Rustam Minnikhanov meets players of Ak Bars hockey club before the games of the Continental Hockey League 2022/2023

On August 22, before the games of the Continental Hockey League 2022/2023 season, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov together with Tatarstan Minister of Sports Vladimir Leonov, President of Ak Bars hockey club and the Ice Hockey Federation of Tatarstan Nail Maganov and Head coach of the Ak Bars Oleg Znarok met leadership, players and coaching staff of the Ak Bars hockey club.

At this meeting, Head coach said about understanding the goals that the hockey club faces in the new KHL season. «I would like to thank you for your attention. The tasks are clear. We understand the significance of «Ak Bars» for Tatarstan. We will do our best,” he said.

Ak Bars captain Danis Zaripov informed Minnikhanov about the readiness of the Kazan club to start a new season in the KHL.

Traditionally, I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the whole team for the attention to the team. In key moments, you are always with us. The players are all fully prepared, all the conditions for five. The home tournament (“TANECO Cup”) will be the key one. There we will see what we still have to work on,” Zaripov said.

In his turn, Tatarstan President said: “We are fans of the team, we are patriots”.

He also assured the players: "The Republic, all of us, the Minister of Sports and others - we are all your fans!"

“I can say that the republic and the Hockey Federation have done and are doing everything to ensure that hockey develops in our republic, and that all opportunities for the team are created. Sport is sport, there are injuries, there are different moments, we all understand this. However - we always start each season with great expectations. We have many players, there are eminent ones. Our task is to create comfortable conditions for you, your task is to do without injuries and play well,” Minnikhanov said.

“Good luck!” Tatarstan President concluded.