Alexander Dergachyov and Yegor Rykov speak about the 2016 WJC

Alexander Dergachyov:

- How did the championship begin? Where were you training?

- The facilities were excellent, we stayed in the Langvik hotel and everything was at the highest level. If we didn't like any of the food, they changed it straight away.

- Did you feel that a lot of attention was being put on this tournament?

- Of course, there were a lot of cameras. Photographers were everywhere, interviews after every training session.

- You played in all of the matches. Do you consider silver a worthy result?

- I don't know, in Russia there is only first place. However, silver shows that we fought and worked not in vain.

- Are you satisfied with your overall performance?

- I could have got more points, but I tried to give everything and I did what the coach told me to.

- Did you feel the pressure?

- Of course. Maybe it's good that we are young, and we were told that we had to start the year off well. We understood this ourselves.

- Would you agree that you were lucky to beat Finland in the group stages, and not to lose to them in normal time in the final?

- No, I wouldn't call it luck. This was a result of our hard work and the coaches' efforts. Valery Bragin is always calm. When you look at your coach and see that he is confident, it makes you feel stronger. He never panics.

- Could the final been a different game?

- It's hockey and it's a final, anything can happen.

- What did the coach say after the game?

- That these things happen in hockey, he thanked us for the tournament and told us to keep on working.

- How hard was it to take silver for the second time.

- When you play in the final two years in a row, and each time you are lacking something...it's hard to say, it's really disappointing.

- When did Finland become the better team in the final?

- We had very little strength. On that day they were stronger. Thank you to everyone for the messages of support, there was a lot of them. It's really nice.

- You congratulated each other with silver in the dressing room.

- Of course!

- The country loves you, and a lot of fans met you in the airport.

- Yegor Rykov can play there next year, I'm jealous of him. Everyone wants to play at this tournament, you get emotions which will stay with you for the rest of your life.

- What would you say to the players who will play there next year?

- Banal things. In reality, they all know themselves that they should believe in themselves and their teammates. All of the players are talented, have character and are team players. Next year they will not repeat our mistakes.

Yegor Rykov:

- What is the difference between the U18 World Championship and the World Junior Championship?

- The atmosphere at the World Junior Championship is different. At the U18 a lot less fans attended, and it was a great honour for me to play at the World Junior Championship for my country.

- What did Valery Bragin say after the group stage?

- Usual words. The main thing is that the team was united, especially in the knockout rounds. We fought for each other, dived in front of pucks. We were one big family.

- Did you look at what you were lacking in the final?

- No, not the final. We have already given everything. Maybe we missed some of our chances to score.

- Why were the Finns stronger in the final?

- The fact that they had more time to rest played its role.

- Who congratulated you first?

- My father.

- When returning to Russia, a lot of fans met you in the airport.

- For this, I would like to thank the supporters. When we were on the ice, we felt their support as well. A huge thank you goes to all of them.