The Russian hockey side Red Army have turned out the strongest team at the first ever World Junior Club Cup held on home ice in the Siberian city of Omsk.

­Any disappointment amongst fans over the fact that Russia wasn’t playing Canada in the final soon evaporated as the fantastic atmosphere at the sold-out Arena Omsk charged up the Red Army from the opening minutes of the match.

Their Czech opponents from Karlovy Vary were the only unbeaten team at the tournament going into the final against the Red Army, while the Russians were forced to take a tougher path after losing to the Latvians at the group stage.

But the Russians won the rest of their encounters, with America’s Eastern Junior Hockey League All Stars being among their victims (9-1).
It was clear after the first period and three unanswered goals that the loss was merely a hiccup on the way to triumph.

The second period saw the Russians ramp up the pressure on Energie as the tournament’s top scorer, Mikhail Plotnikov, put another one in the net.

Though the Czechs managed to score after the first break, it was nowhere near enough to match Russia’s three in the second.

The visitors’ second goal of the match in the third period probably gave them a glimpse of hope, but the Red Machine justified its nickname and made the score an unreachable 7-2.

“We have unbelievable emotions. We wouldn’t have had such an electric atmosphere if not for the spectators. I also thank all my teammates and all the staff members. Our squad is great. I’m just happy,” Mikhail Plotnikov said.    

Some of the Red Army guys could go on to play in the KHL (Continental Hockey League) and some might even make it to Russia’s national squad where the kind of fan support they experienced here in Omsk would be a weekly affair.

But for now, this unique Siberian experience has probably helped them – and the other teams at the tournament – build character and an invaluable familiarity with the Big Game.

The Junior Club World Cup organizers are aiming for longevity and want this to become a yearly event.

After all, there are not too many international youth competitions in the world today and it was proved right here in Omsk that the hunger is there.

“This obviously was a tremendous event. It exceeded all our expectation and I surely believe that next year here in Omsk we’ll have another World Cup,” Dmitry Efimov, MHL (Junior Hockey League) Commissioner, promised.

Judging by the attendance of the first-ever junior Club World Cup – plus the response from the visiting teams – the tournament has plenty of potential. It is hard to say who will have the honor of hosting the next event, but one thing is certain – if it is a Russian city, then success is assured.