Rustem Khamitov met with Salavat Yulaev’s head coach Erkka Westerlund

UFA, 19 April 2017. /Bashinform News Agency/. On April 18, the Head of Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov met with the new head coach of the hockey club Salavat Yulaev - Erkka Westerlund. The parties discussed prospects for the team development and priority tasks for the upcoming season.

"The HC Salavat Yulaev is a property of our republic and a significant brand of the Kontinental Hockey League. We pay great attention to this sports club and do everything to ensure its highest sports results", said Rustem Khamitov.

The Head of the Republic noted that not only the club, but the entire hockey system in the region required modernization.

"We have very developed hockey system in municipalities and cities. We have 16 stadiums with artificial ice and several hundred open hockey rinks - many thousands of children play ice hockey. This system requires reliable, proper, professional work", stressed Rustem Khamitov. "We would like you, among other things, to suggest us how to work with children's, youth hockey. It will be necessary to evaluate work of our hockey schools together with the general manager and the general director of the club. Maybe it's worth trying new methods for training young hockey players and breathing new life into the hockey system of the Republic of Bashkortostan. "

According to the Head of the Region, a huge number of fans are concerned about the future of hockey in the republic.

The Finnish coach, who became the first foreigner headed the Ufa club, highly estimated the development of sports in the republic and the opportunities of Salavat Yulaev.

"It's a great honour for me to be here and train HC Salavat Yulaev. I am very respectful of the Russian hockey school and I realize all the responsibility that falls on me as a club coach", said Erkka Westerlund. "Of course, the main task is to work with Salavat Yulaev. Nevertheless, I have a great desire to train young people. To date, I have a feeling that we have excellent players, good athletes. I noticed that we can work on improving teamwork and team collaboration. We all have to work together. "