Russia's November win over the CHL in the Subway Super Series prefaced the return of a great rivalry
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Somewhere David Branch is smiling.
The president of the Canadian Hockey League has taken a lot of heat over the years for standing by the annual Canada-Russia series in November. For the first time in a long time, the proof is in the pudding as Canada and Russia are set to renew their rivalry in the gold-medal game for the first time in four years.
The Subway Super Series has its fair share of detractors. It seems a year doesn't go by where the same argument about the seriousness of the series isn't brought up. Everyone has an opinion on how the format can be improved, most citing a different opposition.
But for the first time in the series' eight-year history, the Russians came out on top. The Russians finally brought over a team which would compete and use it as an evaluation tool in the process of naming their world junior roster.
"It was not a selection camp, but players understand that it is a chance for them to prove that they belong to the team for the world juniors," Russian head coach Valeri Bragin said. "I think that Super Series really helped us and the players."
Fifteen of the 22 players named to Russia's world junior roster played in the Subway Super Series. The group not only gained familiarity with each other on the ice, but were able to better adjust to the circumstances in North America.
"We adjusted to a smaller rink, so it helped us," defenceman Nikita Pivtsakin said. "We understand that we need to play faster, to move the puck quicker."
But it also gave the Russians a renewed sense of pride in a historical rivalry that had seemingly gone cold.
"The Subway Super Series really helped us in terms of mentality because it helped our players to feel that they care to win against Canada," Bragin said.
"We showed that we can beat Canada," Pivtsakin added. "Everything is possible."
The Russians swept both games against the Québec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League teams. The Ontario Hockey League group kept its dominance with the only two wins by CHL teams in the series.
But it was a combined effort and those wins by the OHL representatives didn't take away the resentment of seeing the Russians celebrate on Canadian soil.
"It was just tough seeing a Russian team come in (and win)," Canadian forward Marcus Foligno said. "For the past couple years, it's been most of the Canadian teams winning against Russia."
The Russians even celebrated on Sean Couturier's home team rink in Drummondville, Que.
"It's certain we would have liked to have more pride for our league in Canada," Couturier said. "I would have liked to win in my rink, but it's in the past and (Wednesday's gold-medal game) is a new game."
So much for simply being an evaluation tool.
Hockey Canada's management staff always speaks glowingly of the series' impact on naming a roster. Two years ago Stefan Della Rovere made his mark in the series then represented Canada in the next two tournaments.
This year, it was Marcus Foligno's turn.
"Guys like Marcus Foligno might not be invited to camp if it's not for the Subway Series," Canadian assistant coach André Tourigny said. "Imagine how important he is here. He's one of our best players.
"I'm not saying he won't be invited (to the selection camp) if it wasn't for the Subway Series, but he wasn't in the picture (before) like he was after the Subway Super Series."
Several years ago I asked Branch why the series included the Russians. Why not try a different country with the same format?
"When we contemplated the best country to play, we gravitated towards the Russians because they inevitably are the team we, as Canada, face in the gold-medal game," Branch explained. "That -- plus the long history of the many international games that we have all witnessed and enjoyed over the years involving Canada and Russia."
There was once a time when a Canada-Russia final was almost a foregone conclusion heading into every world junior tournament. The two sides met in five of six consecutive gold-medal games from 2002 through 2007.
Now that the Russians view the Subway Super Series the same way the Canadians do, what's old is new again.
Maybe now Branch won't have to defend its purpose anymore.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
The entire Russian team stuck around and watched the Canada-U.S. semifinal after dispatching the Swedes in a shootout earlier in the day on Monday. Washington Capitals first-round draft pick Yevgeni Kuznetsov criticized the one-sided game when asked for his opinion.
"When (Canada) played against our team, they usually have big spirit, they are ready for hits and so on," Kuznetsov said. "When Canada and the United States play against each other, I don't think it's a great atmosphere in games like against Russia. It's not so tight, so it's why I don't like yesterday's game because America didn't look like they should look in that kind of game."
