei Krasnoyarsk, 8-3 on September 9th. Two days later, they bounced back, though only slightly, besting Sayany Abakan 3-2 (the team that fell to seventh place, just one point behind Irkutsk.) A 3-1 win over Mettalurg Bratsk was only temporary consolation, as they lost their final two games, against Sibselmash Novosibirsk 8-5, and lowly Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk, 6-5.
Ugh - the prospects for Baikal in Moscow do not look too bright for this year's team. Maybe Lesokhimik is a better bet ...
Round 2 begins October 17th.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
I'm Speechless...Kuzbass 13, Baikal 1
Khimik Stadium, KEMEROVO, Russia -- Tournament hosts Kuzbass defeated Baikal-Energia Irkutsk 13-1 Tuesday, putting them in danger of falling out of the top six spots in Group II of the Russia Cup.
The top six teams in each group advance automatically to the second round, while the remaining teams must play in a qualifying tournament to determine the final two spots.
This game was such a one-sided thrashing, it is not worth the time or effort to recount it. Nikolai Kadakin scored Baikal's lone goal, in the 37th minute, when the score already stood at 7-0.
Coming into the tournament, this was thought to be a marquee match-up, as these teams finished first and second in the final east division standings last season. But Baikal's mediocre play leading up to this game indicated that it would likely not be a fair contest. Even the fans knew this, as only 1,000 spectators showed up.
Other Scores:
SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk 14:3 SKA-Sverdlovsk Yekaterinburg (Group II)
Mayak Krasnoturinsk 4:4 SKA Zabaikalets-Energia Chita (Group II)
Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk 18:1 Zorky-2 Krasnogorsk (Group I)
Vodnik Arkhangelsk 6:3 Start Nizhny Novgorod (Group I)
Dynamo Moscow 16:6 Volga Ulyanovsk (Group I)
Current Standings:
GP/Pts./GF-GA
Group I
1. Dynamo Moscow - 4/12/50-9
2. Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk - 5/9/44-19
3. Volga Ulyanovsk - 4/9/15-11
4. Zorky Krasnogorsk - 3/7/26-6
5. Vodnik Arkhangelsk - 4/6/19-25
6. Rodina Kirov - 3/5/22-9
7. Raketa Kazan - 3/4/18-23
8. Start Nizhny Novgorod - 4/3/13-36
9. Stroitel Syktyvkar - 3/0/10-38
10. Zorky-2 Krasnogorsk 5/0/11-62
Group II
1. SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk - 5/15/40-15
2. Kuzbass Kemerovo - 5/12/62-15
3. Sibselmash Novosibirsk - 4/9/23-12
4. Sayany Abakan - 4/9/14-11
5. Yenisei Krasnoyarsk - 4/7/16-10
6. Baikal-Energia Irkutsk - 5/7/19-30
7. Mayak Krasnoturinsk - 5/5/27-29
8. Metallurg Bratsk - 4/3/13-23
9. SKA Zabaikalets-Energia Chita - 5/2/16-42
10. Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk - 4/1/12-22
11. SKA-Sverdlovsk Yekaterinburg - 5/1/19-52
The top six teams in each group advance automatically to the second round, while the remaining teams must play in a qualifying tournament to determine the final two spots.
This game was such a one-sided thrashing, it is not worth the time or effort to recount it. Nikolai Kadakin scored Baikal's lone goal, in the 37th minute, when the score already stood at 7-0.
Coming into the tournament, this was thought to be a marquee match-up, as these teams finished first and second in the final east division standings last season. But Baikal's mediocre play leading up to this game indicated that it would likely not be a fair contest. Even the fans knew this, as only 1,000 spectators showed up.
