The games of the starting round of the play-offs of the Student hockey League championship are over. The team of Volga region Academy the sum of the three matches gave the team MAI "Aviators" (1:2). But our team did not remain without trophies. Recall that in the playoffs "academics" came out taking first place in the conference "West" SHL.
Before the start of the first match of the series on Friday on the ice of the ice complex "Zilant" was the ceremony of awarding team and individual prizes at the end of the regular championship SHL. The owners got two. Vice-rector for administrative work and social development Ilshat Fayzullin received the Cup for the victory of "academicians" in the conference "West", and the defender of our team Airat Valiakhmetov – the prize to the most valuable player of the conference.
Alas, the game that followed was not very successful for the hosts. In the opening match of the series, both teams chose not to risk, acting strictly on defense. Guests like that were, so to speak, "at hand", given that the gates of "the Aviator" protects the goalkeeper of the student team of Russia Nikolai Chernenkov. Plus tonight "academics" have made it harder, all too often leaving. Nevertheless, we created a number of quite sharp moments, but somewhere the opponent was rescued by the goalkeeper, and somewhere there was not enough accuracy. As a result, for 60 minutes goals were not scored, and in overtime the fans witnessed a dramatic outcome: the hosts remain in the minority, the referee fixes a violation of the rules of the "aviators", but the MAI student does not have time to sit on the bench of the penalty box, as the judge removes another "academician". Guests are in the numerical majority and one of their shots reaches the goal.
The next day the Academy team by the efforts of Ayrat Valiakhmetov, Aristarchus Volkov and Dmitry Makarov takes a convincing revenge (3:1), comparing the score in the series. However, the decisive match remains without his best striker Alexei Dmitriev (35 points, 16+19 in the "regular"), disqualified for incorrect behavior. The third game is largely similar to the first. Again the "academics" were pressing at the gates of "the Aviator", squander the moments and in some moments the opponent's goalkeeper rescued.   Early in the third period triggered the classic rule "if you..." Guests are able to take the lead, the hosts attacked, but to no avail. At the end of the meeting in a empty net team Academy enters the second washer.
-Failed to realize their 100 percent points in the first and third matches - explains the reasons for the failure of Alexei Dmitriev. -I was out of luck somewhere. Besides MAI the goalkeeper is very good. It was hard to break through. The score of the first and third game speaks for itself. With zero goals how to play? Yes, two removal in a row in overtime. The game itself was, I think, worthy of the playoffs: the speed is great, the fight at the level, everyone fought as he could. All played cautiously, neatly, without mistakes. It's a shame, of course, that flew. But the season was good, we finished the regular season on the first line, and the playoffs are always difficult and unpredictable. I want to thank all the lads, the whole team and Anwar Hassanova for the season, which was the best during his studies at the Academy.
Matches with MAI really was completely in line with the status of the playoffs: the rivals did not spare himself injured Bokova, Kirill and Maxim Cerenzio needed medical help. 
It is no coincidence that the head coach of the Academy Anvar Valiakhmetov, summing up the playoffs, in addition to the problems with the attack of his team also noted the dedication of the opponent's players:
- You saw how they were catching throws at you! Did not allow for the gate to drop... If you not score, none of you will not make it. Not flying puck, it is necessary to drag, to push... But sometimes the more you want something, the less work.