The head coach of Olympia spoke about his team's level.

      In the new year Olimpiya played three matches — lost twice to its neighbors in the standings and beat a VHL outsider.

      The match against HC Tambov started lively — by the 3rd minute the score was already 2–1 in favor of the hosts. Then the teams went through a long scoring drought that only ended in the middle of the game. Tambov scored twice, in the 31st and 33rd minutes.

      Olimpiya was unable to overcome the three-goal deficit. At the press conference, Olimpiya’s coach Mikhail Zvyagin was grim and laconic: “Congratulations to the opposing team on the win. They showed very good, fast, quality hockey. They showed they legitimately are fighting for a playoff spot. I can only state that this is not our level at all. Not even close. That’s all from me. Thank you.”

      In the standings Olimpiya is 25th out of 32 teams. Ahead is a lengthy homestand that begins on January 21 with a game against Barnaul’s Dynamo-Altai.