Kazakhstan hockey players could win the Trentino Universiade - Alexander Shin

For Shin, it was the second Universiade. At the Turin Universiade, Kazakhstani hockey players were third, in Trentino they won silver medals. "Of course, we were eager to win gold medals. We really could do it. When we played against the Canadians in the group match, we were on a par and the judges were fair. In the final match, it was not easy to score in the 5 on 3 power play, we had to be on the defensive all the time, moreover, both coaches were removed".

Alexander recalls that our team scored the first goal 14 seconds after the game had started. But then they were made clear that Kazakhstan would hardly win the Universiade. It was obvious. Three players and both coaches were removed. But they didn't give up after the coaches were removed. On the contrary, they had nothing to lose anymore and they played as if they could gain something, if not the world, and as a result, they managed to score one more goal. They were so happy, as if they won "gold". "To us, - Alexander continues, - this silver was equal to the gold. The Russians strongly backed us".

After the game, coach Plyushchev thanked every player, shook hands with each of them and said: "It's cool that you won "silver"!"