Traktor-TV. Mikhail Yurevich had a meeting with the team

Mikhail Yurevich, Governor of Chelyabinsk Region, Traktor's President:
- I would like to congratulate Traktor on the beginning of the new season. Last season you showed tremendous level of play, registering the best results in team's history in the process. Tomorrow Traktor will take on Dynamo, and everyone in Chelyabinsk wants revenge. We will support you and hope that you will be victorious in every match. The upcoming season is going to be a tough one - many teams have become stronger, and most fans see Traktor as one of the best teams in KHL, expecting the results to match this moniker. I'm not only talking about Traktor fans - this opinion is shared universally among people that are connected to KHL in one way or another.

I would like to mention that not only was Traktor successful in the previous season - we also showed that hockey could be beautiful, which, in my opinion, is equally important. You have conquered the hearts of fans across the country, and it is players' as well as coaching staff's achievement.

Traktor has undergone serious roster renovation, but there will be no excuse because the majority of the newcomers are experienced professionals. New heights that were reached by the team last year should be sustained by both young players and wily veterans that are now the part of our roster.

I would also like to reiterate that the upcoming season is going to be a bit tougher than the previous ones because fans will expect Traktor to come out on top in every match. Last two seasons were huge success, and everyone wants a trifecta.

It would not be an overstatement to say that preparation and roster wise, Traktor is one of the best teams in the Eastern conference. It still is hard to tell how Western conference teams will fare. If previous seasons are any indication, big purchases do not guarantee great results. Our opponents in the Eastern conference have also undergone some drastic changes, so I think we have a great chance of repeating our success. Myself, coaching staff, fans, sponsors, hockey circles - everyone believes Traktor was the breakthrough of the last season.

We expect the best result in every match. You might know that defense is the #1 thing they teach in hockey schools. Be good on the defensive end, and the results will follow.

Right now the team's roster includes more players than it did last year. We have to have a long bench to get through the long regular season. Admittedly, this is what we lacked last season. Nonetheless, it was a great season that brought us the best result in team's history. We have everything to surpass it in the upcoming season. However, we should not underestimate our opponents.

I watch every Traktor game, be it live or later on TV. I intently watch how players perform on the defensive end, because, in my humble opinion, it is one of the most important aspects of the game. Some teams suffer from their leaders' reluctance to get back to help out their D-men. They are good players, but not 100% professionals. I hope that Traktor is a collective of 100% professionals. Best of luck to Traktor in the upcoming season!