Bykov said he is light in weight, and not easy in character, and he doesn’t like being lifted up, as it should be done to everyone in the team… 

…I had never seen Sergei Fedorov, who was the world champion as far back as in Soviet Union team, so happy even after he won the Stanley Cup.

…Going to the mixed zone Alexander Ovechkin explained loudly on his mobile to his father what they had done, in pure Russian.  

…Vladislav Tretyak told where champagne had come from: “one should prepare beforehand” (yes, there is a superstition that it’s no good preparing to celebrate before the victory is gained,  but could you find a case of champagne in the zone of Coliseum Pepsi?).

…Ilia Kovalchuk, who had become suddenly the Hero of Russia, was pressed to the wall wit Dictaphones.   

…Alexei Tereshchenko let me hold the medal for some while. The first Russian gold during last 15 years turned out to be quite heavy.  

…And the hosts of the championship only wanted all that mess to be over as soon as possible. Nothing had pointed to our wonderful victory and their defeat that happened within 15 minutes – from the goal by Alexei Tereshchenko in the 49th minute till the finishing point by Ilia Kovalchuk in the 3rd minute of overtime. 

All that was just alchemy, you may believe me. When Vyacheslav Bykov says usual words about united team and hard working, of course, we believe him. But that’s not the whole truth. We have had 15 good and united teams and they worked hard too. However, it’s only three times they got medals and none of them got gold.

Today’s national team had no better chance to get to the top, compared to that by the Moscow staff of the last year. The grounds were small, the Canadians were big, we had problems with goalkeepers, and all was clear with our defense. It was obvious we could hope to get the bronze medals at best. Well, having started askew in Canada, everything was to end up in similar way. 

Of course, we solved our problems somehow as they appeared, but the guys of Ken Hitchcock looked too strong. They had been playing like Brazilians in football – you score as many as you can and we score as many as we wish. Denny Heatly had been recognized the best forward and the most valuable player beforehand. Brent Barns was called the best defender. Rick Nash and Mike Green (and Heatly, of course) were included in the symbolic team by journalists. It’s only Evgeny Nabokov who was named from our staff: he was recognized to be the best goalkeeper.    

No one was convinced even with quarterfinal and semifinal with Switzerland and Finland that was won by us with the score 10 to 0. We had to be a cut above the hosts to defeat them. The impossibility of the task was our only chance.  

…About the alchemy. One may get good physical state, practice perfectly the team coordination, work out well working liaisons and even provide for appropriate mood – and still something may be missing. No one knows what it is exactly.  

Bykov and Zakharkin and their staff led the team prudently through the tournament. It was a rare case where our team gained strength from match to match. However, there was a nuance, it was not clear what to do about Kovalchuk. It was clear his play was bad in the Kazan five. However, Bykov, knowing only his own logic, insisted on his line and protected Kovalchuk saying “We need him”.    

Five minutes before the time was over and the score was 4 to 3 in favor of the hosts, it turned out we not just needed Kovalchuk, he was really indispensable. And for that he was sent to play in the forth squad at the end of the second period. It turned out that was exactly the ingredient that we had lacked before.    

…In the first break I had a short talk with Sergei Mikhalev and in the second with Alexander Yakushev and in the third break before overtime with Vladimir Krikunov. The mood of the well known coaches (two of them used to head the national team) changed like the weather in Quebec, but it changed for the better. Krikunov was able to say we had the chance to win: “The Canadian team even in Halifax did not really play in the third period, and now they are really weakened. It’s the matter of physical state, not psychology.”

…Bykov did not send anyone to man the breach. The most paradoxical was that the team continued to play its own game at a bit higher speed. There was no special storm or haste. Bykov said during the break the team had to continue playing compactly and with good backup. Zakharkin confirmed nothing had been said about the referees. “There’s only game, and nothing else”. (By the way, the referees and the Canadian forward Nash, who managed to solicit two sendings off, must feel ashamed for the first period).  

What happened during last 15 minutes can be explained in no way. The winner cannot win back with the score of minus two, two times in the final. The forward who had no goals during the whole championship cannot score two goals within 7 minutes. All was done against any logic, and that was how it had to be done.  

