Although they have had little time to spend away from rink, the area and the communities' love of hockey is making an impression.

"[We have had] not so much time [to sightsee]. We just have time to rest, eat and then go to play. Maybe when we have a day off they'll take us to shop or something," said the Russian's star forward Nikita Filatov, adding that it took the team 27 hours to travel to the Kootenays from Moscow. "I like Canada much more than USA. I think it's better. Everything here is good, even nature."

Filatov, like other members of the team, has been to Canada's shores in the past for other hockey tournaments. Both he and Dmitri Kugryshev have visited Quebec a few years ago while General Manager Vladislav Kokarev paid a visit to Halifax.

"It's very positive. We haven't been here too long but we have a positive feeling of this area," said Kokarev.

"I love the mountains and will tell my friends that it's fantastic nature here," added Kugryshev, 18, who was also impressed with Montreal when he visited the Quebec city with a Moscow-based team four years ago and Vancouver on this recent trip.

But the 5'11" self-professed big city lover has been impressed with the Canadian hockey game.

"It's an experience to meet [play against] Canadian hockey players because we don't have such as intense a game in Russia. It's very contact game [here]. A [small playing] area but high speed," Kugryshev said.

Hockey, said the general manager, is one of the main commonalities between the people of Canada and Russia and added that he knows that the Canadian players would be welcomed to Russia in future tournaments as Russia has been welcomed here. Kokarev further explained that at the present time he feels there is a closeness and warmth between the two countries.

While the Russians are hungry for victory in the tournament, it appears Canadian fans have the edge when it comes to supporting the sport and the players.

"People like hockey more here because it's just junior tournament here and a lot of people come here," said Filatov, adding that fans in Russia would likely follow the tournament on websites and in hockey newspapers. "I'm not sure if somewhere in Russian small city there would be 3,000 people at a game like this."

So just how does the food and costs compare to their hometown of Russia? While some members of the team were reportedly amazed at the cost of houses in the area, compared to Moscow, this area is good deal.

"It is cheaper here than in Moscow because Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world," said the Muscovite Kugryshev.

The team has managed to find meals to suit its Russian palate. It seems that even in the Kootenays with its large population of Russian descendents, finding a good hot meal has been a bit tricky for some of the older members of the team.

"[In Russia] the main dish is a warm dish but [things] like sandwiches they don't appreciate. They like more solid food. [However] the younger generation eat it [sandwiches] and enjoy [them]," explained Kokarev when asked how the team adjusted to the difference in food.

"The food is not bad," chimed Filatov. "We're eating everywhere hot [meals] and McDonalds sometimes. Also before sleep, [we have] cold pizza."

Although the players may come from entirely different countries with different customs and playing styles, hockey is not the only thing the teenagers share in common. These Russian players -- like so many at the tournament hope to catch the attention of the scouts in the audience and parlay this experience into a career in the National Hockey League (NHL).