After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the successor of the USSR in hockey and a number of other species recognized Russia, so he immediately began to compete in the world elite, while the Ukrainian national team was forced to rise from the lowest classes, so in 1999 at his first championship of the world with the most influential.
The first unofficial meeting of the recently created national team held at a friendly tournament in St. Petersburg on April 14, 1992 against Kazakhstan, and suffered a painful defeat with a score of 1: 5. And in November 1992, he played the first official match against the same rival as part of the selected round at the World Cup in division C.
Six years of “blue and yellow” gradually rose in the classroom, until November 1998 in a qualification tournament in Slovenia, they did not win the right to speak in the elite of world hockey in 1999. On their way, they defeated the French 4: 1 and painted heavy draws with Germany (1: 1) and Slovenia (2: 2).
The 1999 World Cup was held from May 1 to May 16 in Norwegian cities Oslo, Lillegammer and Hamar. The format of these competitions included three stages, starting from a group where 16 national teams were divided into four quarters. The two best teams followed, and Ukraine was included in a rather complex group D along with future finalists of the Finns Championship, as well as with such Russians and Belarusians.
At that time, our debutants were headed by the legendary coach Anatoly Bogdanov, who in 1985 brought Kiev “Falcon” to the bronze awards of the USSR championship, and also six times higher than the Ukrainian team of the best of the best USSR clubs.
Among the leaders of the “blue and yellow” was a player of the Swiss “Bern” Alexander Kholik, the future mentor of HC Kremenhuk and the national team of Ukraine Oleksandr Savitsky, who in 1998 became the Russian champion as part of Fragchuk and the future star of the national team of 20-year-old Konstantin Kasinchuk.
At the gates of Ukrainians in Norway was the legendary Yuri Shundrov, whose shoulders were even two fights for the Soviet Union.
“Shundrov was a very proud man. Other goalkeepers did not exist for him at all for him. Even peers, not to mention us, young people. Few people know, but while playing Shundrov, he did not teach any of the young goalkeeper to the last of the young goalkeeper. Even at the end of his career, when Alexander Seikanda was in time and he will take my place? No.
Nevertheless, the main goalkeeper at this world forum was not Shundrov, but Alexander Vyukhin, but his skills were not enough to remain “dry” in the first match with Finland on May 2 in Hamari. Nevertheless, Bogdanov’s chambers gave a real battle called the opponent.
Ukrainians even first opened an account at the meeting in the majority of minutes in the majority, and the first washing machine of the “blue-yellow” in the elite of world hockey was thrown by Sergey Klimentiv. However, after three minutes, the Finns leveled the score, and then wrapped their less experienced enemy, throwing two more goals – 3: 1. And hockey players of the Ukrainian national team earned this meeting for up to 30 minutes.
“Of course, I am very glad that I scored this first goal, especially since he brought us forward in the match against the Finns! Then I did not think about the historicity of this goal at all, because we hoped for a positive result, ”recalls Klimentiv.
“We lost a very strong enemy, perhaps the best in the tournament. But I am not very pleased with our game. My players can be better in mobility, in fights to use their chances more efficiently. They carefully prepared, but, in the visible, burned. Only Vyukhin played at his level. Anxiety.
While one of the leaders of Finland, Saka Koyva, noted that the first match was very difficult: “We could not find the key to the gate for a long time. We tried quick attacks, long -standing blows, cunning combinations, but the Ukrainian goalkeeper was imperfect. In the third period, this experience has entered into possession. ”
And on May 4, in the same Hamari, our team met with the Russians. It was a very fundamental meeting, many players of our team in this disk performed in the Russian Federation. Again, the Ukrainians opened the score in the first place in the majority, when Oleg Sinkuva was different in 12 minutes. Nevertheless, it was impossible to maintain its advantage – in the second and third period, Bogdanov’s parishes instead of another abandoned washing machine missed four and lost 1: 4.
Although, even with such reports, stress was felt on the ice, and the fight began 3.5 minutes before the end – according to the commentator, it all started with the outbreak of Klimentov and Kudashov, and ended with the boxing between the novel Salnikov and Sarmatina, which barely stretched out by the judges.
Anatoly Bogdanova noted that in the second match his team looked better than Finland: “The turning point in the match was 5 in 3 at the end of the second period. Immediately after that, instead of 2: 2, they scored 1: 3 with an advantage in one player. In this tournament, we are a student.
The best player of Ukraine in this match, Vadim Fragchuk, was convinced that the “blue and yellow” were close to the feeling: “But luck was not our side. Our team does not have a class of Yashin class. ”
In turn, Ottawa Senators Ottavsky club Alexei Yashin praised the Ukrainians: “The first half was disappointed. We attacked a lot, and not only did not score, but also missed the car. However, in the second half, the team decided to overcome the course of the game. They can attack. “
The last meeting of the group stage against Belarus in his scenario, repeating the two previous ones, is the first, opening the score within 15 seconds of the game after the accurate throw by Vitarius Litvinenko, but then again falls into defense, allowing the enemy to throw up to six times, which became the last offer for the “blue-yellow”.
“I think there was a lot of nervous tension that pursued the players. Even experienced hockey players, as the former NHL player Alexander Koluuunyuk made elementary mistakes. Ogunuk was the culprit of the first goals missed. Moreover, many of our players played for the Falcon. Death ”, Anatoli Bogdanov was upset.
“As for a large account, this often happens, I have already experienced it in 20 years of work in coaching. You are preparing for a decisive match, and when you lose a chance, there is an extraordinary psychological prohibition. There is no need to make a tragedy from these defeats, many of them will learn. Trainer.
As a result, our group was won by Finland, which was followed by the Russians, and Belarus was in the third position. As a result, Ukrainians took 14th place at the debut championship.
The Czech Republic, which brought home Olympic gold in 1998, confirmed its high class per year. Not even the strongest composition without the “dominator” of Dominic Hushka at the gate. Nevertheless, the stars of the NHL Martin Ruchinsky, Peter Sikora and Pavel Kubina helped the team get the final, and there, in the amount of two matches, they pressed Finland – 3: 1, 1: 4 and 1: 0 in overtime.
Although the Finns were also brought to the hockey mundial, a powerful composition led by Koyv Saku Susi Selinn, which became the most successful players of the championship.
The Russians closed the 5 best at this championship, which was failure for them, the Belarusians ended with nine.
Earlier, OBOZ.UA said that the hockey player of the National Team of Ukraine set a unique record of the 21st century.
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Source: Obozrevatel
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
