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The other teams involved in the Karjala Cup tournament said Captain Vasily Podkolzin and his U20 squad were unworthy of participating in the professional mens’ tournament. They were outraged that Russia sent kids to compete with men.
After a lot of talk about FIN, SWE and CZE not accepting Russia's decision to send a U20 team to the Karjala Cup because it's a men's tournament...
— Jokke Nevalainen (@JokkeNevalainen) November 3, 2020
It appears Russia is still sending a U20 team and the other three nations are doing nothing about it.
In the end, they decided to let the kids play no doubt planning to shellack them on the ice. Most dismissive was Finland’s head coach Jukka Jalonen.
Finland's head coach Jukka Jalonen commented last week:
— Jokke Nevalainen (@JokkeNevalainen) November 5, 2020
"Speaking frankly, we have no interest playing against a U20 team. We'll play if we have to but we couldn't care less."
So this should be fun.
You can bet Russian head coach Igor Larionov used Jalonen’s quote to help motivate his young charges. Whatever Larionov did do it resulted in his teenagers embarrassing the adult Finns 6-2.
Vasily Podkolzin led all Russian forwards in the game in ice time and was both an offensive and defensive force.
Top forwards:
— Jokke Nevalainen (@JokkeNevalainen) November 5, 2020
Vasili Podkolzin (VAN) 18:25
Rodion Amirov (TOR) 16:41
Marat Khusnutdinov (MIN) 16:24
Yegor Afanasyev (NSH) 16:04
Yegor Spiridonov (SJS) 16:02
Ilya Safonov 15:03
Yegor Chinakhov (CBJ) 14:18
Danil Bashkirov 14:13
Maxim Groshev (TBL) 13:36
Arseni Gritsyuk (NJD) 11:38
He made this nice play on his club’s 3-0 goal garnering the primary assist on the tally.
#Canucks Another look at #19 Vasily Podkolzin's primary . https://t.co/4cqufQvaKM
— CanucksAbbyFan2 (@Fan2Abby) November 5, 2020
He also got credit for a secondary assist on this power play goal when he fed the puck to his teammate who then passed the disc to the goal scorer.
#Canucks U20
— CanucksAbbyFan2 (@Fan2Abby) November 5, 2020
After consultation and review with my colleague @BallhockeyBure we've awarded a secondary to Podz on the 4-1 PP goal and the official now agrees with us too.
Podkolzin pic.twitter.com/CvU2LwptMe
Podkolzin then followed up his strong first tourney game against Finland with an even better performance in his second game against Sweden.
In a tight battle, his club trailed the Swedes 1-0 with time running out on the clock. Coach Larionov pulled his goalie for the extra attacker. Podkolzin then intercepted an errant clearing attempt by a Tre Kronor defenceman that bounced to him off the referee. He then sent a pinpoint pass across the offensive zone to his teammate who tied the game 1-1.
#Canucks U20
— CanucksAbbyFan2 (@Fan2Abby) November 7, 2020
#19 Captain Podkolzin with the O-zone steal and primary on the tying goal with the the goalie pulled.
1-1 and headed to OT. pic.twitter.com/Nd5cG7jdDw
The tied game went to overtime but it solved nothing.
After playing a strong 20 minutes and 46 seconds in the match, Podkolzin got his chance to be a hero in the shootout. He then delivered the win, scoring the shootout game winning goal on a pretty move from his backhand to his forehand.
#Canucks U20
— CanucksAbbyFan2 (@Fan2Abby) November 7, 2020
In case you were asleep, here is #19 Captain Vasily Podkolzin's pretty shootout winner for early this morning. pic.twitter.com/jWeLjT7enc
Now all that stood in the way of a tournament upset victory for the youngsters was the Czech Republic men’s team.
The Czechs came out fast from the starting gate but could not put one in the Russian net.
#Canucks U20
— CanucksAbbyFan2 (@Fan2Abby) November 8, 2020
The have come out with early pressure. pic.twitter.com/MpOFFz9z1w
After the initial flurry by the Czechs, the Russian kids settled down and posted a 3-0 shutout victory over the opposition adult men. Vasily Podkolzin notched a primary assist on Russia’s third goal to salt away the victory.
#Canucks U20
— CanucksAbbyFan2 (@Fan2Abby) November 8, 2020
Another look at the Captain's primary pic.twitter.com/24WaFREn6E
The youthful Russians had overcome their opponents’ disrespect to win the tournament. It was now time for Captain Podkolzin to claim the Karjala Cup trophy on behalf of his crew.
Captain Vasili Podkolzin#KarjalaCup #Canucks pic.twitter.com/PnH7ykFoBV
— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) November 8, 2020
After collecting the Cup, the victors took part in the now traditional hockey group championship team photograph.
#Canucks While you were sleeping Captain Vasily Podkolzin led his young band of U20 players to an upset win over the best euro professionals from to capture the Karjala Cup.
— CanucksAbbyFan2 (@Fan2Abby) November 8, 2020
This morning's win was 3-0 over the . He had a primary .
winners pic.twitter.com/HAP4NxJsK4
Amongst his teammates taking part in the photo-op was fellow Vancouver Canucks’ prospect Dimitry Zlodeyev. The 18 year old 2020 draft pick was designated as the club’s 13th forward in the first two games of the tournament. He played just over two minutes in the first game late in the third period after the game was all but over. He then did not get on the ice at all in the tight shootout victory over Sweden. But in the third Cup winning game, Coach Larionov promoted him to fourth line center and gave him nearly twelve minutes of ice time. While he did not get on the scoresheet, he played a solid mistake free game.
#Canucks U20
— CanucksAbbyFan2 (@Fan2Abby) November 8, 2020
#36 Z looking like he belongs battling net front and spending his shifts in the O-zone. pic.twitter.com/Ov3FB3LUOH
Vancouver Canucks’ fans hope to someday see Podkolzin and Zlodeyev pose together for a Red Machine-type victory picture only instead in a Blue-and-green version of the photograph.
While Zlodeyev is still a few years away from challenging for an NHL roster spot, Podkolzin is currently due to arrive in Vancouver this coming May. He will be expected by the NHL club and its fans to help the Canucks’ with its then late season push to try and return to the NHL playoffs for a second straight season. If the stars align perfectly maybe he will get a chance to replicate that winning photograph sooner than later in the NHL.
Кубок Карьяла! Вероятно, лучшая новость недели — прямиком в вашу новостную ленту
— Хоккей России (@russiahockey) November 8, 2020
⠀#снамироссия pic.twitter.com/9uGIYC8FAO