…When crazy celebration began Bykov only had time to tell me he would realize the meaning of the moment later, and was brought away immediately. When the battle is over, the battle field belongs to quartermasters. High ranking people were arriving at the Russian team’s dressing room in large number. One may understand them – all of them had contributed to the victory. And the great hockey player, Alexander Yakushev, was not even allowed in the mixed zone: our officials did not care while the security being too young did not recognize the holder of the four fingerings reminding of Super Series of 1972. Well, the moment of happiness was over, and it was replication to begin.     

I don’t know how the workers, who dismantled the press center, did not pull down the Coliseum itself. After three hours everything was dismantled and brought away. And only the board inside the arena still showed the sign СHAMPIONAT MONDIAL CANADA Halifax Quebec IIHF 1908 — 2008.

Interview in the dressing room

Vyacheslav Bykov, Russian team manager:

“I’m just happy for the guys. It’s only Sergei Fedorov who has been the world champion from this team. And now this current generation is gold too. That’s worth a lot. We prepared for the final with no worry. The main thing was not to allow Canadians get speed and to play compactly and accurately with them. Unfortunately, the referees wavered at the beginning, but even that did not beat us. The guys just gritted the teeth and endured that. And Ilia Kovalchuk made his shot at the right moment. You know, when people like Jenya Nabokov or Andrei Markov come at the first summons, that is like balm to the soul. One may remove mountains with it. To tell the truth, I’ve got no emotions now, just emptiness after the victory. But it’s only for now.”  

Igor Zakharkin, senior coach:

“I slept well before the final. I’m not sure for everyone, but I think all the guys took normal rest too and did not burn out. So we carried out the whole match in same manner – methodically and purposefully. We knew our physical condition was better: Canadians flare up quickly and then die away. And if you help them in that… You have seen it: as soon as we increased the intensity, the strength of the hosts was gone away. This victory is for long.” 

Vladislav Tretyak, President of the Hockey Russian Federation:

“We can and we must defeat Canadians, even on their own ice. We used to do it before. If you recall the “match of the century” in Montreal, the score was against us too, but we summoned our strength and all was put in order. Of course, times have changed, but something still stands! I’m glad for Jenya Nabokov, he not only came to help the team; he became the best goalkeeper. The team was confident about its rear. And that’s the most important thing; I tell you this as a goalkeeper. Well, champagne is being open, it’s time to go!”  

Alexei Tereshchenko, forward:

“We had no presentiments! We had been preparing normally, like it was no final. It’s my first time at such a tournament and in Canada. Not everything was done successfully by me. But no one ever reproached me. And so I scored when it was necessary. I had time to adjust the pluck and  made a shot. And then it was Ilia’s turn.”  

Alexei Morozov, captain:

“I don’t remember anything after the last scored pluck – who we are and where we are. That’s unbelievable state. No one panicked even when it was impossible not to panic. Very few could stand such a pressure. But we were just doing what we had to, as we were the united collective and we knew what to do. The coach said to avoid being sent off the field, before the overtime. We stood while Canadians wavered. That’s victory!” 

Alexander Semin, forward:

“I’ve got no power, this is why I can’t even smile. We accomplished the attitude, thanks to our fans, I scored my two goals, we reversed the course of the match, we are the world champions – that’s all for the moment.

Ilia Kovalchuk, forward:

“Should I have been hurt with my transfer to the fourth squad? The coaches know what they do. It’s only positive information that comes from them, and that’s very important. It was journalists to be anxious about me non-scoring, and I wasn’t. Lyosha Morozov told me before the match  that I was going to score. Talking seriously, this is the best day in my life and the most important goals. I won’t be telling how I scored them, that doesn’t matter. We believed in our victory, and Canadians thought the game was done. It seemed to me they got nervous, especially in the overtime.”  

Alexander Yakushev, many-time world and Olympic champion:

“The longer you wait, the sweeter victory is. I understand that many lost their faith, but one must believe all the time. And must work whatever hard it was. Today’s match will go down in history as a moment of high overcoming. I can’t recall any similar final. I’m happy to congratulate the guys and the coach collective; they have done a great thing for the country”.