Rotenberg plans Red Machine academy in Krasnoyarsk after meeting governor

Roman Rotenberg, the first vice-president of the Russian Hockey Federation and head coach of the Russia 25 national team, has outlined plans to expand ice hockey infrastructure in Krasnoyarsk following a meeting with the regional governor.

Rotenberg held a working session with Mikhail Kotyukov, the governor of the Krasnoyarsk region, to discuss joint initiatives for the sport. The two agreed on a framework for developing the region's hockey system, covering mass participation and youth training.

«We held a working meeting with the governor of the Krasnoyarsk region, Mikhail Kotyukov. We discussed in detail joint steps to develop hockey in the region — from mass and children's sports to creating a unified system of player preparation. One of the key plans is the opening of the 'Red Machine Krasnoyarsk' academy on the basis of one of the existing hockey schools jointly with the Krasnoyarsk Region Hockey Federation. It is important that this is not just a name change, but a full-scale transformation of the school: implementing the 'Red Machine' methodology, training the coaching staff, attracting partners and forming a unified preparation system. Our task is to improve the quality of work with children, increase the number of students, strengthen competition and bring the region's teams to a new level. Another area is the launch of the 'Red Machine DVOR' social program in the Krasnoyarsk region. We will integrate it with existing regional initiatives, develop accessible infrastructure, conduct mass recruitment of children and give every child the opportunity to take the first steps in hockey near home. Mass participation allows us to find talents, and a unified methodology helps to reveal their potential. The Krasnoyarsk region has strong hockey traditions, modern infrastructure and huge potential. I thank Mikhail Mikhailovich for his attention to the development of sport and readiness to jointly implement new projects. Our common goal is to make hockey more accessible for children and to create conditions in which every talented player can go all the way from a courtyard court to a professional team, developing in their native region», – Rotenberg wrote, noting he is the founder of the 'Red Machine' academy.

The Krasnoyarsk region is recognised for its strong hockey traditions and existing infrastructure. The proposed academy would operate on the basis of an existing school, adopting the 'Red Machine' training methods and seeking external partners to support the project. Rotenberg stated the objective is to elevate the standard of youth development in the region. If the academy is established, it would aim to increase the number of young players and raise the competitive level of the local teams.