Sokil - Donbass
April 5, Tuesday, Terminal Arena, Brovary
Start: 18:30
Referees: Dmitry Kravchenko (Belgorod, Russia), Alexei Glukhov (Kharkiv)
Linesmen: Alexander Govorun, Andrew Kicha (both Kiev)
A live webcast at 18:30 at the First National
Before proceeding to discuss the future of confrontation, should be given a few words about equally important aspects of hockey. First of all, it's the return of the Ukrainian championship to the national television screens! Tomorrow at 18:30 those who will not able to get in on the first Brovary final encounter of the series, will be able to watch the fight at the First National Channel. Moreover, the previously announced start broadcasting with a 30-minute delay, but today it was known that the Donbass team bosses agreed on a live match. The same goes for the second match of the series, which will be held April 8 in Donetsk Druzhba Sports Palace - live broadcast of the meeting is scheduled at 18:00 also at the First National. The main thing is that at the last moment, nothing has changed in the plans of the channel, as so often before.
The second point - the invitation of foreign judges on the final matches. They will be familiar to fans and Kharkiv Ukrainian Dmitry Kravchenko of Russia Belgorod. This decision stems from a desire to avoid possible accusations federation sides of biased judging.
Donetsk against Kyiv, a freshman against long-term leader of Ukrainian hockey experience against youth, Alexander Kulikov against Alexander Seukand - it's just a small part of the confrontation, which can be found on the eve of the battle of two titans of Ukrainian hockey season 2010/11 - Donbass and Sokil.
Even before the season started, few doubted that the Sokil once again win the title. Donbass perceived rather brash upstart, rather than a real competitor to the current champion. But the club along with coach Alexander Kulikov has done a truly titanic work, collecting the crumbs of a promising team, by the end of the season became a real machine, which knows no mercy for opponents. Of course, the main factor in the success of the Donetsk team became finance. Donbass does not have problems in anything that has a positive effect both on the training process and the results.
Kyiv team has a financial component is not so smooth, and the problems the team had been told so many that just do not feel like repeating. Nevertheless, despite all the turmoil, the people of Kyiv managed to maintain combat strength and team leaders. As always, Alexander Seukand relies on veterans, proven fighters, capable of experience and class to decide the outcome of the meeting in his favor even more masterovitym contender, but it happens and embarrassing defeat against the weaker teams. All that we saw in the performance of blue-white-blue during the season in the Open Championship of Belarus.
Road to the final Sokil and the Donbass distinguished dramatically. Kyiv, with the exception of a few games, the entire regular season had the closest reserve, focusing on strength performances in OCHB, and only in the semi-final play-off against the exposed Companion-Naftogaz battle roster. To the surprise of all, defeat the opponent did not work. Moreover, Falcon under unfavorable scenario, might be completely left out the final. Yet, the experience took its toll and Alexander Seukand large vain attempts broke the resistance of the debutant season in three games.
Donbass throughout the regular season was on the rise both in game and in the results. In parallel, the team of Alexander Kulikov held friendly matches with clubs in Russia, and thus is lacking match practice in the Ukrainian championship. In the regular season donetchane finished far ahead of the other teams, and in the semi-final play-off without any problems sorted out with Kharkiv.
Personal meetings: commands in this season rivals met four times with each other - all fights ended with the victories of the Donbass, with a total difference of 20:5 in favor of the goals of Donetsk team. However, against all the fighting strength of the Falcon Donbass actually have not played so much attention to the results of the previous fights, I would not pay.
Loss consisting of: Sokil is coming to a final battle in full strength. The only loss is a forward-veteran Valentin Oletzkiy.
In the Donbass losses are more significant. For family reasons he returned to Russia striker Alex Krovopuskov, the presence of ice which could seriously cool down fighters Falcon. Even in the first semi-final meeting with the puck split the Kharkov face another Russian veteran - Sergei Klimovich. Finally, the injury in training of a defender Dmytro Tolkunov. It turns to be the main headache of the coaching staff of Donetsk.
