Ilsur Metshin played in the match that opened the city stage of the “Golden Puck”

(KZN.RU, January 28, Alena Miroshnichenko). The city stage of the All-Russian competition “Golden Puck” named after A. Tarasov started today at the arena of the Kazan Ice Palace “Zilant”. The tournament opened with a match of teams with the participation of young hockey players, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, Denis Kalinkin, the head of the Executive Committee, Andrey Ryabov, the vice president of the Federation of Hockey of the RT, Gennady Maslov, an honored hockey player, Rafik Yakubov, the general manager of the HC “Ak Bars”, and heads of districts’ administrations of the capital of the RT. The forces on the ice were equal since the composition of each team was mixed.

“We are sincerely glad to welcome you at the city stage of the tournament “Golden Puck”. This year, 100 teams took part in the competition. We will continue to create all the conditions for you to play hockey, football, engage in other sports and have a healthy lifestyle. I am glad that we will go on the ice with you today. Remember, hockey is a game for real men!” I. Metshin greeted young athletes.

This year, the tournament “Golden Puck” gathered a record number of participants in Kazan. About 2000 young athletes played for 100 teams in three age groups: 2008–2009, 2006–2007, and 2004–2005. The first regional stage of the competition took place in the capital of the RT in December-January. 24 teams entered the city stage of the tournament in the yard sports stage, and 11 teams entered the sports stage. Those of them who manage to take the first places in their age groups will have the opportunity to represent Kazan at the republican stage of the “Golden Puck”.

“We all started in the “Golden Puck”, all of our hockey players passed through this tournament. We will also be waiting for you in the“Ak Bars”, Rafik Yakubov, a former “Ak Bars” player, addressed the competition participants.

“Kazan is ahead in terms of the development of sports, the creation of appropriate conditions for hockey. I want to thank the Mayor of Kazan, the City Hall of the city and those who by personal example express their sincere love for hockey”, said Andrey Ryabov, the vice-president of the Hockey Federation of the RT.

The first match of the city stage of the tournament ended with a score of 7:4. The most productive players were Ilsur Metshin, who made the greatest number of serves and scored the first goal at this meeting, and Sergey Mironov, the head of the Kirovsky and Moskovsky districts’ administration, who also made a number of goals for the opposing team.

The All-Russian competition of young hockey players for the prizes of the club “Golden Puck” named after A. Tarasov is an annual hockey tournament. Teams are formed on the basis of secondary schools, yard teams, teen clubs and teams of youth sports schools. Last year the contest brought together 1760 participants to 88 Kazan teams.