Buffalo 2015: Russia preview

Two years ago, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Russia did not have a chance at medals but now they are firmly in the top three for Buffalo 2015. 21 Apr 2015

Captain Dmitry Lisov, left, celebrates with his Russian teammates after defeating the USA, 2-1, in their final Group B game at Sochi 2014.

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Outlook

There is not much that can be written about the Russian team’s meteoric rise to the very top of ice sledge hockey that has not already been said.

Formerly regarded as the wild cards, Russia have firmly placed themselves on the list of teams with gold medal potential after beating the USA in the preliminary rounds to finish at the top of their group at Sochi 2014.

Just four years out from forming a squad, the Russians then stormed to silver in Sochi, only losing out to the USA by one solitary goal in the final.

Into 2014-15, the USA defeated Russia again in the final of the World Sledge Hockey Challenge in February. The Russian duo of Ivan Berdnik and Maxim Kuzminykh emerged during that game, with one goal and assist respectively that showed new potential to break through the US defensive line.

Nine players from the Sochi 2014 team also remain for Buffalo, including forward Dmitry Lisov, one of the stars for his country at their first Paralympic Games.

It will however be interesting to see how the squad cope without Sochi top scorer Evgeny Petrov, who is out injured.

Key players

Dmitry Lisov (forward); Vasili Varlakov (forward)

Head coach

Sergey Samoylov

World Championship A-Pool medals

Bronze (2013)

Paralympic medals

Silver (2014)

Team roster

Plotnikov, Evegnii (G)

Lysov, Aleksei (D)