The puck heroes of the Soviet Union took credit for Latvia’s success.
In Russia, the hockey World Cup bronze medal won by Latvia is looked down upon.
Among other things, a two-time Olympic champion Alexander Kozhevnikov64, and celebrated the Soviet championship in the then SKA Leningrad Konstantin Menshikov78, make silly claims about Latvia’s success in the Russian media.
Kozhevnikov is of the opinion that the absence of Russia and Belarus from the World Cup has led to the easy march of small countries to the prize positions. In his opinion, the sky will soon be open even for African hockey teams.
– Soon Burkina Faso will also reach medals at the World Championships. It is quite certain that Latvia would not have won the bronze if Russia had participated in the tournament. This is a nightmare! Kozhevnikov reprimanded the Latvian Tv Net site by.
Menšikov found the same strange explanation for Latvia’s victory cost that Roman Rotenberg talked about earlier also for the Lions.
Rotenberg said two weeks ago that Finnish hockey culture was created by a Russian Vladimir Yursinovwho coached TPS in the 1990s.
Now Menshikov is preaching that the Latvians have the Russians to thank for their hockey skills.
– Years of cooperation with Russia are behind Latvia’s success. Dinamo Riga played in the KHL and children’s and youth teams came here from Latvia to play tournaments, Menšikov says to a Russian website Championatin by.
– Many of their players were trained in the KHL and other Russian leagues. That’s why they won bronze – not because they cut ties with our country.