Swedish hockey veteran: Russian youth players still best in world of hockey

Russian junior players are still the best in the world of ice hockey. This opinion was expressed to a RIA Novosti correspondent by famous Swedish ice hockey player Thomas Steen, who came to the Moscow tournament sponsored by "Baltika" brewery as a scout of the National Hockey League /NHL/ Club "Minnesota Wild".

"Ovechkin, Zherdev, Syomin and many other outstanding hockey players are already on the draft lists of the strongest NHL clubs", Steen, who played 14 seasons for "Winnipeg Jets", said. In appreciation for outstanding services of the forward, who was also the captain of the Winnipeg club, his number 25 jersey had been hung below the vault of the hockey stadium in Winnipeg. Legendary Canadian forward Bobby Hull was the only one before him, who received the same honor.

"Russian hockey has very deep traditions, its own and effective school, which enabled to preserve the high level of the youth training, despite all difficulties the country went through," the hockey veteran said.