Activists of the Russian Schoolchildren's Movement (RDS) played hockey with the Stars of Russia team in support of the veterans. The match was held as part of the # Defend Veterans campaign on Thursday, February 25, on Red Square in Moscow, according to a press release received by Lenta.ru.
The RDS team, consisting of teenagers 10-15 years old, was headed by the chairman of the Moscow region branch of the organization Nikolai Khanin. “I believe that going to the rink in front of Red Square, playing hockey with the feeling that you are doing it in defense of someone, doing what you love and at the same time protecting someone – these sensations give a huge boost of energy and pleasure. Everyone saw that the boys played and fought like real defenders, ”he said.
Schoolchildren were helped in the game by Russian hockey players: striker, world champion in 2012 in the Russian national team Alexander Svitov; striker, winner of the bronze medal of the KHL championship of the 2014/2015 season Alexey Kopeikin; defender, a graduate of the Moscow CSKA Sergei Gimaev; defender, pupil of the Angarsk hockey school Vitaly Shulakov. The RDS team was also supported by the actor and TV presenter Stanislav Yarushin.
As part of the “Stars of Russia” team, not only eminent athletes took to the ice, but also movie stars, music stars, politicians, commentators and showmen: saxophonist Igor Butman, hockey player Alexander Guskov, ex-football player of the Russian national team Alexander Mostovoy, showman Oskar Kuchera, rector of RSSU Natalya Pochinok, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Sports and others.
“I hope that when I get very old, children and people who are not indifferent to what is happening will take care of me. We must support, we must do, and I believe that this is a noble and very right undertaking. This is a very correct message, supported by both the state and people. I hope that our veterans will be happy and will not feel abandoned, ”Butman said.
The match ended with a friendly score of 13:13.