Other Scores:
SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk 14:3 SKA-Sverdlovsk Yekaterinburg (Group II)
Mayak Krasnoturinsk 4:4 SKA Zabaikalets-Energia Chita (Group II)
Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk 18:1 Zorky-2 Krasnogorsk (Group I)
Vodnik Arkhangelsk 6:3 Start Nizhny Novgorod (Group I)
Dynamo Moscow 16:6 Volga Ulyanovsk (Group I)
Current Standings:
GP/Pts./GF-GA
Group I
1. Dynamo Moscow - 4/12/50-9
2. Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk - 5/9/44-19
3. Volga Ulyanovsk - 4/9/15-11
4. Zorky Krasnogorsk - 3/7/26-6
5. Vodnik Arkhangelsk - 4/6/19-25
6. Rodina Kirov - 3/5/22-9
7. Raketa Kazan - 3/4/18-23
8. Start Nizhny Novgorod - 4/3/13-36
9. Stroitel Syktyvkar - 3/0/10-38
10. Zorky-2 Krasnogorsk 5/0/11-62
Group II
1. SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk - 5/15/40-15
2. Kuzbass Kemerovo - 5/12/62-15
3. Sibselmash Novosibirsk - 4/9/23-12
4. Sayany Abakan - 4/9/14-11
5. Yenisei Krasnoyarsk - 4/7/16-10
6. Baikal-Energia Irkutsk - 5/7/19-30
7. Mayak Krasnoturinsk - 5/5/27-29
8. Metallurg Bratsk - 4/3/13-23
9. SKA Zabaikalets-Energia Chita - 5/2/16-42
10. Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk - 4/1/12-22
11. SKA-Sverdlovsk Yekaterinburg - 5/1/19-52
Monday, August 27, 2007
Struggles Continue for Baikal, Tie Mayak 4-4
Khimik Stadium, KEMEROVO, Russia -- Alexander Nasonov finally broke out offensively, netting a hat trick. But it was not enough as Baikal stretched their winless streak to two games, tying Mayak Krasnoturinsk 4-4 on Monday.
Nasonov opened the scoring in the 4th minute, and in the 28th, he doubled the lead off a pass from Andrei Stolnikov. Former Baikal forward Yevgeny Igoshin cut the lead to one , followed by a tying goal from Mayak captain Pavel Dubovik.
Before the close of the half, Baikal put a lot of pressure on, trying to take the lead going into the locker room. Shortly before the break, a scuffle broke out on the ice, and Dubovik, Igoshin, and Baikal's Yury Timofeyev and Nikolai Kadakin were sent off for 10 minutes. Almost immediately after the restart, Konstantin Savchenko delivered a pass to Nasonov to make the score 3-2.
The discipline that head coach Alexander Shishkin had so stressed throughout the tournament fell apart completely for Baikal in the second half. Penalties to Nasonov (for playing with a broken stick) and Timofeyev (hooking) put Baikal down two men early in the half. Just moments before the penalties were to be released, Mikhail Kopty tied the score.
Savchenko recorded another assist on what should have been the game-winning goal from Kadakin in the 62nd minute, but 10 minutes later Vladimir Charykov tied the score, robbing Baikal of two points and sending them further down the tables.
If Baikal hopes to recover in the tournament, they couldn't have a tougher road ahead of them - tomorrow they take on tournament hosts and last year's bronze medalists, Kuzbass.
Other scores:
Kuzbass Kemerovo 18:3 SKA Zabaikalets-Energia Chita (Group II)
Volga Ulyanovsk 4:2 Start Nizhny Novgorod (Group I)
Dynamo Moscow 12:2 Vodnik Arkhangelsk (Group I)
Nasonov opened the scoring in the 4th minute, and in the 28th, he doubled the lead off a pass from Andrei Stolnikov. Former Baikal forward Yevgeny Igoshin cut the lead to one , followed by a tying goal from Mayak captain Pavel Dubovik.
Before the close of the half, Baikal put a lot of pressure on, trying to take the lead going into the locker room. Shortly before the break, a scuffle broke out on the ice, and Dubovik, Igoshin, and Baikal's Yury Timofeyev and Nikolai Kadakin were sent off for 10 minutes. Almost immediately after the restart, Konstantin Savchenko delivered a pass to Nasonov to make the score 3-2.
The discipline that head coach Alexander Shishkin had so stressed throughout the tournament fell apart completely for Baikal in the second half. Penalties to Nasonov (for playing with a broken stick) and Timofeyev (hooking) put Baikal down two men early in the half. Just moments before the penalties were to be released, Mikhail Kopty tied the score.
Savchenko recorded another assist on what should have been the game-winning goal from Kadakin in the 62nd minute, but 10 minutes later Vladimir Charykov tied the score, robbing Baikal of two points and sending them further down the tables.
If Baikal hopes to recover in the tournament, they couldn't have a tougher road ahead of them - tomorrow they take on tournament hosts and last year's bronze medalists, Kuzbass.
Other scores:
Kuzbass Kemerovo 18:3 SKA Zabaikalets-Energia Chita (Group II)
Volga Ulyanovsk 4:2 Start Nizhny Novgorod (Group I)
Dynamo Moscow 12:2 Vodnik Arkhangelsk (Group I)
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