On February 22 in Kazan in the ice Palace " Zilant "team of the Volga Academy of hockey in the opening match of the first round of the playoffs will take the MAI"Aviator". The meeting starts at 15.00. The next day will be the second match of the series to two victories (beginning at 13.00). And on Sunday – if necessary - the third (beginning at 11.00). Before the start meeting, the hosts will be awarded the Cup for the victory in the Western conference of the Student hockey League.
"Academicians "for the first time came to the playoffs from the first place and formally are the favorites of the matches" on departure " up to the final, where the winner will meet with the strongest team of the Eastern conference. However, the underestimation of the first opponent in the camp of "academics" is out of the question. This was facilitated by two home defeats from the "aviators" at the finish of the regular season. As they say, there would be no happiness... these defeats didn't affect leadership positions of the national team of Academy, and here for certain forced to treat capital students with due respect. The coach of the national team of Volga region Academy of Anvar Valiakhmetov, however, argues that in the playoffs there is no other way:  
- All games are of tournament importance for us. There can be no excuse for defeat. Another thing is that the team for the match with the "Aviator" came tired after the hardest road, and the previous two games with REU was fundamental, so the children not only physically, but emotionally "hooked". Plus three of our key experienced players dropped out due to illness. Cyril Sides, Ilyas Garifullin and Irek of Gasview. But we tested these games in our spare goalies and young people, which could not so active to participate in the games previously. All this does not detract from the merits of the opponent: a good young ambitious team with exorbitant motivation. For them in these matches it was decided whether they will get to the playoffs. I am sure that in the upcoming matches they will try to give us a fight.
- Perhaps it will be easier for them psychologically, because everyone expects you to win…
- It is clear that the leaders are always all set especially. But I want to note that our conference is very smooth. Except that the Voronezh team ("Wild bear" with 14 points rounded out the table) stands out. But they took away points from the leaders-from the same Tambov. And the rest of the teams are exactly equal in terms of the game.  So we cannot say that we are favourites, that we should beat everyone. I hope we have luck on our side.
- And the advantage of his field…
- Yes, I think it will be easier for the guys at home. Still here and the locker rooms, and parents, friends, girls in the stands... I Want to again invite all students to support the team.
- And yet, it is not by chance that you won the regular season?
- In my understanding, for student hockey it is the regular championship-a tournament in which the real leader is determined. In the playoffs, the element of chance comes to the fore. But at the distance "regular" we looked stable. Not without failures, but in General showed good hockey. It is important that compared to last season, we lost a few important players, and played better. At the expense of dedication, organization and properly built training process.