Claimed:Moscow moves quickly to practice [FINAL 6/6]

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Red Wolves practice fresh off draft!

 

Moscow's Red Square was host to an outdoor children's charity event benefitting young skaters before the Red Wolves descended for practice

 

The streets of Russia's capital were filled today with the screams and cheers of young Russian nationals as the charity event "Puppy Pack Practice", run annually by the Moscow Red Wolves, carried on at the outdoor arena set up in the Red Square. Plenty of dignitaries came out for the event, including Vladimir Putin, Pavel Koradek, and Alexander Beketov, among others. The 2 hall of fame wingers, alongside Putin, the Moscow Red Wolves, and others, were part of a charity hockey game where the Red Wolves and the celebrity players threw in sticks and picked teams, with the condition that each team gets 1 hall of fame winger.

 

Putin moves in past Michael Clardy en route to Team Red's 2nd goal of the game

 

The game was free-spirited and lasted merely 1 period, but that didn't stop the talent on the ice from performing at peak level. Putin netted a goal, Beketov and Koradek each notched 2 goals and an assist, and other Red Wolves made great contributions, including goals by Kayl Kuzie, newly traded-for defender Golden Jedtsson, and Matt GIacomello, en route to a 5-4 victory for Team Red over Team Pack. Both sides played a free-spirited game, with not many forced penalties or harsh checks. With two esteemed scorers on the ice, the Red Wolves let the old goats strut their stuff once more and play good, clean, skills-first hockey. Beketov was making moves around defenders, Koradek finding the clean patches of ice quickly, and both had a great time with the young VHLM team.

 

Both teams lined up for the end of game handshake before Moscow continued their intensive first practice of the new season

 

Once the festivities were over, the Red Wolves proceeded to practice with the live audience the charity game attracted. New players to the European Conference team got a first chance to create some team chemistry in a warm, friendly atmosphere. 3rd Overall pick Michael Clardy was playing great alongside Golden Jedtsson, Kayl Kuzie was warming up Steven Bradbury with some stellar passes to the slot, and Gunnar Skovsgard looked like a brick wall in net. The team seemed to really bond during the charity game and take that team chemistry to the business end of the day's events.

 

Red Wolves defender Michael Clardy sat down at the media section of the event to answer questions

 

During the media portion of the charity day, most players came out to say that the team was showing signs of improvement. "With this first true practice, I can't see us going anywhere but up," said Michael Clardy. "This team looks good, we're finding the open ice, learning from the veterans, and looking to our draft class for great hockey plays." Clardy's enthusiasm for the team was shared by many other teammates. "Getting to play with two Hall of Fame guys today really changed my view on my shot, my awareness, and really my look on the game," said Santi Piñeiro, one of the recent draftees who worked almost one on one with Beketov during the exhibition game. "He taught me a lot about passing lanes, the art of looking past the offensive play, and some things about accurate shot placement."

 

The newly-renovated Ice Palace in Moscow is ready to host another VHLM champion team

 

With this improvement on the ice and the time spent together at events off the ice, Moscow's newest team looks ready to dominate. Under a new roof (Moscow's Ice Palace underwent renovations during the off-season) and with new life, the Red Wolves look ready to take the VHLM by force.

 

WC: 625 Words

[CowboyinAmerica 2,889]

Content: 3/3 - Anything that starts off "The streets of Russia's capital were filled today with the screams and cheers of young Russian nationals" sounds like I should be headed for a nuclear bunker, but all in all an entertaining piece. Great job, and read like a journalistic article with the inclusion of quotes.

 

Grammar: 2/2 - Other than capitalizing Hall of Fame, nothing that I could see that bugged me.

 

Presentation: 1/1 - Keep a heads up for broken picture links. Like the caption formatting though.

 

Total: 6/6

[Kendrick 4,741]

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