Clue encounters:
Alexander Kulikov - Alexander Seukand
Supporters with experience should remember how at the end of the 90s led by Berkut Kiev Kulikov, smashed on its way everyone and everything. In the Golden Eagle players gathered Kulikov, who for one reason or another not made it to Sokil. Not suitable based on the flagship country of hockey players, led by Kulikova turned into a fighting machine - Berkut was twice champion of the Eastern European Hockey League, once the Cup three times and VEHL champion of Ukraine! Moreover, even considered the primary colors of the club ... red and black! Sounds familiar? Unfortunately, the glorious history of Berkut was over in the summer of 2002 ... Let's hope that the fate of Donbass Kiev club will not suffer.
Needless to say, that on the way to his trophy was left behind Berkut Kiev Sokol, who led and still leads Alexander Seukand. Not the warm relations between the two teachers were supported by the permanent victories Kulikova, which ultimately gives the current finals in Ukraine and its special intrigue uncompromising.
Youth vs. Experience
Take a look to Sokil roster - there were only five players under 30 years old - Sviridov, Bondaryev, Yegorov, Chernenko and Katrych. The average age of the Falcon leaders has lately come to 30s, and many even over 35...
In Donbass the picture is quite different. In the last official match of Donetsk there were only three players who turned 30-year milestone: Belarusian Pereverzyev, Zelenko, and the Ukrainian forward Pastukh. In addition, the veterans of the team are Tolkunov, Krovopuskov, Klimovich whose participation in tomorrow's meeting is in question. The hardcore of the team - young men 21-24 years of age.
Sokil's advantage is the experience factor, Donbass' - speed and endurance. Whose trump card will be more weight - will play.
Stepan Goryachevskih vs Kostyantyn Simchuk
As always a very important role in such games are being played by the goalkeepers. Sokil's position in this case is quite well. Despite the fatigue from a busy season, one or two matches, Konstantin Simchuk will pull easily - in class, experience and skill.
Stepan Goryachevskih goalie no less famous. 25 years of experience in Stepan not hold, but the last game of Kharkiv, which missed three consecutive Goryachevskih puck in the first minutes of the meeting, gives good hope for Sokil.
Defense of Donbass vs Shahraychuk, Tsyrul, Yegorov, Salnikov & Co.
Sokil leaders - are all candidates to the national team of Ukraine, Vadym Shakhraychuk - support and main striking force of the current composition of Kiev. Experienced frontline can lead partner, and together with an enviable scoring statistics (45 points in 48 games in the Open Belarus Championship) may cause a lot of problems to the red-blacks.
The mobile offensive line in Donbass - Sokil defense
The main task of wards Alexandr Seukand at upcoming games - not to turn around and run up a quick young striker Donbass. In this regard, three Isaenko-Shaman-Borisenko stands alone. But do not forget about yurkom Smolin, fleet-footed Babintsy, active and skillful Iskhakov, Mikheyenko, Roman and good shepherd.
If you're able to impose Donbass and Sokil hockey speed, the chances of Kulikov's guys to final victory in the series will grow substantially.
In general, we are waiting for a real battle of the two principal of approximately equal forces teams. The battle is not only clubs - the confrontation of generations of hockey players, as well as classic rivalries in Donetsk and Kiev, and at least a classical, albeit half-forgotten in time, the struggle of the two most renowned (not including Anatoly Bogdanov) Ukrainian coaches of Alexanders - Kulikov and Seukand. Even if you are not an ardent admirer of hockey, believe, you simlply can't miss the battle of Sokil and Donbass!
What's Next appearances:
April 8, DS Friendship, Donetsk
Start: 18:00
April 9, DS, Friendship, Donetsk
Start: 14:00 *
* The third match will take place in the event of a tie in a series of bills after two matches
Donbass in press
Final Series Preview: The War is Coming!
05-04-11 02:53:25
- iSport.ua
