Rustam Minnikhanov handed Letters of gratitude to Ak Bars hockey players

RT President Rustam Minnikhanov called winning in Championship of Continental hockey league by team “Ak Bars” a real triumph of Tatarstan hockey. He announced it at celebration in honour of hockey club “Ak Bars” that was held in Hall of triumph of the Kazan Kremlin.

First deputy chairman of RF State Duma on physical culture, sport and youth affairs – President of Russian Hockey Federation Vladislav Tretyak, Chairman of Directors board of Continental hockey league Vyacheslav Fetisov and President of Continental hockey league Aleksandr Medvedev, President of club “Ak Bars”- President of RT Hockey Federation, Director general of JSC “Tatneft” Shafagat Takhautdinov, chief trainer of the team Zinatulla Bilyaletdinov and members of hockey team attended the event.

Tatarstan President sincerely congratulated hockey players on win having stressed that they became holders of Gagarin Cup for thesecond time and champions of Russia for the fourth time.

Head of Tatarstan reminded that today Kazan is known as sports capital of the country. The city will host World summer student games in 2013. Last autumn, the main sports forum “Russia- sports power” was held in the capital of Tatarstan.

Rustam Minnikhanov addressed special words of gratitude for winning the Gagarin Cup to talented manager and chief trainer of “Ak Bars” Zinatulla Bilyaletdinov and President of club “Ak Bars” Shafagat Takhautdinov.

Vyacheslav Fetisov and Aleksandr Medvedev congratulated hockey players on this great event.

“You are a personification of what any team of Continental hockey League wants to achieve. You acknowledged high class of Tatarstan hockey and brand of “Ak Bars”, - Vyacheslav Fetisov addressed the players.

Tatarstan President bestowed medals “For valorous work”, “In memory of 1000-anniversary of Kazan”, “To mark the occasion of producing 3-million tone of Tatarstan oil” and announced awarding honorary titles “Honored Figure of Physical culture and sport of the Republic of Tatarstan” to trainers and hockey players.

Letters of gratitude of RT President were handed to Shafagat Takhautdinov, Zinatulla Bilyaletdinov, teams’ captain Aleksey Morozov, players - Danis Zaripov, Petri Vekhanen, senior administrator Rustem Kashapov, doctors – Ilmir Khabibrakhmanov and Nikolay Erofeev, Director general of Ice sports palace “Tatneft-Arena” Andrey Svyatov.

Zinatulla Bilyaletdinov and Aleksey Morozov in their turn presented hockey sweater and hockey stick to Rustam Minnikhanov.

A solemn celebration in honour of hockey club “Ak Bars” – Champion of Continental hockey league, champion of Russia, holder of Gagarin Cup of the 2009-2010 season continued in KRK “Pyramid”.