OREANDA-NEWS. Hockey players of the Russian national team were left without medals at the World Youth Championship, having lost to the Finns in the bronze medal match.

The meeting in Edmonton, Canada ended with a score of 4: 1 (0: 1, 1: 0, 3: 0). The Finns responded to the goal by Ilya Safonov (7th minute) with goals from Anton Lundell (26th, 59th), Mikko Petman (42nd) and Roni Hirvonen (60th).

Later on Wednesday in the final of the tournament, the US team beat Canada.

The head coach of the Russian national team Igor Larionov, commenting on the team's performance at the championship, said that his players "took a step forward", in spite of the result of the match.

As the Russian coach told reporters, “the coach is always to blame for defeat, unfortunately. This is part of the business, I understand that. But this is not a question about me, but about the team, the nation, the country that was expecting success. We cannot blame anyone, guys. this tournament made a step forward, albeit not in terms of results. But they felt hockey, felt the right emotions. You can apologize as much as you like, but the guys have done a tremendous job. "

At the same time, Larionov urged not to criticize hockey players. “Children 18-19 years old, now in no case should they be lowered, humiliated in terms of criticism. Sport is sport, we tried to play hockey, which brings pleasure to everyone, not to play boring. In some matches it worked, in some - no, "- said the mentor.