Friendship Wins: Hockey Tournament in Valenki Boots Held at SUSU

The “Hockey in Valenki Boots” tournament among staff members and partners of South Ural State University was held. The match took place in the SUSU hockey rink.

The aim of “Hockey in Valenki Boots” is not only to attract attention to sports, but also to have fun with classmates or find new friends.

“With great pleasure we held this outdoors tournament. In the future we are planning to make alumni games our tradition,” shared the SUSU Rector Alexander Wagner.

Hockey in valenki felt boots is a childhood pastime. The game is aimed at developing endurance and ingenuity, but is safer than traditional hockey. Among the main rules is the desire and strive for winning.

“The game took place in a positive manner. All participants had great fun. The score was not the main thing today. And we were lucky the weather was good,” said the head coach of the SUSU Polytechnic ice hockey team Artem Pletnev.

It was a friendly tournament. So there were no losers and all participants received positive emotions from the games.

“The atmosphere was friendly. What is the secret to winning? It is obligatory to prepare valenki boots for sports competitions, but what is even better is to prepare yourself for that,” noted Andrey Seryapin, Deputy Manager of the Chelyabinsk Branch of PAO Sberbank.

Instead of pucks they used rubber balls. And ice skates were replaced with warm valenki felt boots. Participants admitted that the secret to success lies in excellent equipment.

“I am happy to play with friends: it feels so sincere, warm and pleasant. This game reminded me of my childhood. I came wearing ordinary valenki boots, but I noticed that some people had upgraded them somehow for a better game. I will take it into account next time,” said Ivan Savin, General Director of Traktor Ice Hockey Club.

The “Hockey in Valenki Boots” tournaments have been organised at SUSU for more than 5 years now. However, the match with university staff members and partners has been held for the first time. The participants supported the initiative to make the meeting a tradition.