Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeny Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk were among the
14 NHL players included in the 23-player Russia squad for the
Vancouver Olympics.
Forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Alexander Semin, defencemen Sergei
Gonchar and Andrei Markov, plus goaltenders Evgeni Nabokov and Ilya
Bryzgalov were also selected.
Coach Vyacheslav Bykov said his team is strong enough to beat
Canada, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic.
"Russia is among the favorites for the Vancouver Olympics, as
we are the current world champiaons," Bykov said.
Russia last won Olympic gold at the 1992 Albertville Games.
The squad will be finalized in February.
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Russia squad:
Goaltenders: Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix Coyotes), Semyon
Varlamov (Washington Capitals), Yevgeny Nabokov (San Jose Sharks).
Defenders: Anton Volchenkov (Ottawa Senators), Sergei Gonchar
(Pittsburgh Penguins), Denis Grebeshkov (Edmonton Oilers), Dmitry
Kalinin (Salavat Yulaev), Konstantin Korneyev (CSKA), Andrei Markov
(Montreal Canadians), Ilya Nikulin (Ak Bars), Fyodor Tyutin
(Columbus Blue Jackets).
Forwards: Maxim Afinogenov (Atlanta Thrashers), Pavel Datsyuk
(Detroit Red Wings), Danis Zaripov (Ak Bars), Sergei Zinovyev
(Salavat Yulaev), Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers), Viktor Kozlov
(Salavat Yulaev), Yevgeny Malkin (Pittsburg Penguins), Alexei
Morozov (Ak Bars), Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals),
Alexander Radulov (Salavat Yulaev), Alexander Syomin (Washington
Capitals), Sergei Fyodorov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk).
