Penza, 18 May 2012. PenzaNews. The governor of the Penza region Vasily Bochkarev met with the pupil of Penza hockey, the forward of Moscow team “Dynamo” Yury Babenko who brought Gagarin cup to his hometown on Friday, May 18. Vasily Bochkarev congratulated the hockey player on a victory in a series of playoffs of Continental Hockey League and discussed with the guest the question of legionaries’ attraction to the domestic clubs.

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“Is it necessary for us to transfer foreigners to Russia in your opinion? We give them money, however, I do not see that it yields any results. Thus, we do not give chance for our sportsmen,” said Vasily Bochkarev.

Yury Babenko agreed with Penza governor and noted that this is the mistake of clubs’ managers, though bad game of legionaries is often justified by illiterate work of a coach.

“Creation of Youth hockey league has been a big step in the development of Russian hockey; children play thus improving their skills,” said the hockey player.

In the end of the meeting all the participants exchanged souvenirs, and Vasily Bochkarev asked the countryman to look for a sponsor for the Penza hockey club Diesel.

Yury Babenko was born on January 2, 1978 in Penza. He began his career in Krylya Sovetov in 1995–1996. From 1998 to 2002 he played in the AHL — 287 matches, 55 goals, 80 passes.

In 2002 he came back to Russia. He played for Voskresensk Khimik, Hockey Club of Interior Ministry, Petersburg SKA and Magnitogorsk Metallurgist, Dynamo. In 2007–2008 as a part of Magnitogorsk Metallurgist Yury Babenko won the Cup of European champions and got bronze medals of national championship.

In spring 2010 as a part of Hockey Club of Interior Ministry the forward became the silver prize-winner of Russian championship.